You don’t need to have your ear to the ground to know that augmented reality (AR) has been making major waves over the last few years. For the uninitiated, AR involves overlaying the real world with computer-generated images, thus allowing users to interact with virtual elements in a physical environment.
AR has the potential to revolutionise fields as diverse as gaming, design, shopping, education, and even medicine. In fact, the revolution has already started, so why not get in on the ground floor?
In this blog, we’ll give you a leg up by discussing some of the best tools you can use to create your own successful AR experience, from development to design to 3D analytics. So, let’s get started.
AR Development Tools
To develop an engaging AR experience, you’ll need – you guessed it – the very best AR development tools. Here are a few of our picks that blend functionality, quality, and user-friendliness.
Snap AR - Lens Studio
Snap AR’s Lens Studio lets you craft lenses for Snapchat, Spectacles, web, and mobile apps using Camera Kit. With millions of Snapchatters diving into AR daily and Lenses racking up trillions of views, Snapchat stands out for AR discovery. Lens Studio's powerful features bring a new level of creativity, realism, and engagement to AR. These top-notch capabilities have fueled creators to churn out millions of Lenses, reshaping how people learn, play, shop, and express themselves today.
8th Wall
8th Wall is all about the democratisation of AR development. As a Web AR (web-based AR) tool, it allows developers to create top-quality AR experiences for iOS and Android smartphones. These experiences are all created within a web browser, so they don’t require an app. This gives developers the freedom to create interactive experiences from anywhere and supports features such as face effects, image targets, and world effects.
blippar
blippar is user-friendly, quick to set up, and comes with free access to 1000s of 3D models. Experienced developers can use the Web AR SDK while the Blippbuilder platform allows for no-code AR-creations, making it ideal for beginners – or those in a hurry. Trusted by global brands such as Pepsi, Google, Hulu, and AT&T, to name a few, blippar has a raft of features to rival the very best AR development tools.
ARCore
Developed as Google’s response to Apple’s iOS only ARKit. ARCore is supported by various platforms, including Android, iOS, and Unreal Engine which means while ARKit might offer more and a higher quality ARCore is on more devices. It has a range of tools such as motion tracking, light estimation, and environmental understanding. Versatile, sophisticated, and free (yes, free!), ARCore is another exceptional string in Google’s ever-strengthening bow.
Honourable mentions:
ARKit (iOS-only), echo3D, Unity, Vuforia, and Wikitude.
Generative AI
If ever there was a year of AI, it was 2023. It seems as if no industry will be untouched by what once seemed like the reserve of science fiction, and AR development is no different.
Midjourney
Midjourney is a simple concept: The user enters text prompts and Midjourney creates images based on their requests. And that’s it. There’s no need for expertise in 3D art or graphic design, and it can quickly generate creative, innovative, and high-quality concept artwork for your AR experiences.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is redefining the AR coding experience. It can offer rapid guidance on SDKs and frameworks. It facilitates seamless prototyping by generating AR code for scripts, interactions, and asset imports. It can increase productivity with content creation, spanning from text to intricate 3D assets. And can deliver superior code quality with well-commented scripts and heightened efficiency in debugging and documentation.
3D Design
Functionality is essential for AR experiences, but so is design. High quality and engaging 3D models will have a significant impact on overall user experience, ensuring people remember and talk about your creations.
Maya
As one of the most powerful and versatile 3D software on the market, Maya is used by lighting artists, animators, 3D modellers, and FX artists alike. While it does require deep pockets (current $1,875 a year), its user-friendliness, in-depth tutorials, and excellent suite of animation tools make Maya an excellent fit for anyone creating incredibly detailed models across various platforms.
Blender
2D & 3D drawing, rendering, modelling, sculpting, and VFX – Blender can do it all. Its character rigging and animation abilities are particularly noteworthy. Not only is it open source, but it’s also free (with an optional paid plan) – with various plugins available too. It also benefits from a very engaged and forward-thinking community, making blender an excellent place to develop 3D models for augmented reality.
Augmented Reality and 3D Analytics
It’s not enough to create what you think is a great experience and leave it at that. Making the very best AR experiences requires a deep understanding of user behaviour and engagement. By taking a deep dive into your users’ interactions, 3D analytics allow you to unravel a host of insights that conventional metrics – or gut feeling – simply can’t capture.
3D analytics provide a data-driven feedback loop, empowering developers to constantly tweak and improve their creations based on real-world data. This iterative approach is the only way to truly perfect AR experiences, by ensuring they’re as captivating and high-performing as possible.
Unleash The Power of AR Analytics with Metalitix
Metalitix is more than a tool for tracking sessions and conversion rates – it’s a multi-faceted 3D analytics platform for transforming augmented reality experiences. Seamlessly integrating with 3D creations and environments, it provides detailed insights into all aspects of a user’s experience, including movement, camera rotation, interactions with virtual objects, and more.
A platform-agnostic tool, Metalitix is compatible across a wide range of development platforms, while its intuitive analytic dashboard allows for insights into user behaviour, engagement, and overall performance.
For any AR creator, Metaltix is a truly indispensable tool for crafting unforgettable experiences for their users. So, whether you want to entertain, inspire brand loyalty, or increase conversion, this one shouldn’t be missed.
Get Started Today
If you want to supercharge your AR experiences, get started with Metalitix today.
Learn more about augmented reality analytics and how you can use tools to boost customer engagement, awareness, and perceived brand value.
