Quick Guide to DIY and Done-For-You Options

When Meta announced yesterday its plans to shut down the Meta Spark AR platform, we received a number of emails from clients, partners, and friends asking for advice on how to transfer their Spark AR assets over to Snapchat and TikTok. So, we decided to write up this little guide. 

We’re also offering this as a service for both new and existing clients. 

If you’d like help converting your Spark AR experiences to Snapchat / TikTok, drop us a line and we’ll point you in the right direction.

The News: Meta Shuts Down its Spark AR Platform

Brands and creators were caught by surprise yesterday when Meta announced it would be shutting down the Meta Spark platform, which thousands of third-party creators use to create augmented reality (AR) effects for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. 

This closure is scheduled for January 14, 2025, and will result in the discontinuation of all third-party AR effects, although Meta's proprietary AR effects will remain available. 

The decision sparked significant backlash from the creator community, many of whom have stated their intention to move to other platforms like Snapchat's Lens Studio and TikTok’s Effect House. 

According to TechCrunch, the decision was not related to adoption or traction, but is part of a broader strategy to prioritize products that align with future consumer and business needs—including the development of AR glasses. 

Meta has advised creators to download and save their project files before the shutdown date, as the Meta Spark Community group will also be archived. 

How to Transfer Meta Spark AR Assets to Snapchat

Spark AR and Lens Studio offer distinct features and workflows for creating AR experiences, requiring developers to adapt their designs for each platform. Since each has unique tools and capabilities, effects made in Spark AR must be manually recreated in Lens Studio for Snapchat, as direct transfer between the two platforms is not possible. So, to transfer AR assets from Spark AR to Snapchat, you'll need to rebuild them in Snapchat's Lens Studio.

Here’s how:

1. Export Assets from Spark AR

• Export your 3D models, textures, and other assets from Spark AR, ensuring that they are in a format compatible with Lens Studio.

2. Set Up Lens Studio

• Download and install Lens Studio from the Snapchat website.
• Familiarize yourself with Lens Studio's interface and features. It supports various AR effects, including face filters and world lenses.
  

3. Import Assets into Lens Studio

• Open Lens Studio and start a new project.
• Import your exported assets into Lens Studio. You can drag and drop these files into the project panel.
  

4. Recreate the AR Experience

• Use Lens Studio's tools to recreate the interactivity and effects you designed in Spark AR. This may involve setting up face tracking, adding animations, and applying materials to your 3D models. 
• Utilize Lens Studio's scripting capabilities if your AR effect involves complex interactions.
• Adjust interactivity, animations, and other effects to fit Snapchat’s platform capabilities.
  

5. Optimize for Performance

• Ensure your lens meets Snapchat's performance requirements, such as file size limits (8MB max) and efficient use of resources.
  

6. Publish Your Lens

• Test your lens on a mobile device using Lens Studio's pairing feature.
• Once satisfied, submit your lens for review through Lens Studio. After approval, it can be shared via Snapcodes or directly within Snapchat. 

How to Transfer Meta Spark AR Assets to TikTok Effect House

Similar to Snapchat, there is no direct method or tool to transfer Spark AR assets to TikTok. However, you can recreate the AR effects using TikTok's dedicated AR creation tool, Effect House. 

Here’s how:

1. Export Assets from Spark AR:  

• Export your 3D models, textures, and other assets from Spark AR. Make sure they are in a format that can be imported into Effect House, such as FBX for 3D models and PNG or JPEG for images.

2. Download and Install Effect House

• Effect House is TikTok's tool for creating AR effects. It is available for both Mac and Windows and can be downloaded from the Effect House website. 

3. Import Assets into Effect House

• Start a new project in Effect House and import your exported assets. You can use the import function to bring in 3D models, textures, and other necessary elements.  

4. Recreate the AR Experience

• Use Effect House's tools to recreate the interactive elements and effects you designed in Spark AR. This may involve setting up animations, applying materials, and using scripting for complex interactions
  

5. Optimize for TikTok

• Ensure that your AR effect meets TikTok’s performance requirements, such as file size limits, to ensure smooth operation on the platform. 
  

6. Submit and Publish Your Effect

• Once your effect is ready, submit it through Effect House. TikTok will review the effect before it goes live. You can then share your effect on TikTok by incorporating it into your video content. 

And there you have it. We hope this helped you learn how to transfer Meta Spark AR assets to Snapchat and TikTok. However, we realize that doing so still takes considerable time and expertise, so if you would like help with the process, we are here for you. 

Drop us a line with a link to your experiences, and we’ll get you up and running.