Combining third-party content with user content

A computing apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, via a communication application executing on a user device of a user, a third-party user input content item from a third-party user device;
• causing presentation, via a user interface of the communication application, of the third-party user input content item on the user device of the user;
• determining a third-party authorization for the third-party user input content item to be combined with other content items to create a combined user input content item;
• responsive to determining the third-party authorization, automatically causing presentation on the user device, via the user interface of the communication application, of a combination graphical element, the combination graphical element being user-selectable to invoke a combination function;
• determining user selection of the combination graphical element;
• responsive to the determining of the user selection of the combination graphical element, invoking the combination function, the combination function enabling the user to combine the third-party user input content item with another content item to create the combined user input content item,
• responsive to invoking the combination function, enabling a camera function of a camera of the user device and causing concurrent presentation, within a combination interface presented by the communication application, of a live camera feed from the camera and the third-party user input content item;
• causing presentation, within the combination interface, of a set of layout graphical elements, each layout graphical element being user-selectable to apply a different predefined layout template specifying a layout relationship between the third-party user input content item and camera-captured content;
• detecting a user selection of a layout graphical element from the set of layout graphical elements;
• applying the predefined layout template corresponding to the selected layout graphical element to arrange the third-party user input content item relative to the live camera feed in the combination interface prior to capture;
• receiving a user capture input while the live camera feed is displayed in the combination interface and responsive to the user capture input, capturing a second user input content item from the live camera feed;
• generating the combined user input content item by combining the second user input content item with the third-party user input content item in accordance with the applied predefined layout template;
• and
• transmitting, via the communication application, the combined user input content item from the user device to the third-party user device.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, via a communication application executing on a user device of a user, a third-party user input content item from a third-party user device;
• causing presentation, via a user interface of the communication application, of the third-party user input content item on the user device of the user;
• determining a third-party authorization for the third-party user input content item to be combined with other content items to create a combined user input content item;
• responsive to determining the third-party authorization, automatically causing presentation on the user device, via the user interface of the communication application, of a combination graphical element, the combination graphical element being user-selectable to invoke a combination function;
• determining user selection of the combination graphical element;
• responsive to the determining of the user selection of the combination graphical element, invoking the combination function, the combination function enabling the user to combine the third-party user input content item with another content item to create the combined user input content item,
• responsive to invoking the combination function, enabling a camera function of a camera of the user device and causing concurrent presentation, within a combination interface presented by the communication application, of a live camera feed from the camera and the third-party user input content item;
• causing presentation, within the combination interface, of a set of layout graphical elements, each layout graphical element being user-selectable to apply a different predefined layout template specifying a layout relationship between the third-party user input content item and camera-captured content;
• detecting a user selection of a layout graphical element from the set of layout graphical elements;
• applying the predefined layout template corresponding to the selected layout graphical element to arrange the third-party user input content item relative to the live camera feed in the combination interface prior to capture;
• receiving a user capture input while the live camera feed is displayed in the combination interface and responsive to the user capture input, capturing a second user input content item from the live camera feed;
• generating the combined user input content item by combining the second user input content item with the third-party user input content item in accordance with the applied predefined layout template;
• and
• transmitting, via the communication application, the combined user input content item from the user device to the third-party user device.