In iOS 12, Apple added a new Effects camera in Messages that's similar to the live camera features in Snapchat and Instagram, allowing you to take a photo in the Messages app and then edit it with stickers, filters, text, and more.

On devices with a TrueDepth camera system, the Effects camera even works with Memoji and Animoji, allowing you to overlay cartoon emoji heads over your own head.

Accessing the Effects Camera

The Effects camera lives in the Messages app, and Apple's made it easy to locate.

messagescamera

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Choose a conversation with someone.
  3. Tap on the Camera icon next to the App Store icon.
  4. Make sure you're in either standard Photo or Video mode.
  5. To get to the available Effects, tap on the small star-shaped icon to the left of the shutter button.

The Camera in the Messages app is located in the same place that it was in iOS 11, but instead of opening up a smaller camera window that also provides access to your already-captured photos, it is a full-screen camera complete with editing tools.

To get to photos you've already taken in the Messages app, you need to open up the app drawer by tapping on the ‌App Store‌ "A" icon and then choosing the Photos icon.

Available Effects Camera Features

There are multiple tools for editing your photos, all of which are displayed in a bar above the camera shutter, organized by icon. Here are the options, in the order that you'll see them in the app.

messageseffectsoptions

  1. Animoji/Memoji (TrueDepth devices and front-facing camera only)
  2. Filters
  3. Text
  4. Shapes
  5. Sticker packs

After the four main sections, every other icon represents a different sticker pack that you have installed on your device.

All of these options work in photo and video mode with both the rear and front-facing cameras, with the exception of Animoji and Memoji, which only work with the front-facing camera.

You cannot use the Effects camera with slo-mo videos, portrait mode photos, square-shaped photos, or panoramas, but you can access these types of images in the Messages camera.

Animoji and Memoji

With the Animoji and Memoji filters, you can choose an Animoji or a previously created Memoji that will be displayed over your own face when using the front-facing camera of a device with a TrueDepth camera system.

cameraeffectsanimoji
The Memoji and Animoji filter looks similar to what you might expect from a Snapchat filter, and because it uses the TrueDepth system, the Animoji and Memoji stay lined up with your head while you move and talk, mimicking your facial expressions just like when you use Animoji in Messages.

Filters

There are more than a dozen filters you can add to your photos or videos, which display in realtime. The filter section of the Effects Camera is accessed by tapping on the icon that looks like three RBG dots.

cameraeffectsfilters
There are standard filters for making a photo or video warmer or cooler, several black and white filters, and a selection of fun filters like watercolor, ink, and comic book, that give you a sketched or painted look.

Text

Text can be added to a photo or video by tapping on the icon that looks like "Aa," with plain text, text in bubbles, and text in shapes as available options.

cameraeffectstext
Pick the text design that you want and then type in your message. After you tap "Done," you can resize the text with pinch gestures.

If you choose the icon that looks like a smiley face, you can add any emoji that you want to the photo or the video, and resize it just like standard text.

Shapes

With the Shapes tool, you can insert a variety of shapes in a sketched style, with options that include arrows, fireworks, circles, checkmarks, and squiggles.

cameraeffectsshapes
There are no options to draw your own shapes, so you can only use the stock options. Shapes are static when used in photos, but will animate when used in videos.

Shapes can be resized with pinch gestures and relocated by placing a finger on the shape and dragging it to a new location.

Stickers

After the four available built-in options, all of the additional icons in the Effects camera will be the sticker packs that you have installed. These sticker packs will vary based on your own downloads and apps, and it will look different for everyone.

cameraeffectsstickers
Like Text and Shape Effects, stickers can be placed anywhere on the photo or video and resized using pinch gestures. You can drag the sticker anywhere on the photo and reposition it using the same gestures you would use to put stickers within iMessages.

For stickers that animate, you will see the animations when using them in video mode, but there are no animations in photo mode.

New sticker packs for use with the Effects camera can be downloaded from the Messages ‌App Store‌ using these directions:

messageseffectssteps

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Tap on the gray ‌App Store‌ Icon to make sure the app drawer is open.
  3. With the app drawer open, tap on the blue ‌App Store‌ logo to open up the ‌App Store‌.
  4. From here, you can browse through popular stickers, search for sticker packs, or find games and apps that come with stickers you can use with the camera.

Some of the sticker packs are free, while others are available for $0.99 to $1.99 on average.

Stacking Effects

All of the different effects can be stacked up, so you can combine multiple options. You can use filters with Animoji, for example, and also decorate photos and videos with stickers.

To use multiple effects, select your first option, such as Animoji, and choose what you want to apply. From there, tap the "X" in the upper right corner to go back to the Effects camera options and you can choose another category.

stackingmessageseffects
Using this method, you can stack up all of the effects if desired, using filters, stickers, shapes, and text with Animoji and Memoji options.

Make sure not to tap the Effects camera again while applying your different filters and effects because when you tap it, it will clear all of your set options.

Removing Effects

To remove an Animoji or Memoji filter, tap on the Animoji icon and then tap on the big "X" all the way at the left of Animoji/Memoji list.

To remove a photo filter, open up the filter menu and then scroll over to the first option, which is "Original" and select it.

removingmessageseffects
To remove text, stickers, or shapes, tap the item you want to remove in the photo or video field and then tap the "X" to delete it.

If you want to remove all of the effects that you've put in place at once, tap the Effects icon again to go back to the main camera interface. This clears all of your settings, and if you tap the Effects camera icon again, you'll have a blank slate to work with.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

hortod1 Avatar
86 months ago
This would be pretty cool...

If I was 12.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmcq Avatar
86 months ago
Not supported on my iPhone 6. Maybe you could mention which devices get the feature.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
m0sher Avatar
86 months ago
That “notch” space holding the TrueDepth camera shows its value more and more and what it can do with applications and mostly because of the quality camera that’s housed in that space some do not approve of.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
86 months ago
I'm sorry. I actually didn't realize it wasn't on the older devices -- I thought it was just Animoji that were restricted. Most of my testing is done on an iPhone X, an iPhone 7 Plus, and an iPad Pro. I'll look into which devices can access the effects camera and update the post. If you guys don't have it on your device, can you let me know? Looks like it may be A9 and later?
To follow up on this, I forgot about the beta notes. During the iOS 12 beta, Messages Effects is limited to the iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, and later. It is not available on iPads. I've added a new section in the post to note this, and I believe all of these limitations will be lifted when iOS 12 launches in the fall because Apple's documentation makes no mention of the feature being unavailable on some devices.
[doublepost=1532718220][/doublepost]
Since the effects button is in the bottom left corner, replacing the camera roll button. How do i look through existing pictures to choose to send one in a message?

Currently I have to go to the photos app, select the picture, select share, select messages, type the name of the person, then send. Its way too many steps.

I hope i'm missing an easier way to do it.
There's a Photos app for Messages, you just need to open up the Messages app drawer and tap on the Photos icon. It's an annoying change, but there's still a way to do it directly in Messages.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
84 months ago
The stupidest gimmick of iOS 12 that is actually a lot of fun to play with. Seriously. I am enjoying this.
For once... I agree :) I have been playing with effects and memoji to an unprecendented level. Don’t get me wrong, they are totally stupid and I probably wouldn’t miss them if they didn’t exist, but I had more fun than I expected.

A side note on an unexpected consequence. Yesterday my wife had a rough day at work. Nothing major of course, but you know sometimes things happen and they ruin your day. On top of that, despite being a teacher she had to remain at work until late (8-ish pm). We facetime’d, and as she was all tired and kinda on the saddish side, I switched to my newly created Memoji to which she bursted out laughing. Apparently that small thing (and the chicken memoji) was good enough to distract her for a bit from the rough day she had. I was very glad about this. I know it’s stupid, but making someone sad smile/laugh is always important.
[doublepost=1537557147][/doublepost]
It's crazy annoying how they changed it. Especially the fact that right now there's TWO app store icons in the messages app "stickers bar" underneath each other is super confusing. I keep pushing one of them and removing the bar, I was somehow used to pushing the button and then accessing my stickers.
Wait until you find out how to flip the camera in Facetime now..............
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
84 months ago
...Wait until you find out how to flip the camera in Facetime now..............
Why, oh, why did they do this?:mad:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Two of Apple's Oldest Products Are Finally Getting Updated This Year

Friday February 14, 2025 6:03 am PST by
Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, followed by the AirTag in May 2021, and both still remain first-generation products. Fortunately, rumors suggest that both the HomePod mini and the AirTag will finally be updated at some point this year. Below, we recap rumors about the HomePod mini 2 and AirTag 2. HomePod mini 2 In January 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is ...