One of the best parts of Snapchat is using all those fun filters that have users vomiting rainbows, give them extremely large but adorable eyes and the ability to swap faces with someone else. Now, iOS users don't need to have Snapchat to be able to take these silly selfies and share them with friends.
Msqrd — short for Masquerade — is a live filter app for photos and videos that allows users to add masks and effects to their face that include enlarged eyes and turning their face into a monkey.
The app works by tracking the user's face, then applying various filters that can be selected from the library. Filters include turning the user into the Joker, Barack Obama, a character from the Sims, Iron Man and even the poop emoji. While some filters will just transform the user's face, other masks will animate, depending on the user's expression. There is even the popular "open your mouth" feature for some like the Harry Potter filter, which features the Snitch flying right into the user's mouth.
Users also have the choice of recording a video instead of snapping just a selfie, so they can show off the animation or say something funny and share it with friends on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, text or email.
The app was build by a team of experts in the fields of machine learning, face detection and tracking, facial expression recognition, 3D graphics and visual effects, and uses algorithms that have been trained on libraries that include million of faces.
According to Msqrd, the live-animated filter app is ranked the No. 1 app in more than 50 countries. App Annie reveals it is ranked No. 4 in the photo and video category in the App Store as of Sunday.
While it's essentially the fun of Snapchat filters without Snapchat, Msqrd is highly addicting once the user starts playing around with it. So much so, the app was even used on the red carpet after the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday night.
Arguably, the best filter available on the app is the one that transforms the user's face to Leonardo DiCaprio's, complete with two Oscars on either side. Go ahead and capture the reaction moment when his name was finally called, or share a video of your own acceptance speech as Leo. You deserve it.
Msqrd is available to download for free for iOS.
