Life

Here's How You Can Get Snapchat's Newest Feature Now

by Michelle Gross
Snapchat

The good times — or should I say good filters — just keep on rolling out for social media app, Snapchat. This time, it's thanks to the unveiling of a new Snapchat filter option called Sky Filter. It's being released just in time for the apps sixth birthday — HBD Snapchat! — but it's a cool in-app modification that's pretty self explanatory. So, you might be wondering: How do you get Sky Filters on Snapchat, so you can immediately start painting with all the colors of the wind... or, I guess, the filters?

Basically, using Sky Filters, you'll be able to modify the colors the sky in your images to reflect the mood, look, or setting you're going for. Say for example you're in Paris, and you want to get a nice wide-shot over the Seine River. But the original color of the sky is a bit gray — it's Paris after all, and you want to project the city of love in the best light possible (pun intended). This is where the sky filter comes in: Automatically when you open the app, the sky in your captured image will be recognized and the new Filters will appear in the Filter carousel. You can then repaint your sky as you see fit, with new forecasts and lighting options. For instance, the sky in that Paris photo. Or, maybe you want a few more twinkling stars in your sky, or storm clouds, if you're feeling particularly moody. Or a bright and fiery orange sunset. (A rainbow filter will be made available too. God bless you for that one, Snapchat.) While it's a cool, if not totally revelatory option, it's a fun new addition to play around with nonetheless.

According to Snapchat, Sky Filters will rotate daily and are available on iOS and Android.

Sky Filters are the latest release from the social media app. Earlier this month, Snapchat brought your Bitmojis to life through their World Lenses option. Here's how to get them now!

Update Snapchat

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

The first thing you need to do is run a quick update to your Snapchat app (say that five times fast). To update, all you do is go into your the App Store on your iOS, scroll down to Snapchat, tap the word "Update" on the right hand side and wait for the little blue circle to complete its magic. Note, it might take up to a couple minutes for the update to properly install. Once it's completed the update, move on to step number two.

Take a Photo

Snapchat

After you've updated, take a few practice shots. The photo above is a good example for this since the sky is blue, you have a lot of room to work with to make this particular picture a bit more exciting. Once you have your image ready to go head to step three.

Find The Sky Filter

Snapchat

So you have your image ready to go (hooray!) so now you tap the circle on the bottom of your image and begin to play around with the different filters. See how Snapchat took the same image of the bright blue sky and turned it into a beautiful nighttime shot in the frame above? Pretty cool, and gives your image a completely different feel.

Swipe Right For More Options

Snapchat

If you continue swiping right once you're in the Sky Filters app, you will be able to view the different filter options. This one is obviously my favorite.

Here's one one more photo of the newly available Sky Filters just for posterity's sake. How pretty (and realistic, weirdly?) is that?

Happy filtering, y'all!