Follow this step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own 3D object, upload it to Snapchat and let everyone use it as a custom 3D lens. You do not need any coding skills or professional 3D software.

Snapchat has introduced Lens Studio, a desktop application for Mac and Windows to create AR lenses and filters for adjustment. Use a simple 3D tool like Vectary to create your 3D design, upload it to Lens Studio and share it with the world through Snapchat.

Create custom lenses for customers who buy in your store, attend your event or make funny selfies with glasses, as we did. Help them make funny shots to share with their audience and promote their brand organically.

Create a custom Snapchat lens using free tools

Snapchat’s Lens Studio and Vectary, a 3D design tool that is dragged and dropped, is all you need to start using AR in your marketing. It’s really easy to offer your customers more fun experiences with your brand, and you do not need a team of programmers and designers to do it!

Create a 3D object by dragging and dropping

Vectary is a simple 3D design tool that allows you to create when drag and drop. You can use the object and material library to create simple 3D shapes for your Snapchat lens.

Step by step:

1. Download Snapchat Lens Studio and sign up for Vectary. With this configuration, you are now ready to create your own 3D design for your Snapchat lens.

2. We decided to make a pair of donut glasses. The 3D object library in Vectary is full of objects that you can use to do this. 

Create the glasses by dragging and dropping 3D donuts from the library and change the colors and materials to your liking. If you want more objects to choose from, connect to the Google Poly library. Go to the right corner, click on “Connected Accounts” and add it from the menu. This gives you access to more low poly objects ready to use to create. 

3. Export your object as an OBJ file. This type of file ensures high import compatibility. The OBJ export feature is part of the Premium plan.

4. Open Lens Studio and choose a lens template: we are choosing the baseball cap template because we want the glasses to appear on the head. You can use this template to create a lens with a band of flowers or a lens with an animal ear as well.

5. Remove the original hat layer and the face fringe layer of the template (we do not want them to be in our design). Next, load the 3D design in the same folder.

6. To test the lens, pair your smartphone with Lens Studio and press the lens on your device by clicking on the button in the upper right corner of Lens Studio.

7. Send your lens as a community lens or as a sponsored lens. The community lenses are free for anyone to create, share and use, and it’s probably what you should do if you do it just for fun and do not need Snapchat to promote your Lens. Sponsored lenses are one of three forms of location-based advertising on Snapchat.

The shipping process is quite simple, but it takes a day or two for the Snapchat team to review and approve its lens. You can read Snapchat’s shipping guidelines in advance to make sure you meet.

8. Now that your lens is ready, share your Snapcode on social networks or print for everyone to use. Each lens has its own Snapcode. When you scan the Snapcode with your Snapchat camera, the lens automatically appears on your screen and you can use it.

9. Share your Snapcode with the world! Anyone who opens Snapchat and scans the code can use it in their snapshots. You can share your Snapcode on social networks or print it on stickers and posters too!