Quick and Ugly -- Augmented Reality

This is a quick, if ugly, way to create a 3D Augmented Reality experience:

John created this video of

the ugly Augmented Reality figure

using the Aero app on his iPhone

Click or scan the QR/AR code below to open the Adobe Aero app (on appropriate devices), and directly summon the Augmented Reality figure as seen in the video above.  Now if the user gets within one meter of the figure, that figure should also dance:

Ugly.real (1.22 MB)

assets

The UGLY PROCESS

1)  Draw a figure in MONSTER MASH, a free program online. 

• First draw the torso first as a closed shape (click the HELP button, far upper right, for more instructions).
• Then draw the appendages -- like the head, arms and legs -- as open peninsula shapes, that are open on the side where they connect.  This way they will all fuse into a single figure object (rather than a collection of multiple forms).
• Draw the figure in a "T-shape."

Draw a "T-Shaped" human figure

2)  Export the "T" figure as an OBJ file

Export as an OBJ file

3*)  Import the OBJ file to Mixamo, drag-and-drop

• Mixamo is a free online program by Adobe that will animate 3D files. Sign up required.

Mixamo accepts OBJ files

4)  Follow the Mixamo instructions to rig and animate the T-shape figure with the "clip-art" motion of your choice, and then click "Send to Aero."

Click "Send to Aero"

and your figure will get stored on the "Creative Cloud" --

 to be accessed by the Adobe Aero app

*****

Adobe Aero is a free "Augmented Reality" program that works on iPhones with the Aero app (there is a Beta version for Androids).   See the YouTube tutorial below on how to use the app:

Adobe Aero tutorial on YouTube

MIXED REALITY

Below is a "Mixed Reality" video made in Paint 3D with the same ugly figure, animated.  Paint 3D is a free art program that comes with Windows 10:

"Mixed Reality"

created in Paint 3D

With a little more care and finesse, one can probably easily make nice Augmented Reality figures also, using free 3D programs like SculptGL, Paint 3D or Blender.  The point of this blog post however, was to demonstrate how easy it is to create 3D Augmented Reality right now, whereas it was a painful process just a few years ago.

Disclaimer:  I do not have an iPhone, therefore I am not able to use or elaborate much on the final Adobe Aero app experience.

AFTER THOUGHTS

• DEEPER:  YouTube tutorial about how to create an Augmented Reality experience for Adobe Aero using the desktop software

• *It looks like apparently someone could skip the Mixamo step by simply uploading a 3D GLB file to the Creative Cloud (under "Krrrl" on the public Creative Cloud?)
• One might export a GLB directly from Monster Mash after animating their figure
• Apparently one can also use layers create in Photoshop to make Augmented Reality experiences in Adobe Aero
• (what is Adobe XD?)
• Sharing Aero Augmented Reality on BEHANCE
• I'd like to create an Augmented Reality scene/sculpture garden like this one (on Behance)
• I made an Augmented Reality post earlier this year 
• We worked with Augment El Paso to enhance three prints from the Desert Triangle Print Carpeta project (see YouTube video)
• WebAR
• Google AR
• YouTube tutorial: This turns Drawings into 3D Animations in SECONDS!!  (the sequel)
• YouTube tutorial:  Everyone Can Make 3D Animations Easily Now! [Monster Mesh]

 Rumors

• Apple Glasses may come out, offering a different way to see Augmented Reality (or Smart Glasses by Facebook)
• Air Tags may come out, which maybe could replace the QR/AR code
• NFT Augmented Reality for the big bucks