However you tweak it, once you take a photo or video, the app shows your work, and new options pop into the frame. At the top right, you’ll see a sticker icon, which yields a bunch of emoji-like graphics you can use to gussy up your image. And the icon at the very right is a pen, which can be used for doodling all over your masterpiece.
At the bottom left, if you shot a video, there’s a mute button, so you can mask out the noise from your movie. If you shot a picture, a timer icon appears there instead, allowing you to set the duration that your photo will be on screen. Snaps can only be up to 10 seconds long, whether it’s a video or a photo. If you want something longer than that, you’ll need to build a Snapchat Story, which is what the third button at the bottom left is for, but more on that later. The second button is a download button so you can save your snaps to your smartphone, which doesn’t happen automatically.
And finally, at the bottom right you’ll see an arrow. Tap that when you’re ready to share your snap with your friends.
You could spend hours trying to decode the mysteries of Snapchat’s communication screen. You could also spend hours selecting funds for your 401(k). You’re the adult, so can you decide the best use of your time. But here are some quick tips for communicating with friends via Snapchat somewhat effectively.
Chatting via the app is all about talking with pictures. Not like hieroglyphics or their modern day equivalent, emojis, but actual photos and videos. On the chat screen, you’ll see your contacts’ names with a while bunch of shapes next to them. There’s a speech bubble, which means the latest message was a standard text-based chat. The triangles mean that you sent the last item, and the squares show that your friend was the last person to send you a snap.
If the shape is solid, that means it has not been opened yet. If the shape is white with a colored outline, it has been viewed. Pink shapes mean the snap had no audio (like photos). Purple shapes mean there is sound in the snap (like videos). There are even green icons, which means there’s money (through online payment company Square) changing hands in the post. But grownups write checks, so don’t expect to see many green arrows in your inbox.
And next to your friends’ names, you’ll see a bunch of emoji that try to describe your relationship to that person, at least through Snapchat
Baby heads are new-to-you friends. A birthday cake means it’s their birthday. Hearts (pink, red, yellow, whatever) mean this person is your best friend, due to all the snaps you two send back and forth. Forget that. You know who is your best friend? The guy at the car wash who vacuums the nastiness out your cup holders. Just don’t go sending him snaps – give him money instead.
Swiping down from click for more the camera screen reveals your account preference screen, a mashup of contacts and personal settings that helps to refine your Snapchat experience.
If you’re not in love with the default sans serif font in a gray bar across your photos, tap the text icon again, and you get more options
The big yellow ghost icon at the center of the screen is your snap code. Tap on it, and it will morph into a camera so you can transpose your mug into the middle of it, if you please. The dots around the edge work like a QR code. Just point Snapchat’s camera at another users’ snap code, touch the screen, and it will brings up their account so you can quickly add them to your friend list.
