Facebook has launched a faster and easier-to-use camera with art and special effects to help make your conversations on Messenger better than ever.

It’s even quicker and easier to capture and share moments as they happen. Imagine the Messenger camera as a powerful new tool that lives just behind your inbox. It’s always one tap away — whether you’re already in a conversation or have just opened up the app. You will see the shutter button at the centre of the screen. A tap takes photo, a long press records a video.

Facebook are also introducing a place to find new art and special effects. We are especially excited to debut 3D masks and special effects, which make it super easy to apply an artistic filter to your full screen photo and to turn your world into a work of art. Try them out — you can take a selfie and transform into a reindeer or play with falling snow or even just ask someone how they are doing — it’s the perfect way to spread a little happiness in your messages.

They have also added thousands of stickers, frames, masks and effects to choose from too — and you can personalise exactly how you use it. These were designed by artists and influencers from all over the world.

And there’s more! Unique to Messenger is a feature that can make your text messages even more fun. Check out the palette icon by the shutter and it will take you to a blank canvas where you can add art and stickers to your text. Of course, if you just want to send a message with only text, you can still do that too.