Augmented reality filters on social media have delivered plenty of laughter to the world. We all have witnessed bizarre yet funny social media filter videos that have gone viral during the pandemic. However, these comical moments should not overshadow the immense potential of AR filters if we can utilize their power effectively.
Thanks to artificial intelligence and tools such as Meta Spark, creating personalized AR filters is now within anyone's reach. Although these social AR products offer entertainment value, they also serve as a powerful marketing tool for businesses. But how can you take advantage of them, and how challenging is it? Let us find the answers and explore some techniques in this article.
What is Social AR?
Social AR, accessible through various social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Snapchat, adds virtual elements to real-life camera views using augmented reality technology. It's often used for entertainment through photo filters, but it can also enhance marketing campaigns by allowing virtual product try-on. Social AR can take the form of a game, face filter, or ad. By blending the real and virtual worlds, it creates immersive experiences that result in increased customer engagement, making it more effective than traditional ads for businesses.
Types of AR Filters:
Marker-based AR filters: Initiated by a specific marker recognized by the camera, this filter is easy to produce and compatible with many devices. It can include text, images, audio, animations, videos, or games, and serve marketing or interactive purposes.
Markerless AR filters: Launched anywhere via an app, this flexible filter analyzes the environment and adds an AR layer on top. It works best with textured surfaces and can include 3D objects, AR versions of products for retail, furniture visualization, virtual object manipulation, portals to virtual worlds, and interactive play between users.
Location-based AR: Less common, but valuable for some industries like travel and tourism, this GPS-based filter shows AR elements based on the viewer's location, such as virtual road signs and business information.
Join the trend - Creating Your Own AR Filter
Technology enables individuals and businesses to utilize AR filters for personal enjoyment or marketing purposes. The following steps provide a general overview of how these tools function and what factors to keep in mind during each stage of the process. However, it is important to customize the process according to your specific requirements.
Step 1: Download the tech
To download tools like Spark AR Studio, ensure the tool is compatible with your device's operating system for easy usage. As an illustration, Spark AR Studio is presently accessible for Windows and Mac users.
Step 2: Become familiar with the tool
Becoming familiar with the tool will make it easier to use. Spend some time going through the menus and reading tutorials to educate yourself.
Step 3: Pick a marker (applicable for marker-based ar filters only)
If you're using marker-based AR filters, it's best to keep it simple. Avoid using markers with too much text or insufficient contrast between objects, as this can make it challenging to trigger the filter accurately. It's also important to ensure that the marker is unique to your filter so that it won't trigger any other filter.
Step 4: Customize effects and objects
You have the option to either create a brand-new effect or use a template provided by the program. There are various options to choose from, such as selecting objects and audio files from the program library, adding AR elements to a scene, removing a person from their natural background and placing them in your AR environment, importing objects or sounds from personal files (such as merchandise for people to try on), adjusting details like textures, colors, and lighting, and selecting actions for objects like rotation or interaction with real-world elements.
Step 5: Time to test and publish your AR filter
Before making your AR filter available to the public, it's important to test it yourself. Most tools offer the ability to preview the filter on various devices to ensure optimal display. Once you are satisfied with the final product, you can publish it for others to use or experience as part of your marketing campaign.
Conclusion
Developers can enjoy being a part of the exciting world of augmented reality, and now the general public and businesses can also join in on the fun. When used effectively, this technology can help individuals and companies make their mark in their industry or impress their followers on social media.