Instagram is one of the more popular social media platforms out there that’s underutilized by businesses, especially now in these times when everybody is just at home. Mortgage companies, real estate firms, auto repair shops, and a lot of other businesses only use mostly Twitter and Facebook—and they’re missing out.
Instagram, or IG, has features that allow you to reach people in ways that other social media platforms won’t. According to Hootsuite, there are around 1 billion IG users worldwide. Half of that use IG Stories daily. From a marketing perspective, IG’s potential advertising reach is a whopping 849.3 million users daily.
What is an Instagram AR filter?
Augmented Reality, or AR, filters on Instagram changes the appearance of your background or foreground in Instagram Stories.
These filters should not be mistaken for the others on IG that allow you to instantly edit your photos. Instagram AR is only available as a Stories feature.
Here are some reasons why you should consider using AR filters for IG Stories:
- It lets you connect with your audience.
- It creates brand awareness.
- It shows off your brand’s personality.
- It gives you a competitive edge.
How do you make one?
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Download Spark AR Studio.
Spark AR Studio is an easy-to-use app that allows you to make AR filters like a pro. This app is only available in Mac and Windows.
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Familiarize yourself with the platform.
Next, get a feel of the platform and familiarize yourself with its different features and functions. The interface is very user-friendly.
The central panel where you will do most of your work is called the Viewport. You can preview what your work looks like on different devices using the Simulator located on the corner while the panel on the left, called Scene, is where you will find the features to use for editing your filters.
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Decide what type of effect you want to use.
Once you’ve gotten a feel of the app, you can then decide if you want to use one of the eight templates or come up with your own filter instead.
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Upload an asset.
Spark AR Studio has assets you can use for editing from its AR library. You can use one of the images there or you can upload one.
The library also lets you choose animations, audio files, and a lot more.
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Edit the uploaded graphic’s behavior.
Using the Scene panel, you can tweak the uploaded graphics according to your preference. You can change its appearance, movement, and real-world interaction. The result will be your custom AR filter.
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Test the effect.
There are two ways you can test your effect. The first one is by sending your AR filter to IG or Facebook and see how it works in Stories. The other one is by downloading the Spark AR Player app on your mobile device.
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Publish.
Once you’re content with how your filter looks, click “Upload” and wait for the approval from Spark AR. They typically review all submissions to ensure that all finished work meets their policies and guidelines. The screening process usually takes anywhere between a few days to a week.
If you think that Instagram and IG Stories will work for your brand, what are you waiting for? Start working on your Instagram AR filters and widen your reach.
