In an ideal scenario, all AR projects would start with the end in mind, and both the marker and interactive content would be created in tandem. However, often, both pieces of material have been crafted way before augmented reality comes to mind. While both options work, it is best to explore how either approach will affect the final result.
Do AR videos have unique specifications or formats?
No—is the simple answer. You can even use a YouTube video, a quick TikTok or Instagram story and turn it into a quick DIY AR experience. However, if you are working on high-quality projects from scratch, the suggested video formats for the Overly app are MP4, Full HD, or the longest side at 1920px. The maximum upload capacity is 300mb.
Now on to three options you have when combining videos and marker images.
1. You start with the end in mind
You create the image and the video material simultaneously, anticipating the final design and initially adapting the video format to the expected image format. In this example, the headlines on the cover are placed on top of the video, achieving the impression of the model coming to life. The AR video is the same size as the marker image, which makes the experience more realistic.
2. You decide to AR two unaligned content pieces with a cool transition
You create the marker photo and video separately and decide to combine them smoothly. While the standard video is 16:9 in such cases, a smooth animation can be used to ensure a visually nice transition from the marker photo to the AR content. In this example, video software was used to create an animation to join the two pieces of content. The animation starts with the marker image (we used the same marker PSD file) and animated the transition to the original video content.
3. You have two pieces of content but no time for special effects
You create a video, and it doesn’t overlay the marker perfectly. In this example, two content pieces are combined, although the widths and heights are not matching. This augmented reality project still looks effective, but this solution has to be carefully considered on an individual case basis.
How to test if the video and marker align?
Overly AR creator uses a simple principle—placing AR content on top of the image in real-time. If the photo and video are the exact sizes, the footage will overlap the entire picture. As in the previous example, they may also not match, and various animations may be added to make the transition more effective. Similarly, you can choose to resize the video and make it smaller than the marker. When using the Overly creator, you will be able to manually place your video and implement transitions if required, as you can see in the blog’s featured image.
While videos are one of the most frequently used AR content pieces, you have 14 different options with the Overly app, explore other features here. If you want to discuss your project with our team, get in touch at hello@overlyapp.com.
