8th Wall introduces new Sky Effects + World Tracking features for its WebAR development platform

In Augmented Reality News 

March 29, 2023 – 8th Wall, a subsidiary of Niantic and a provider of a web-based augmented reality (WebAR) development platform, has this week announced that developers, agencies, and brands can now simultaneously use its platform’s Sky Effects and World Tracking features to create immersive WebAR experiences.

World Tracking, built on 8th Wall’s SLAM engine for the browser, allows developers to create highly accurate and precise WebAR experiences that seamlessly integrate with a viewer’s surroundings. Sky Effects bring Niantic’s segmentation technology to the browser, making it possible to identify and segment the sky. In turn, the sky becomes a canvas for placing AR content or augmenting it entirely.

According to the company, for the first time on any AR platform, creators can now augment the sky and ground together in the same project. Using the two features together, the entire field of view is now available for developers to overlay creations for AR experiences. 8th Wall stated that the combination of the two features will help to expand the possibilities of what can be created in AR.

To perfect each experience, 8th Wall is also introducing new tools that will allow developers to customize and optimize the design of their WebAR experiences. These include edge feathering tools that allow fine-tuning of the harsh borders between layers, and a component to make it easier for objects to transition from the sky layer to the ground (SLAM) layer, allowing developers building in A-Frame to build experiences where content falls from the sky to the ground or lifts off from the ground into the sky.

Using these tools simultaneously will allow developers to design more engaging AR experiences by having augmented content move more seamlessly between the Sky layer and World layer. As a result, experiences can now populate the entire world with AR elements. 8th Wall stated that these types of movements will allow developers, brands, and agencies to unlock an entirely new layer of creativity.

Whether for movie promotions, engagement for sports teams or immersive experiences for in-person events, event organizers can use these features to create more engaging and immersive fan experiences.

Developers can now start experimenting and building with 8th Wall’s Sky Effects and World Tracking features in multiple 3D frameworks, including A-Frame, three.js, or PlayCanvas. The company also has a variety of sample projects in its project library that developers can use as a template or foundation on which to build their own creative projects. Developers new to 8th Wall can sign up for a 14-day free trial to the platform.

For more information on 8th Wall and its augmented reality development platform for WebAR experiences, please visit the company’s website.

Image / video credit: 8th Wall / YouTube

About the author

Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.