All the Snapchat hacks and tips you'll ever need

With the grid turned on, splitting your screen into 9 squares, you can follow the rule of thirds or line up your subject dead-centre to compose a more pleasing photo on Snapchat. Blur out your background with focus mode or use the timer so your selfies aren’t blurry. You've all the features you need for a decent Snap.

Working your angles for your Cameo Selfie or group photo? Hold your phone out to your good side and find your best light by slowly spinning around while looking up at your camera. Push your shoulders down, as though you're relaxed, and hold your head out a little to look confident. To make your eyes seem larger, raise your eyebrows a little rather than using a Snapchat Lens for a natural look.

Having a finger in frame or a mark on the table could ruin the moment but you don’t have to struggle to re-capture it because you can fix mistakes in your photo with one of the lesser-known Snapchat hacks. The magic eraser tool. To save yourself re-snapping your image, tap the scissors button, then the stars for the magic eraser and draw over the problem area and this will disappear.

Tap the smiley face icon, next to the record button, and take your pick of Snapchat's paintbrushes. These create different effects in 3D – matte, metallic, rainbow, neon, iridescent. Then choose your paint colour and go to town, dabbing and splashing to create a 3D work of art that looks as though it’s floating in front of you in the real world. Change your brush size to add realistic details or huge swathes of colour. To admire your piece from a different perspective, move your phone.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll come across a cool looking new Lens and wonder where it came from and what you’ll have to do to get your hands (or face) on it. Well, here are three Snapchat hacks you can try. Swiping up on a Snap to see the Context Card works for some. You can also scan Snapcodes that have a circle in the middle and unlock special Lenses you can use for a limited time. Or if your friend has a Lens you're jealous of, ask them to try to share it with you – they'll need to tap their Snapchat camera screen to see their Lenses, then scroll to the one you want. If it’s shareable, they'll see the information icon which they can tap for the option to Send To Friends on Chat.

Something on the shelf catch your eye? Check you’re getting a good deal by scanning products on the app. Scroll left for the shopping bag icon, aim your Snapchat at the object and press and hold the screen for links to similar products online – mostly on Amazon for now.

Press and hold the screen to scan the question – calculus, equations, addition, whatever has you stumped – and Snapchat will calculate the answer using Photomath and even show you its working out.

Hold the screen while the tune's playing and Snapchat will name the singer and the track so you can listen on Shazam.

Forgot to wear your flower crown? Wish you had dramatic eye makeup? Rather than re-take your shot, try one of the most convenient Snapchat hacks on the Android app. If your full face is visible in your photograph you can add a Face Lens by tapping the smiley button below the paperclip icon and choosing from the full range.

Breathe life into your captions by swapping your flat, static words for fonts that dance on your screen and add a filter to your entire image or video. Tap the smiley face button, then ‘T’ for a bit of pizazz. Play around – with Round, Spooky, Bubble, Wavy, Layers, Script – and you’ll find the style that perfectly emphasises your point.

Tap the scissor icon. Trace the object you want to copy, doesn’t have to be neat. And Snapchat will save this bit of your picture as a sticker. From now on, when you choose the memo button while editing a Snap, you can slap on and resize this object as many times as you like. What it lacks in power – these can't submit your Snap to Snapchat’s Discover Story like a Topic sticker can – your custom sticker makes up for in being uniquely yours.