Surprise your loved ones by sending them Happy New Year messages that are as original as they are surprising.
The end of 2020 is approaching, and one thing is certain, it will not be missed by many. Hoping that 2021 presents itself under better auspices, you will certainly send your best wishes to your family and friends as you do every year. If you and your interlocutors have an iPhone, you can have a little fun sending New Year messages that are more original than usual.
For several years now, it has been possible to accompany messages sent via iMessage with various special effects that can sometimes be triggered by using certain formulations. Here’s everything you need to know to send original Happy New Year messages with an iPhone or iPad.
1. Use magic words to trigger special effects
Not many people know it, but iOS’s Message app, and messages sent through iMessage, can trigger special effects when sending specific terms.
To celebrate the New Year, send a simple “Happy New Year” (with or without an exclamation mark) should be enough to trigger fireworks and some vibrations on your screen as well as on that of your correspondent when he opens your message. .
Other terms can also be used to trigger special effects: “Pew pew” will trigger dancing lasers, “Happy Birthday” will offer a balloon release, “Congratulations” will show a shower of confetti, and “Happy Chinese New Year” will activate a shower of sparks.
2. Add a bubble effect to the messages you write
Whether you’re composing a text message or sending a smiley or memoji, iOS lets you apply a special effect to your message. To find them, just press and hold the send button.
You can then send your message in invisible ink, applying a discreet effect, a conspicuous effect or an impact. When you have chosen your effect, simply press the blue arrow to validate it and send the message.
3. Add full screen special effects to your messages
The special effects seen in the previous step only apply to the bubble of the sent message. iOS offers you to go even further by integrating an effect to the entire screen. Write your message and press and hold the send button to access special effects.
This time, go to the Screen section, and cycle through the displayed effects to see the next ones. Once your effect is selected, press the blue arrow to validate it and send the message.
4. Send photos and videos with effects
Why not be original and send a photo or video message adding effects.
Enter a conversation, then next to the text field, tap the camera icon to activate your iPhone’s camera. Whether you’re in photo or video mode, tap the effects icon at the bottom of the screen.
You can then use a Memoji instead of your face to capture a photo or video, apply a filter, add text or figures, or even integrate stickers.
5. Illustrate your messages with Digital Touch
Unveiled in 2016 on the occasion of the release of iOS 10, Digital Touch is one of those somewhat forgotten functions that we never use. Sending a Happy New Year message to a loved one is therefore the perfect opportunity to dust off this function a little, which allows you to send a drawing, a knock or a heartbeat.
From a chat window, tap the App Store icon to enable iOS keyboard extensions. Locate Digital Touch (recognizable by an icon of a heart with two fingers on it) and press it. If Digital Touch is not available, scroll left on the extensions and tap More, then tap Edit. You can then activate the feature on your keyboard.
Then pull the Digital Touch drawer completely upwards to display it in full screen. This option offers many possibilities. You can record photos and videos on the fly, draw, or trigger personalized effects. Press the “i” button to discover all the commands usable with Digital Touch.