iOS Archives

The massively popular social media platform looks to support AR developers with ‘TikTok Effect Studio.’

TikTok appears to be following in the footsteps of rival social media platforms Snapchat and Instagram with the open beta launch of TikTok Effect Studio, an AR development toolkit that allows developers to create AR effects for the short-form video platform.

Those interested in participating in the private beta can log in to their account and sign up for early access at effecthouse.tiktok.com. Developers are required to provide their full name, email, and TikTok username. They’ll also need to answer several questions regarding their platform of choice and experience with AR technology.

According to a report by Techcrunch, the website—first discovered by social media consultant Matt Navarra thanks to a tip from Sam Schmir—went live only just this month. While speaking with the publication, TikTok clarified that Effect House was still in the early stages of development, going so far as to call it an “experiment.”

That being said, TikTok Effect Studio could change drastically between now and its official launch. Then again, it’s possible the project may never see the light of day at all.

“We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience,” said a TikTok spokesperson while speaking to Techcrunch. “Currently, we’re experimenting with ways to give creators additional tools to bring their creative ideas to life for the TikTok community.”

Image Credit: TikTok

Similar to Lens Studio, Snapchat’s own AR development platform, TikTok Effect Studio is available as a desktop app on Windows PC and Mac. According to the company, the toolkit should not be used in conjunction with third-party apps.

TikTok began introducing AR branded effects last year, offering users a variety of interactive and non-interactive experiences to enjoy. Earlier this year, the company launched its first LiDAR AR filter powered by the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max in celebration of the new year.

Feature Image Credit: TikTok

Some things are better left unseen.

Available now on iOS devices, voxelizeAR is a newly-released app from developer Rare Realities, LLC that allows you to transform portions of the real world into 3D pixels—otherwise known as voxels. The result is an effect similar to that of the one used by the media to censor specific visuals.

The app works by scanning your nearby surroundings for any and all flat surfaces. Once identified, you can paint on the screen to transform certain parts of the environment into 3D pixelations. You can even adjust the size of your brush, allowing you to make large, chunky pixelations as well as smaller, more detailed voxels. The app even responds to color changes in real-time, allowing you to voxelize certain moving objects.

Image Credit: Rare Realities, LLC

Personally, I’m a fan of unnecessarily censoring nearby billboards to make them slightly more suggestive, but that’s just me. Once you’ve finished with your project, whatever it may be, you can then capture a photo or video of the scene to share with friends, family, and whoever else may share your sick sense of humor.

Those with an iPhone Pro or iPhone 12 Pro MAX can take the experience even further using LiDAR technology. These additional sensors allow users to voxelize individual 3D objects as opposed to just flat surfaces. The result is more detailed pixelations brought to life by improved tracking.

“Beyond the novelty factor, the app showcases a new technique I’ve been developing that lets you selectively (and somewhat convincingly) transform arbitrary bits of the real world using augmented reality tech,” states the developer on Reddit. “These transformations persist even as you move around the world. There are tons of other interesting applications for this and I’m hoping to explore a few others over the next few months.”

VoxelizeAR is available now for free on iOS devices.

Feature Image Credit: Rare Realities, LLC

TikTok Is Experimenting With Its Own AR Development Platform

Finally, An App That Lets You Censor Reality