Return
13.12.2021
Kickstarter, the cradle of virtual reality
HIPEREXPERIENCIA
LOADED
Español
English
13.12.2021
Every day it is more common for users to use Augmented Reality filters in social networks, especially and more specifically in the stories of Instagram. These filters were first created in the image and video messaging application, Snapchat. They were later incorporated into Instagram and Facebook where their use began to become popular through the stories format.
The statistics for the past year are very clear: 500 million Instagram accounts upload stories daily, of which 75% include some Augmented Reality filter. This fact has caused many companies and brands to see in this format a business opportunity and a new way of communicating with their customers, through the creation of their own corporate Instagram filters.
But, first, let's start with the basics....
What are Augmented Reality filters?
AR filters or Augmented Reality filters are camera effects that can be added to stories on Instagram and Facebook. These effectsconsist mainly of computer-generated virtual elements that are superimposed in real time on the images captured by the front or rear camera of the mobile phone thanks to Augmented Reality technology.
Today technology has advanced enormously since the first uses of this type of experience and these filters currently allow to recognize, not only human faces, but also those of our pets, other body parts such as hands, or even be used by several people at the same time. In this way, the creative possibilities provided by the use of Augmented Reality filters are growing, and are proving to be one of the preferred and essential complements for users in their Instagram stories.
What kind of AR filters are there?
Depending on their use of Augmented Reality, the type of interaction they generate with the user or even the subject matter they deal with, Augmented Reality filters for Instagram can be categorized in multiple different ways. Primarily, these are the most relevant types of AR filters that can be created for Instagram Stories:
-
Masks and accessories: Using Augmented Reality, objects or accessories such as hats, scarves, glasses, earrings, etc. are projected onto the user's face.
-
Cosmetic effects: Like the previous ones, they also recognize and alter the user's face, reflecting how it would be aesthetically modified in real time, for example, if they had freckles, if they wore a certain makeup, or if they dyed their hair a different color.
-
Quiz: These are filters that generate random answers to a specific question. They serve brands to let the public know the variety of their product, and also generate expectation in users, since, due to its randomness, it causes users to try it more than once to see the different options provided by the filter.
-
Games: Generally, the face and certain gestures of the face are used as the controller of the mini-game mechanics. These are more interactive filters, because the user's actions and movements influence what is displayed on the screen. Users will want to try it again and again to beat their personal best and even challenge their friends, which implies high filter diffusion.
-
Projection of virtual objects: By using Augmented Reality, a 3D object is directly recreated on a surface. They are very interesting to show the products of a brand, since any product or object can be projected; a pair of sneakers, a bottle, or even an animated object such as a dog, a cat or a bird.
-
Virtual environments: These are filters that allow creating 360º environments, in which the user will be able to see himself inside it through the mobile device. In addition, the image can be accompanied by sound so that the user experiences a greater degree of immersion in the created environment.
How to create Augmented Reality filters?
The popularity of Augmented Reality filters has led users themselves to want to create their own filters and upload them so they can share them with the community. So much so that many users have become specialists in creating this type of AR effects and their social network accounts have become popular due to the notable use of their filters created for the community.
For this reason, and given the boom and popularity these were having, Facebook decided to create Spark AR Studio, a graphic editor with which you can create all kinds of Augmented Reality filters for Instagram and Facebook; distortions, cosmetic effects, virtual objects, 3D masks, etc. This application covers all the necessary functions and capabilities to be able to create filters for social networks, from the simplest to the most complex, and upload them to our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
In addition to Spark AR Studio for Instagram and Facebook, TikTok has also decided to join the trend of Augmented Reality filters, recently implementing (still in beta version) an Augmented Reality development platform, Effect House, with which users can create AR filters for the social network.
It should be noted that, despite having tools and software to facilitate the development of these filters, in most cases a minimum of knowledge about programming logic and 3D modeling is necessary to achieve the expected result.
For this reason, if you are looking for professionals to create the Augmented Reality filter you have in mind for your brand or company, contact us and we will help you make it happen.
We create your own Augmented Reality filter!
Why include Instagram filter creation in a brand or company's corporate strategy?
Now you know what Augmented Reality filters are, how they can be created for Instagram, Facebook or even TikTok and what types of filters exist, but.... How can using Augmented Reality filters on social networks help a company? How can brands benefit from creating their own AR filters? Why include them in a company's marketing strategy?
As we mentioned at the beginning, AR filters are a tool used mainly on Instagram and Facebook, two social networks that together have 1.6 billion active users. In addition, as we also discussed above, stats show that 375 million Instagram accounts use Augmented Reality filters on a daily basis in their stories.
Augmented Reality filters are a non-invasive branding tool that also creates interest in the brand and generates a bond with potential customers; it must be taken into account that, as statistics for 2021 show, Instagram helps 80% of its users to decide whether to buy a product or service, so AR filters are a good way to make the product visible and make it known to new users.
When implementing AR filters in the communication strategy on social networks, brands create branded content of great value, getting the users themselves to become prescribers by spreading the content in their stories, generating brand value and even going viral.
Another very important factor also for marketers, can the impact generated by the use of these Augmented Reality filters be measured? Of course it is. The results are fully measurable, since Instagram provides you with statistics about their use, so you can analyze and check if they adapt to users' preferences.
By using Augmented Reality filters, users can not only "try" a product before making a purchase, as in the case of a cosmetic product or an accessory, but these filters can also be used to show the human side of the brand, celebrating special days, such as Halloween or Christmas, or to show support for social causes.
In conclusion, AR filters are a great tool to consolidate the brand image on your social media profile, improve visibility and increase audience. Their use also means performing an innovative action for users that creates a real connection with the brand and conveys a fresh and fun image.
Examples of Instagram filters for businesses
The success of the stories format on Instagram has caused a multitude of brands to join in creating their own Augmented Reality filters with the aim of increasing their visibility through users' own content using their filters.
If you are looking for inspiration and ideas for your future Instagram filters, here are the most interesting examples of how to use Augmented Reality filters and take advantage of them to revolutionize your digital marketing strategy on social networks.
#MyOutfilter by Springfield:
Through its Instagram account, the fashion brand Springfield created a novel action with the aim of generating interaction in its community of followers. Through the use of an Augmented Reality filter, users could customize a brand T-shirt with the photograph of their choice. Thus, to encourage users to participate using the filter, they decided to market the T-shirt with the most swag of all those posted with the hashtag #MyOutfilter.
Tropicana's Instagram Quiz:
Tropicana decided to give a very interesting use to the Augmented Reality filters creating an interactive Quiz for its followers in which they answered several questions about their likes. The filter also had the functionality to detect the movement of the head to the left or right as a method to choose the answer chosen by the user.
Instagram filters for the Valencia Marathon 2021:
With the aim of viralizing the Valencia Marathon 2021, the most prestigious held in Spain and one of the best in the world, from DeuSens we designed for Telefónica these three Augmented Reality filters that allowed runners to take a picture with the virtualized race medal, know what their time would be or how the race was going to go.
Through these three Augmented Reality filters for Instagram, we managed to create a portable photocall that each runner could carry integrated into their own smartphone, in addition to making the race visible through the interaction of the users themselves.
The virtual mustaches of Rodolfo Langostino:
Pescanova decided to use one of its most mythical characters, Rodolfo Langostino, as the protagonist of its advertising campaign to celebrate Saint Rudolph's Day, and in which celebration, they included the creation of an Augmented Reality filter for Instagram that integrated the character's whiskers on the user's face.
In addition, they combined the use of the Augmented Reality filter with sweepstakes and other actions in order to attract even more audience and generate more interaction with their followers.
Fun AR filters by Gucci:
Taking advantage of the pull of Augmented Reality filters in stories, Gucci decided to create its own in which it included its characteristic style, its corporate image and even some of its products, such as earrings or necklaces, with the aim of better connecting with its audience and giving visibility to its Instagram profile through content shared by users and followers themselves.
The bag on the head of Carrefour:
To pay homage to the ladies who use grocery bags to cover themselves from the rain, Carrefour decided to launch this Augmented Reality filter on its Instagram account, accompanied by a sweepstakes in which all those users who used the filter and tagged them in the storie participated.
In this way, in addition to making their Instagram profile visible, reaching new users, they also managed to make the brand visible by including it in the bag that appeared in said filter.
Themed AR filters to celebrate all kinds of festivities:
During this 2021 in DeuSens, besides making Augmented Reality filters for clients such as Telefónica and the Valencia Marathon, we have also created our own filters to dynamize our Instagram profile, using them to promote the celebration of different festivities such as the Fiestas del Pilar de Zaragoza, Halloween or the upcoming Christmas Holidays.
They are a very interesting way to generate virality taking advantage of specific festivities and, in this way, achieve brand positioning by including the corporate image in the Augmented Reality filter itself.
If any of these examples have piqued your curiosity or inspired you, and you want to create your own corporate Augmented Reality filter, we recommend putting yourself in the hands of professionals with experience in 3D modeling and programming.
At DeuSens we have a highly specialized team in these two branches and, combining development and design, we can create for your company or brand any Augmented Reality filter you need.
SIMILAR CONTENT
13.12.2021
What will commerce in the Metaverse be like? | New virtual business models
13.12.2021
TYPES OF VR DEVICES | What are the types of Virtual Reality glasses that exist?
