Spark AR: Create Filters for Facebook and Instagram Stories

Learn to merge the real world with the virtual world, creating unique experiences with your designs

Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories offer infinite options for all sorts of projects. You’re probably already familiar with filters, having used them regularly to enhance images and videos. But do you know which software you can use to create your own?

Now, everyone can create their own filters thanks to Spark AR, an intuitive app that can transform your illustrations into augmented reality filters.

Spark AR was created by Facebook. Until very recently, it was in closed beta and only available for developers. Now it’s opened up to all and anyone can experiment with this simple-to-use software–which is constantly being updated–and discover what it can do.

The software presents a great range of features that allow you to get creative: you can create animations without needing any prior programming experience, import objects and sounds, design animated backdrops for your photos, and much more. You can also receive data about what sort of impact your filter’s having–how many people have downloaded it, how many times it’s been shared, and more.

There are three tools that Spark AR offers up:

Face Tracker

The best way to learn is by doing. Start using the app and with this tool you’ll learn how to position elements so that they match the movement of a face as if they were stickers or tattoos.

Canvas

This tool allows you to work on your filter project for Facebook and Instagram with fixed items and canvases.

Tap on screen, interactivity and Patch Editor

This allows you to interact with the filter, switching between modes by touching the screen or making a gesture.

Spark AR also has tools for color correction and segmenting backgrounds. You can also privately try out your filters on Facebook or Instagram from your cell phone before they go live (the test links last a week–once this time has passed they are deleted).

It’s possible to work on the image transmitted by your webcam although recommended that you work with the software’s moving face presets that have been developed so that you can get a good idea of how the final result will look.

If you want to learn more about creating your own filters for social media, enroll in the course, Illustrated Filters for Facebook and Instagram Stories, by Beatriz Ramo (@naranjalidad).

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