Facebook opened Spark augmented reality (AR), a tool that lets Instagram users create their own AR-powered effects, to the world as a public beta last Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Earlier this year at the Facebook F8 conference for developers, the company announced that soon anyone will be able to make AR-powered effects for Instagram with a tool called Spark AR Studio. The tool was previously only available to select Instagram users.
Image: Courtesy of Facebook via AFP Relaxnews
According to the company, everyone can be a creator whether you are a “professional or have a limited tech background.” Though Spark AR provides users with a library of effects, sounds, and animations that can be patched together to create a filter, users can also insert their own sound files and objects to uniquely enhance their work. There is additionally an Effect Galley that users can browse to find “niche AR effects from up-and-coming artists.”
Once published to Instagram, Spark AR tracks a project’s performance so that creators can see the total impressions, captures and shares made over various time periods.
Anyone can search through the user-made AR filters by scrolling to the end of the available effects in the effects tray and tapping Browse Effects.
All AR experiences used on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Portal were created using Spark AR Studio by company designers. RGA/JB
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