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Equinix plans to invest £3.9 billion in the project, which will deliver 250+MW of compute
Key takeaways
Snapchat’s Imagine Lens lets us create a custom visual from a short sentence, right inside the camera. Instead of choosing a fixed effect, we tell the Lens what we want to see—something like “vintage postcard portrait” or “clean studio headshot”—and the app generates an image we can share in a Snap. It’s Snapchat’s first open-prompt AI Lens, which means it handles free-form ideas rather than only preset themes.¹
The change that affects most of us is availability. Imagine Lens is free in the U.S. for all Snapchatters, and Snap says it has begun expanding to Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.² During the U.S. rollout, Snap notes we get a handful of free generations, so usage may be capped at first.
Using Imagine Lens follows the familiar Snapchat camera flow, with one short step for the text prompt:
1. Open the camera in Snapchat.
2. In the Lens Carousel, select “Imagine Lens” (or use search to find it)
3. Tap the caption to edit and type a plain-language prompt—one to two short phrases is enough.
4. Generate, review the result, and then post, send, or save as we normally do with a Snap.
Because Imagine Lens is inside the standard camera, we can start from a new photo, a selfie, or the blank camera view. When we’re done, the output behaves like any ordinary Snap—share to friends, add to Stories, or export.¹’²
Traditional Lenses apply a fixed look. Imagine Lens is open-prompt, so we guide the result with words. We do not need special settings or advanced terms; short, simple instructions work best. Snap first introduced Imagine Lens with subscriber access (Lens+ or Snapchat+ Platinum), but it has since opened it up for free in the U.S., widening who can try it.⁴
Imagine Lens responds well to clear, brief language. To keep results on-target:
Short phrases help Imagine Lens avoid confusion and return a cleaner look. If we want variety, we can run a second prompt rather than stacking many details in one sentence.³
We can also edit right after shooting. Take a selfie and type “studio portrait on neutral backdrop.” Photograph a friend and try “comic-book ink style.” Snap explains that we can create, edit, or recreate within the same flow, then share as usual.³ This keeps our camera routine simple while giving us fresh styles for Stories, invites, or quick project mockups.
During the U.S. rollout, Snap says users get a handful of free generations; this helps manage demand while the feature scales. If we generate often, we may hit a soft limit and need to return later. For now, that structure allows most people to try Imagine Lens without a subscription, with more regions coming online next.¹’²
Because Imagine Lens lives in the camera we already use, it fits habits we have: shoot, style, share.
We should keep privacy and respect in mind when using any generative tool. A few basics help:
Snap’s support materials explain what Imagine Lens is and how it fits within Snapchat’s creative ecosystem, which is helpful if we want to understand the boundaries of use.³
Snap has been weaving AI features into the camera so we can do more without extra apps or complex steps. Imagine Lens places open-prompt creation where we already spend time, making it easy to try once and then keep using in daily posts. TechCrunch’s reporting and Snap’s own announcements point to a steady path: start limited, listen to feedback, then broaden access—first in the U.S., then in more countries.²
For readers who manage content hubs or personal profiles, Imagine Lens is useful for quick, branded looks without heavy software. We can keep our prompt notes alongside other creative standards—color, typography, and captions—and reuse them when a look works well. If we write tutorials or guides, this article can link internally to a prompt cheat sheet, a mobile photo basics guide, or a short post-production checklist for a fuller how-to path.
It’s free in the U.S. now. Snap says rollout has begun for Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.
No subscription for U.S. users during rollout, though use limits apply.
In the Lens Carousel (or use search). Tap the caption to edit your prompt.
Yes. We can export results like any other Snap after using Imagine Lens.
Imagine Lens brings plain-language image creation to the camera we already use. It’s free in the U.S., simple to access from the Lens Carousel, and built for quick edits and custom looks with short prompts. As Snap expands the rollout, Imagine Lens will give more people a direct way to create—without new apps, long setup, or complex settings.⁴
Citations
The post Snapchat’s AI Imagine Lens Is Free in the U.S.: How to Use It appeared first on AI GPT Journal.
Author: Jim Malervy - This post was originally published on this siteEquinix plans to invest £3.9 billion in the project, which will deliver 250+MW of compute
Key takeaways What Is Imagine Lens—and Why It Matters Snapchat’s Imagine Lens lets us create…
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