How to Get Started in Creating Your Own AR Filters for Social Media | MAGES Institute

How to Get Started in Creating Your Own AR Filters for Social Media

Social media augmented reality filters have provided the world with its fair share of laughs. Who can forget the lawyer who appeared as a kitten during a Zoom hearing? But these humorous moments shouldn’t detract from the potential of AR filters if we harness their power properly.

And now, thanks to AI and tools like Meta Spark, anyone can design their own AR filters. These social AR products can be used for fun, but they also carry immense value as a business marketing tool. So, how do you put it to use and how difficult will it be?

Social AR—What is it Exactly?

Social AR can be present on various social apps, ranging from Facebook and Instagram to Tiktok and Snapchat. Within these and other third party apps, accessed through mobile devices and thanks to augmented reality technology, social AR adds a virtual visual element to the real elements viewed via the camera, whether the front or back lens.

While it’s often used for entertainment in the form of photo filters, it can also enhance marketing campaigns, for example when a filter allows you to try on a product—such as glasses—virtually. Social AR can also be a game, a face filter or an add that appears.

By joining the real world and a virtual world of the creator’s choosing, it results in immersive experiences. In the case of using social AR for business, it’s more effective than simply showing traditional ads since the immersion results in more customer engagement.

The Current Social AR Environment

The good news is the thanks to modern technology and programs already launched on social media platforms, almost anyone can now create filters of their choosing. This is made possible by helpful tools like Meta Spark and TikTok Effect House.

When using social AR for business, it allows companies to showcase their personality. This enhances branding campaigns on popular platforms that many existing and potential customers frequent, hopefully resulting in more customer engagement.

Currently, social AR also helps brands to set themselves apart, since using it for marketing is a fairly new idea. Adding a unique feature to how you engage with your audience will make you more memorable. It’s best to start using it now already, since in coming years it’s bound to be more common, making it more difficult to get your brand noticed.

Certain content types are provided to get users started. The tools then allow you to compile a filter and customize it to your liking, even incorporating textures and 3D models.

Types of Filters

When planning on creating your own AR filters, plan properly so it aligns with your purpose. You can select from these types:

Get in on the Action—How to Create Your Own AR Filter

As mentioned, technology empowers individuals and companies to use AR filters for their own pleasure or the optimize their marketing. The steps below give a general idea of how the tools work and what to consider during each step in the process.

You’ll need to customize the process for your particular needs.

Step 1: Download the Tech

You can download tools like Spark AR Studio. Always make sure the tool is compatible with your device’s operating system to ensure easy usage. For example, Spark is currently available for both Windows and Mac customers.

Step 2: Get Familiar

It will be easier to use the tool if you’re familiar with it. Take some time to browse the menus and read tutorials to educate yourself.

Step 3: Pick a Marker (Marker-based AR filters only)

In the case of using marker-based AR filters, try to keep it as simple as possible. For example, if a marker contains a lot of text or there’s not enough contrast between objects on an image used as a marker, it will be much more difficult to accurately trigger the filter. Also ensure it’s absolutely unique, so you know it will only trigger YOUR filter, no one else’s.

Step 4: Pick and Customize Effects and Objects

You can decide whether you want to create an effect that’s completely new, or start off with a template provided by the program. Options include but aren’t limited to:

Step 5: Test and Publish Your AR Filter

Test it yourself before going public with it. Tools usually allow you to view how it displays on different devices. Once you’re happy with the final product, publish it in order for others to use it or experience it as part of your marketing campaign.

Final Words

Augmented reality is an exciting world for developers to be part of and now the general public—and businesses—can also partake in the fun. When used optimally this can be how you make your mark in your industry, or impress your followers on social media.

Have more questions on the topic? Please comment below.

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