Best Augmented Reality App Builder for a paper publication?

[MarinetG]

Hello Webwide!

I wasn't sure where exactly this topic would fit in, so please don't shoot me for placing it in General... 🙈
I'm looking at using AR (augmented reality) for a new publication for one of my clients. Any suggestions for AR builder apps that are good, or which to avoid? I've done a bit of homework and found a few options (BlippAR, Metaverse, etc.) but I'm not sure what will work best. The basic prerequisites I have for this:

• Free version or trial, not too expensive
• Easy to start off with, or included tutorials
• WYSIWYG Builder app with more complex functionality (preferably in a web-related language if it comes to coding)
• Publish "interactions" to AR app or custom-built client app

If you've done something like this before (i.e. worked with an AR builder app) and have experience creating a custom "viewer" app for the client with the AR's SDK, please also get in touch with me so we can talk. First prize would be to create the client's own app with the AR viewer embedded in it. I haven't built any apps myself but would like to learn and maybe have a mentor for when I get stuck. Or if I don't have enough time (or suck so bad at building an app myself) rather outsource the app to this guru.

In summary: I want to show some interactive media (video's, 3D models, what-have-you) when you "view" the content on the physical publication page with the viewer app. Then, first prize would be to develop the client's own viewer app instead of using the default AR app that comes with the software. This part is more nice-to-have and not so much of a requirement, but I'd love to pitch it to them since they're all about "cutting-edge" and "standing out above the rest". Let me know if you need more info!

Looking forward to any advice and recommendations!
Thanks,
Marinet

 

[tom]

Hi Marinet,

I also wanted to do something like that last year but canceled my plans due to too high licensing costs.

2 providers of SDKs I found were both located in Germany.

3DQR and alive Augmented Reality | AR SDK & App Development

 

[MarinetG]

Hi Marinet,

I also wanted to do something like that last year but canceled my plans due to too high licensing costs.

2 providers of SDKs I found were both located in Germany.

3DQR and alive Augmented Reality | AR SDK & App Development

Thanks for your input Tom, I'll have a look at what they offer.
I'm also a bit worried about licensing and subscription costs - hence why I want to try to do as much of it myself, or at least motivate why they should dish out for it.

 

[Gummibeer]

I'm not in apps or AR. Only my old company did some stuff in this field and I catched some words.^^

Have you thought about React Native for the app and do the AR yourself?

react-native-ar/react-native-arkit

React Native binding for iOS ARKit. Contribute to react-native-ar/react-native-arkit development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

That's the first thing I've found - I bet there are more.

React native creates native apps from react like JS code.

 

[Adam]

Only one I have really heard of that is open source and web based is AR.js. Though does not include a WYSIWYG as far as I can tell.

AR.js — The Simplest Way to get Cross-Browser Augmented Reality on the Web

Updated Version — How to deliver Augmented Reality contents on the web, in an open-source, easy and cross-browser way.

medium.com

 

[MarinetG]

I'm not in apps or AR. Only my old company did some stuff in this field and I catched some words.^^

Have you thought about React Native for the app and do the AR yourself?

react-native-ar/react-native-arkit

React Native binding for iOS ARKit. Contribute to react-native-ar/react-native-arkit development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

That's the first thing I've found - I bet there are more.

React native creates native apps from react like JS code.

Thanks, @Gummibeer, but I'm unfortunately not that great with anything JS related. I'm more of a "copy-and-hack-it-to-fit" type of web designer... 😅

Only one I have really heard of that is open source and web-based is AR.js. Though does not include a WYSIWYG as far as I can tell.

AR.js — The Simplest Way to get Cross-Browser Augmented Reality on the Web

Updated Version — How to deliver Augmented Reality contents on the web, in an open-source, easy and cross-browser way.

medium.com

This ☝ this is great! I knew it was a good idea asking this community! Thanks so much, @Adam, this is a great solution I can tinker around with. Any other suggestions still welcome, and if you've used AR.js, any tips are welcome 😄👍

 

[tom]

@MarinetG here's an article that has even more frameworks including VR that you could have a look at: Build Your Next AR/VR Web App Using JavaScript

 

[MarinetG]

Thanks, everyone! I've found this little gold nugget site on the web: Create WebAR
Some nice, more WebAR "builder"-like apps for anyone's future reference (as listed on above site):

• 8th Wall | Augmented Reality (cool demo)
• Augmania - Augmented Reality (AR) without engineering -
• awe.media - Create and view VR & AR using your web browser, on any device
• Augmented reality - made accessible | Hololink
• XR.+ | AR & VR on the web
• ZapWorks Studio: Create Fully-customisable AR Experiences

 

[Adam]

Thanks, everyone! I've found this little gold nugget site on the web: Create WebAR
Some nice, more WebAR "builder"-like apps for anyone's future reference (as listed on above site):

• 8th Wall | Augmented Reality (cool demo)
• Augmania - Augmented Reality (AR) without engineering -
• awe.media - Create and view VR & AR using your web browser, on any device
• Augmented reality - made accessible | Hololink
• XR.+ | AR & VR on the web
• ZapWorks Studio: Create Fully-customisable AR Experiences

Awesome resources, thanks so much for coming back to share! 😄