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Spark AR is Facebook’s free AR creation platform that enables users to create interactive AR experiences for Facebook and Instagram. More than 400,000 creators in 190 countries have used Spark AR to create their own AR creations

Since the software requires no coding knowledge to use, anyone can now lead the world by creating the next crazy viral Instagram AR effects with little experience in the AR world.

Specialized AR filter designers can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000.

In Spark AR Studio, you can create animations using 2D textures.

You can:

  • Add your own textures, use the Animation Sequence to animate them, and then add the Animation to the object.
  • Using the quick import and optimization method, Spark AR will automatically add textures to the Animation Sequence and assign them to plane objects (GIF files must be imported using the quick method).

Textures that can be imported

You can import:

  1. A series of separate texture files to create a sequence;
  2. Sub-screen form;
  3. Texture atlas;
  4. Animated GIF

A texture atlas will create the most efficient and usually the best quality effect. Sequences produce the worst results.

Create a texture

You can use TexturePacker to create sub-screen forms and texture atlas.

Prepare the texture

Naming the texture

If you are importing a series of texture files, name them before importing them. For example: name. FrameNumber. FileExtension.

JSON data for the sub-screen form

If the JSON file is in the same folder as the texture you imported, the JSON data will be added to the project. Otherwise you can add the texture manually by editing its properties in Spark AR Studio.

To import the grain

The fastest way to import, optimize, and add texture sequences or animated GIFs is to use the quick import and optimize method described below.

Fast import and optimization methods

Quickly import texture sequences or gifs:

  • Click Add Asset at the bottom of the Assets panel.
  • Select Import, then Select Texture Animation.
  • Choose Choose Files to select a GIF or multiple Files to compose a texture sequence.

A, optimization

Once you have added a Texture sequence or GIF, you can optimize it by reducing the total size of the file in the Import Texture Animation Window. The texture file cannot exceed the maximum effect size (4MB), we recommend keeping it below this number. The window has a number of Settings that you can edit by selecting the box to the right of each setting.

Second, texture reduction

This setting configures the size, transparency, and quality of the texture sequence. Spark AR supports textures of up to 1024 x 1024 pixels. As a general rule, try to keep the texture size to a minimum.

If you import GIF or PNG files, but your texture sequence does not contain transparency, you can uncheck the transparency check box.

File quality (0-100) controls the compression level. Lower quality means more compression and smaller file sizes.

3. Frame reduction

Use this setting to reduce the number of frames used for 2D animations derived from texture sequences. Quantity(Low, Medium, High) sets the number of frames to be removed from the animation.

4. Import options

When you are satisfied with the optimization results, you can choose how to add the sequence to the project. Add it to the plane and Animation Sequence:

  • Check the box To the right of Add To Plane.
  • Click Import.

Your animation will play directly!

To simply add the Sequence to the Animation Sequence, click Import. Then, you need to follow the instructions in this article to add an animation to an object and have your animation play in the scene.