An AR video is a normal video that appears on top of a real image when you look at it through a phone camera. Point the phone at a poster, a business card or a product box and the picture seems to start playing. This guide walks through making one from scratch. You need an image, a short video and about five minutes.
Step 1: Choose the image people will scan
This is the "trigger". The phone has to recognize it, so pick something with plenty of detail and contrast rather than a flat logo on white. We cover this in more depth in our guide to the best images for AR tracking. Upload it as a JPG or PNG, up to 10MB.
Step 2: Add your video
MP4, WebM and MOV all work, up to 20MB. Shorter clips load faster, which matters because people scan on mobile data. If your file is too large, trim it or export at a lower bitrate before uploading.
One thing to know: the video is stretched to match the shape of your image. If your image is square and your video is widescreen, the video will look squashed. The easy fix is to crop the video to the same aspect ratio as the image before you upload.
Step 3: Let the tracking prepare
ARView prepares the tracking data for your image directly in your browser. You will see a short progress indicator. Nothing to configure here.
Step 4: Publish and test
Sign in, publish, and you get a link you can share or turn into a QR code. Before you print anything, open the link on a phone and point it at the image on a second screen. Check that it tracks quickly, that the video is the right shape, and that it still looks fine when you hold the phone a little off angle.
The video starts muted, as phone browsers expect, and the viewer shows a sound button. If the audio matters, add a note near the image such as "tap the speaker for sound".
Step 5: Share it
Put the link in a message or a bio, or print the QR code next to the image. For printed material, see how to use AR video on print, packaging and business cards.
Your first free upload is live for 24 hours and then locked, not deleted. Pro is $5 a month and includes 10 AR videos. You can make your first AR video here.
Frequently asked questions
Do viewers need to install an app?
No. The experience opens in the phone browser from a link or QR code. They allow camera access, point at the image and the video plays.
What file types can I upload?
Images can be JPG or PNG up to 10MB. Videos can be MP4, WebM or MOV up to 20MB.
How long does an AR video stay live on the free plan?
Your first free upload stays live for 24 hours and is then locked, not deleted. Pro is $5 a month and includes 10 AR videos.