To add a beauty filter to OBS without Snap Camera, apply the beauty settings inside CiCi Cam, then add CiCi Cam to OBS as a Video Capture Device. OBS receives the finished image as a normal camera feed. You do not install a beauty plugin in OBS, and you do not use OBS Virtual Camera for this input workflow.
The complete signal path is:
Physical webcam → CiCi Cam beauty and filter processing → CiCi Cam virtual camera → OBS Video Capture Device
Why you need a Snap Camera replacement for OBS
Snap Camera used to sit between a physical webcam and OBS. It applied a Lens, created a virtual camera, and let OBS capture that processed feed. Since Snap Camera was discontinued, relying on an old installation means using software that no longer receives compatibility or security updates.
CiCi Cam uses the same practical virtual-camera pattern but focuses on natural, adjustable webcam enhancement: skin controls, facial lighting, makeup, face adjustments, and filters. The processing happens before the video reaches OBS, so OBS can continue doing what it is built for — arranging scenes, mixing sources, and encoding the stream.
If you are comparing replacements first, see the complete Snap Camera alternative for Windows and Mac.
What you need
Before opening OBS, have these ready:
- A working physical webcam
- CiCi Cam installed on your computer
- OBS Studio
- Camera permission enabled for both CiCi Cam and OBS
You do not need an OBS beauty plugin. You also do not need to start OBS Virtual Camera just to bring the CiCi Cam feed into OBS.
Step 1: Select your physical webcam in CiCi Cam
Open CiCi Cam first and choose your physical webcam as its input. Confirm that the live preview is moving normally before adjusting anything.
At this stage, CiCi Cam should be the application using the physical camera. Later, OBS will use the CiCi Cam virtual camera, not the raw webcam. Selecting the raw webcam in both applications can cause a black screen, a frozen image, or a camera-in-use error.
The input and output should be different devices:
| Application | Camera selection |
|---|---|
| CiCi Cam | Your physical USB or built-in webcam |
| OBS | CiCi Cam virtual camera |
Step 2: Build the beauty look inside CiCi Cam
Apply all face-aware adjustments in CiCi Cam while watching its preview. Start with low values and build the look in layers:
- Correct facial lighting and overall brightness.
- Add light skin smoothing without removing all texture.
- Make small face or feature adjustments only if needed.
- Add subtle makeup for the stream format.
- Finish with a filter that suits the room and scene.
The key is that every one of these changes happens inside CiCi Cam. OBS does not perform the beauty processing; it only receives the result.
For a natural look, avoid making one slider do all the work. Several light adjustments hold up better in motion than aggressive smoothing or reshaping. The guide to keeping beauty filters natural explains where the artificial look usually comes from.
Step 3: Keep CiCi Cam running
Once the preview looks right, keep CiCi Cam open and its virtual camera available. The software exposes the processed image to Windows or macOS as a camera device that OBS can select.
Do not close CiCi Cam after configuring the look. If the processing application stops, the virtual camera feed in OBS may freeze, go black, or disappear.
Step 4: Add CiCi Cam as a camera source in OBS
Now open OBS and add the processed camera feed:
- Select the scene where you want the webcam to appear.
- Under Sources, click +.
- Choose Video Capture Device.
- Select Create new and give it a clear name such as
CiCi Cam. - In the Device dropdown, choose CiCi Cam.
- Click OK.
OBS now treats CiCi Cam like a USB webcam. Any beauty or filter change made in CiCi Cam should appear in the OBS preview without replacing or reconfiguring the OBS source.
If you already have a webcam source, you can reuse it: right-click the source, open Properties, and change its device from the physical webcam to CiCi Cam.
Step 5: Match resolution and frame rate
For a typical stream, start with 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps or 1280 × 720 at 30 fps. Keep the camera output and OBS source settings aligned where possible.
Use 720p if the computer is already close to its encoding limit. Moving from 60 fps to 30 fps also reduces camera-processing load and is usually enough for a face camera in a stream layout.
After changing resolution or frame rate, check three things:
- Facial movement stays smooth.
- Audio and video remain acceptably synchronized.
- OBS does not report rendering or encoding lag.
Step 6: Frame the source in your OBS scene
Once the enhanced feed is visible, position it like any other OBS camera source:
- Drag a corner to resize it.
- Hold Alt while dragging an edge to crop it.
- Add a mask or border if it fits the scene design.
- Reuse the same source in other scenes to keep the look consistent.
Composition belongs in OBS. Beauty and filters belong in CiCi Cam. Keeping those responsibilities separate makes the setup easier to understand and troubleshoot.
Do not confuse this with OBS Virtual Camera
The names are similar, but the two virtual cameras serve different directions:
| Tool | Direction | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| CiCi Cam virtual camera | CiCi Cam → OBS | Sends an enhanced webcam into OBS as a camera source |
| OBS Virtual Camera | OBS → Zoom, Discord, or another app | Sends the completed OBS scene out as a camera |
You do not click Start Virtual Camera in OBS to receive CiCi Cam. That OBS control is only needed when you want another application to see the completed OBS canvas.
An advanced two-stage workflow can use both:
Physical webcam → CiCi Cam → OBS scene → OBS Virtual Camera → video-call app
In that setup, CiCi Cam still performs beauty and filter processing. OBS adds layouts, text, screen capture, or other sources, then sends the complete scene outward.
What should still be adjusted in OBS?
OBS includes useful source effects, but they solve different problems. Use OBS for:
- Cropping and scaling
- Color correction for the complete camera image
- LUT-based color grading
- Chroma key
- Masks and scene composition
Use CiCi Cam for:
- Skin smoothing and skin-tone controls
- Facial soft light and eye highlights
- Face and feature adjustments
- Virtual makeup
- Face-aware beauty filters
A LUT or OBS Color Correction filter changes the whole frame. It does not identify skin, eyes, lips, or facial features. If the face needs targeted enhancement, make that change in CiCi Cam before the feed reaches OBS.
Troubleshooting
CiCi Cam does not appear in the OBS device list
Quit OBS completely, open CiCi Cam first, and then reopen OBS so it scans the available camera devices again. If it is still missing, confirm that the virtual camera component was installed and that camera access is enabled in the operating system.
The broader virtual camera not showing up guide covers permissions, restart order, and registration problems.
The OBS source is black or frozen
Check the device selected in each application. CiCi Cam should use the physical webcam, while OBS should use CiCi Cam. Close any third application that may have taken exclusive control of either camera.
Also confirm that CiCi Cam is still running and its own preview is live. If the preview is frozen there, fix the physical-camera input before changing OBS settings.
OBS shows the raw, unfiltered webcam
Open the OBS source properties and check the Device dropdown. If the physical webcam is selected, switch it to CiCi Cam. OBS can only display the processed look when it captures the CiCi Cam virtual camera output.
The enhanced camera causes lag
Test at 1280 × 720 and 30 fps. Avoid applying a second stack of heavy effects to the same source inside OBS, and check OBS Stats for rendering or encoding lag. On a single-PC stream, leave enough GPU capacity for the encoder instead of running every camera and scene effect at maximum quality.
The colors look too strong in OBS
Disable any OBS LUT or Color Correction filter temporarily. If the CiCi Cam preview looks natural but OBS looks oversaturated or too dark, OBS is probably applying a second color adjustment. Establish a clean virtual-camera feed first, then add light scene-wide grading only if necessary.
Quick setup checklist
| Check | Correct setup |
|---|---|
| Beauty and filters | Configured inside CiCi Cam |
| CiCi Cam input | Physical webcam |
| OBS source type | Video Capture Device |
| OBS camera device | CiCi Cam |
| OBS Virtual Camera button | Not required for input |
| Cropping and scene layout | Configured inside OBS |
| Recommended starting output | 1080p or 720p at 30 fps |
Can the same beauty filter work outside OBS?
Yes. Because CiCi Cam exposes the enhanced image as a system virtual camera, the same look can be selected in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Discord, and other applications that accept a camera input. You configure the beauty settings once in CiCi Cam and select that camera wherever you need it.
The simplest reliable workflow
Open CiCi Cam first, build the beauty look there, and leave it running. Then open OBS, add a Video Capture Device, and select CiCi Cam. From that point forward, use CiCi Cam to change how the face looks and OBS to change how the stream is composed.
For the product-focused setup and feature overview, visit Beauty Filter for OBS Studio. If you are setting up the rest of the scene for the first time, continue with the OBS webcam setup guide.