Snapchat has just unveiled a software allowing you to apply filters from your PC, without registration.
Are you a fan of Snapchat filters? It is now possible to enjoy it on your computer thanks to Snap Camera, a free software offered by Snapchat and which offers to apply the application’s filters using the webcam of your computer, like PhotoBooth on macOS . Available on Windows and Mac, the application does not require any registration to the service. Once installed, it can be integrated directly into streaming video software like Twitch, but also and especially instant messengers like Skype or Hangouts.
1. Download Snap Camera
First, download and install the Snap Camera app on your computer. Scroll through the presentation screens to the left by clicking on Next, then finalize the configuration of the application by clicking on Finish. The Snap Camera home page appears and your webcam activates.
- Download Snap Camera for Windows (Free)
- Download Snap Camera for macOS (Free)
2. Apply a filter
Applying a filter to your image is trivial. Just click on one of them to load it and view the result in real time. The application offers many, from classics found in the mobile application to filters created by the community using the Lens Studio software.
Scroll up to select the right one for you, or search for your favorite filter directly by entering its name in the search box.
A click on a filter is enough to load it, apply it and view the result in real time. A click on the snapcode allows you to reveal the options: add to favorites, copy the filter link, download the snapcode, or report an inappropriate filter.
3. Customize the options
Click on the star wheel icon at the top right. If you have several webcams, the Choose Your Camera menu will allow you to select the one of your choice.
If you wish, you can activate / deactivate the flip video preview as well as the display of the snapcode of the active filter on the preview.
Below, the Hotkey Mapping section offers you the possibility to configure keyboard shortcuts allowing respectively to activate / deactivate a filter, or to launch an effect in the filters which integrate this possibility.
To create a shortcut for each one, click in the field, press the key combination you want to use as a shortcut, then validate by clicking on Save.
4. Configure a shortcut for your favorite filters
You can add your favorite filters to Favorites by clicking on the star associated with each one. To find them, click on the star icon displayed at the top left of the main Snap Camera window.
Then click on the keyboard button at the top right to access the favorites options.
For each filter found in your favorites, click on the text field, press the keyboard keys you want to use as a shortcut, and validate the latter by pressing Add HotKey. You will then find it useful to create shortcuts to quickly activate a filter in a third-party application.
5. Activate Snap Camera in your conversations
Snap Camera can integrate directly with your streaming and chat software. The program offers, for example, native integration with Twitch, but it is also possible to use it with your messaging applications like Skype, Hangouts, etc.
All you need to do is launch Snap Camera in the background, then enter your chat app settings to select Snap Camera instead of your webcam.
Then you just have to activate a filter from the Snap Camera interface or by using a shortcut if the filter is one of your favorites, to apply it directly in your video chat.
We carried out this test in Windows 10. We were able to use Snap Camera with Hangouts and classic Skype (not functional with the version integrated in Windows 10 and with the web version).