Spark AR: 3 new features available

Spark AR is the software for creating Instagram and Facebook filters. In order to meet the needs of creators and users, the software must be constantly evolving. Here are 3 new features and important updates made since March.

Adding collaborators to an effect

It is now possible to add collaborators to an effect if you are its owner or manager. This was not possible before and prevented the visibility of collaborating creators when creating a filter. Spark AR decided to create this feature so that brands could credit the effect's creators and collaborators.

This way you can add collaborators when you publish an effect. For effects that have already been published, you can add collaborators from the 'Visibility' tab of the effect by looking for the new 'Collaborators' section. By default, collaborators are allowed to display the effect in their Spark AR portfolio, but the owner or manager can change this information at any time.

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Effect statistics in Reels are now available on Spark AR

Instagram launched the Reels category to compete with Tik Tok recently. The use of effects is possible for creators to let their inventiveness run wild. But the statistics of the filters were not yet available and prevented the owners and brands of the effects to see the use of the latter. The good news about this latest feature is that insights will be separated according to the source of usage.

This will allow you to understand in which type of content your filter is most used and adapt your communication.

This new feature aims to encourage brands and creators to make filters adapted to Reels to make them more original and viral on this new type of content. Indeed, the types of effects for Reels are quite different from those that users use in stories for example. It has to be challenging for it to go viral and appeal to users.

Change of photo policy in augmented reality filters

This update in March was one of the most positive changes that creators and brands were expecting. Before this change, it was forbidden to use a photo of a person in the filters to prevent denigration and the use of proprietary images.

But since March, Spark AR has integrated a better analysis of filters to better moderate them. Thanks to this, moderators can more easily manage people's photos and validate or reject the filter.

This update removes a thorn in the side of creators and brands who can now publish filters with photos of people if they are not disparaging or if they respect image rights. A football club can therefore easily use photos of its players in a filter to promote an event, for example.

With all the updates to Spark AR, Instagram and Facebook are showing their willingness to make augmented reality accessible and good quality for its creators and users. It is a vast playground for all and brands have understood this by offering immersive experiences to its community.