Snapchat, the ephemeral messaging app, is all about quick, visual communication. Emojis are a vital part of that language, adding layers of emotion, humor, and context to your snaps and chats. But how do you effectively use emojis on Snapchat? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from basic emoji usage to hidden tricks and creative applications.
Why Use Emojis on Snapchat?
Emojis are more than just cute icons. They’re a powerful tool for:
- Expressing Emotions: Emojis can convey feelings that words sometimes can’t. A simple smiley face can add warmth to a message, while a crying laughing emoji can show you found something hilarious.
- Adding Context: Emojis can clarify the meaning of your text. For example, adding a coffee emoji next to “Let’s meet up” instantly implies you’re suggesting a coffee date.
- Saving Time: Sometimes, an emoji can replace an entire sentence. A thumbs up emoji is a quick and easy way to acknowledge a message.
- Making Your Snaps More Engaging: Visually appealing snaps are more likely to grab attention. Emojis add a splash of color and personality to your snaps, making them more engaging for your friends.
- Personalizing Your Messages: Using emojis that reflect your personality or the topic of the conversation can make your messages feel more personal and authentic.
Getting Started: The Basics of Using Emojis on Snapchat
Using emojis on Snapchat is incredibly easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Open Snapchat: Launch the Snapchat app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Take a Snap or Choose a Photo/Video: Take a new snap by tapping the large circle button at the bottom of the screen, or select an existing photo or video from your camera roll.
- Tap the ‘Text’ Icon: After taking or selecting your snap, tap anywhere on the screen. This will usually bring up the keyboard automatically. If not, look for a ‘T’ icon – this is the text tool.
- Access the Emoji Keyboard: On most smartphones, the emoji keyboard is accessed through a dedicated button on the main keyboard. It often looks like a smiley face or a globe. Tap this button to switch to the emoji keyboard. If you’re using an older phone, you may need to enable the emoji keyboard in your phone’s settings (more on this later).
- Select Your Emoji: Browse through the various emoji categories and tap on the emoji you want to use. It will be inserted into your text field.
- Type Your Message: Add text to your snap as needed. You can mix emojis and text freely.
- Adjust Emoji Size and Placement: Once you’ve added an emoji to your snap, you can adjust its size and placement. Tap and hold on the emoji, then drag it to move it around the screen. Use two fingers to pinch and zoom to resize it.
- Send Your Snap: Once you’re happy with your snap, tap the blue arrow button in the bottom right corner to send it to your friends or add it to your Story.
Advanced Emoji Techniques on Snapchat
Beyond basic emoji usage, Snapchat offers several advanced techniques to enhance your snaps:
1. Emoji Stickers: Pinning Emojis to Moving Objects
Emoji stickers are a fun way to add interactive elements to your videos. You can pin emojis to specific objects in your video, and they’ll move along with those objects.
Here’s how to use emoji stickers:
- Record a Video: Record a video snap of the scene you want to use.
- Tap the ‘Sticker’ Icon: After recording, tap the square icon with a peeled-up corner at the top of the screen. This opens the sticker menu.
- Select an Emoji: Choose the emoji you want to use as a sticker.
- Pin the Emoji: Tap and hold the emoji, then drag it to the object in your video that you want to pin it to. Snapchat will analyze the video and attempt to lock the emoji to that object.
- Adjust and Fine-Tune: If the emoji doesn’t stay perfectly locked, you can manually adjust its position by tapping and dragging it. You can also resize the emoji using two fingers.
- Send Your Snap: Once you’re satisfied, send your snap as usual.
Tips for Using Emoji Stickers:
- Choose Objects with Good Contrast: Emoji stickers work best with objects that have clear edges and good contrast against the background. This makes it easier for Snapchat to track the object’s movement.
- Use Stable Lighting: Consistent lighting helps Snapchat track objects more accurately.
- Keep Movements Smooth: Avoid sudden or jerky movements, as this can make it difficult for Snapchat to keep the emoji pinned.
- Experiment with Different Emojis: Try using different emojis to see which ones work best with your video.
2. Using Emojis as Filters
Did you know you can use emojis as filters on Snapchat? This is a creative way to add unique effects to your photos and videos.
Here’s how to use emojis as filters:
- Take a Snap: Take a photo or video snap.
- Add an Emoji: Add the emoji you want to use as a filter.
- Enlarge the Emoji: Use two fingers to zoom in on the emoji until it covers the entire screen or a significant portion of it.
- Adjust Opacity (Optional): Depending on the emoji and the effect you want to achieve, you can adjust the opacity. This can be done through third party apps, or using the drawing tool to partially cover and erase the emoji. The drawing tool provides a somewhat clumsy way to get a similar effect.
- Send Your Snap: Send your snap with the emoji filter.
Examples of Emoji Filter Effects:
- Heart Emoji: Creates a romantic or loving filter.
- Fire Emoji: Adds a fiery glow to your snap.
- Water Droplet Emoji: Gives your snap a watery or dreamy effect.
- Black Square/Circle Emoji: Creates a darker, more muted filter.
3. Creating Emoji Art
Emoji art involves using multiple emojis to create larger images or designs. This can be a fun and creative way to express yourself on Snapchat.
Here’s how to create emoji art:
- Take a Snap: Take a photo or video snap (a blank background works best).
- Add Multiple Emojis: Add a variety of emojis to your snap.
- Arrange the Emojis: Carefully arrange the emojis to form the image or design you want. This may require some patience and experimentation. You can resize and rotate emojis as needed.
- Add Text (Optional): You can add text to your emoji art to provide context or enhance the design.
- Send Your Snap: Send your emoji art snap.
Tips for Creating Emoji Art:
- Start with a Simple Design: Begin with a simple design and gradually increase the complexity as you gain experience.
- Use a Grid: Mentally divide the screen into a grid to help you align the emojis.
- Use Different Sizes: Vary the size of the emojis to create depth and dimension.
- Experiment with Colors: Choose emojis with colors that complement each other.
- Use the Eraser Tool Creatively: The eraser tool can be used to remove parts of emojis, creating interesting effects and shapes. Tap the pencil icon, then select the eraser.
4. Emoji Storytelling
Use a sequence of snaps featuring emojis to tell a short story. This is a creative way to engage your friends and showcase your storytelling skills.
Here’s how to use emoji storytelling:
- Plan Your Story: Before you start, plan the story you want to tell. Decide on the characters, plot, and message.
- Create a Sequence of Snaps: Create a series of snaps, each featuring different emojis and text to advance the story.
- Use Visual Cues: Use visual cues, such as backgrounds, filters, and drawing tools, to enhance the storytelling.
- Add Context with Text: Use text to provide context and narration for the story.
- Post to Your Story: Post the snaps to your Story in the correct order to tell the story.
5. Custom Emoji Stickers (Bitmoji)
Bitmoji allows you to create personalized avatars that look like you and use them as stickers on Snapchat. This adds a personal touch to your snaps and chats.
Here’s how to use Bitmoji on Snapchat:
- Download the Bitmoji App: Download the Bitmoji app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Create Your Avatar: Create your avatar by customizing your appearance, including your hair, eyes, clothes, and accessories.
- Connect Bitmoji to Snapchat: In the Bitmoji app, connect your Bitmoji account to your Snapchat account.
- Use Bitmoji Stickers: In Snapchat, tap the ‘Sticker’ icon, and you’ll see a section for your Bitmoji stickers. Choose the sticker you want to use and add it to your snap.
Troubleshooting Emoji Issues on Snapchat
Sometimes, you might encounter issues using emojis on Snapchat. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
- Emoji Keyboard Not Showing Up:
- Enable the Emoji Keyboard: On iOS, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Emoji. On Android, the process may vary depending on your device, but it’s usually found under Settings > Language & Input > Virtual Keyboard.
- Update Your Keyboard App: Make sure your keyboard app is up to date. Sometimes, older versions may not support emojis.
- Restart Your Device: A simple restart can often fix keyboard-related issues.
- Emojis Not Displaying Correctly:
- Update Snapchat: Make sure you’re using the latest version of Snapchat. Older versions may not support the latest emojis.
- Update Your Operating System: Similarly, ensure your phone’s operating system (iOS or Android) is up to date.
- Clear Snapchat Cache: Sometimes, clearing the Snapchat cache can resolve display issues. Go to Snapchat Settings > Account Actions > Clear Cache.
- Emoji Stickers Not Working:
- Check Your Internet Connection: Emoji stickers require a stable internet connection to track objects correctly.
- Restart Snapchat: Close and reopen the Snapchat app.
- Reinstall Snapchat: If the problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling Snapchat.
- Bitmoji Not Working:
- Check Bitmoji Connection: Make sure your Bitmoji account is properly connected to your Snapchat account.
- Update Bitmoji App: Ensure you’re using the latest version of the Bitmoji app.
- Reinstall Bitmoji: If necessary, uninstall and reinstall the Bitmoji app.
Emoji Etiquette on Snapchat
While emojis are a fun and expressive way to communicate, it’s important to use them appropriately. Here are some tips for emoji etiquette on Snapchat:
- Don’t Overuse Emojis: Too many emojis can make your snaps look cluttered and overwhelming. Use them sparingly and strategically.
- Consider Your Audience: Think about who you’re sending your snaps to and choose emojis that are appropriate for them. Avoid using offensive or inappropriate emojis.
- Be Clear and Concise: Use emojis to clarify your message, not to confuse it. Make sure your emojis are relevant to the content of your snap.
- Avoid Ambiguity: Some emojis can have different meanings depending on the context. Be mindful of this and choose emojis that are clear and unambiguous.
- Proofread Your Snaps: Before sending your snap, double-check that your emojis and text are accurate and make sense.
Creative Ideas for Using Emojis on Snapchat
Here are some creative ideas to spark your imagination:
- Emoji Polls: Use emojis to create simple polls. For example, ask your friends whether they prefer pizza or burgers by using the pizza and burger emojis.
- Emoji Challenges: Create a challenge that involves using specific emojis in a creative way.
- Emoji Song Lyrics: Translate song lyrics into emojis and challenge your friends to guess the song.
- Emoji Movie Reviews: Use emojis to express your opinion about a movie. For example, use the clapping hands emoji for a great movie and the thumbs down emoji for a bad one.
- Emoji Travel Guides: Create a short travel guide to a city or country using emojis to represent landmarks, food, and activities.
The Future of Emojis on Snapchat
Snapchat is constantly evolving, and we can expect to see even more innovative ways to use emojis in the future. Some potential developments include:
- Animated Emojis: Emojis that move and interact with each other.
- Customizable Emojis: The ability to create your own emojis or customize existing ones.
- Emoji-Based Games: Games that are played entirely with emojis.
- AI-Powered Emoji Suggestions: Snapchat could use AI to suggest relevant emojis based on the content of your snaps.
Conclusion
Emojis are an integral part of the Snapchat experience, adding a layer of fun, expression, and creativity to your communication. By mastering the basics and exploring the advanced techniques outlined in this guide, you can elevate your Snapchat game and create engaging, personalized snaps that your friends will love. So, go ahead and experiment with different emojis, unleash your creativity, and spice up your snaps!