Release Notes

Release 2.0.6

We are excited to announce the release of WebAR SDK v2.0.6, packed with new features, enhancements, and critical bug fixes aimed at improving the augmented reality experience. This release focuses on enhancing user interactions and providing developers with more robust tools to create seamless AR applications.

Perspective-Based Scaling(Aframe & Playcanvas)

Implemented scaling where nearer touchpoints result in larger AR objects compared to farther touchpoints. Recommended to use a canonical model with specific scale and position settings.

AR Rotation Improvement

AR now faces the phone/user after tapping, improving the user experience over previous versions where AR faced the initial world direction.

New SDK Config Properties

Added a new web attribute - disable-ar-always-facing-camera

• disable-ar-always-facing-camera: When the stage cursor is enabled, AR objects now automatically orient to face the camera upon tapping, with behavior adjustable via the disable-ar-always-facing-camera setting.

New APIs

We have added two new APIs:

1. PerformReset(): Allows resetting of tracking, enabling users to design their own reset button.

2. SetPrepareForCameraTransitionCallback(): Triggered just before the camera transition begins during app loading, allowing developers to manage HTML elements for a smooth transition.

Release 2.0.5

We are excited to announce the release of WebAR SDK v2.0.5. This update brings significant enhancements to improve the user experience. Below are the key features and improvements included in this version.

Instant Tracking

No hand movements or surface scanning required.

• AR appears as soon as the scene opens or the camera starts.

• Simply tap, and AR will appear instantly.

Tap Anywhere

Place AR objects anywhere with a simple tap.

Improved Ground Plane Alignment

• Improved ground plane alignment for better AR object placement.

• Enhanced surface detection for a more accurate experience.

Speed Optimzations

Performance improvements for higher FPS and smoother experiences.

Smooth Fade-In

The camera now opens with a slow fade-in effect, offering a seamless transition into the AR experience.

Face Tracking Enhancements (A-Frame)

• New Attributes

  1. webar-face-landmark="point: 151;": Attach a 3D model to a face landmark point.

  2. webar-facemesh-shadow: Create an additional face-mesh layer to display only shadows.

• Inbuilt Material Attributes

  1. webar-facemat-occluder

  2. webar-facemat-normal

  3. webar-facemesh-shadow

• Issues Fixed

  1. Replaced orthographic camera with a perspective camera for face tracking.

  2. Fixed shadow rendering issues.

Note:

• webar-facemesh and webar-facemesh-shadow are two different layers acting as a face mask. The webar-facemesh-shadow is positioned above the webar-facemesh layer.

• webar-video-plane should be placed at a negative z-distance as shown below:

  <a-plane id="webar-video-plane" color="white" visible="true" position="0 0 -200"></a-plane>

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v2.0.5 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Face Tracking
CDN WebAR SDK v2.0.5	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 2.0.4

We are excited to announce the release of WebAR SDK v2.0.4! This update brings significant enhancements to improve the user experience. Below are the key features and improvements included in this version.

New Features and Improvements:

• Dynamic Ground Plane Alignment: The Ground-Plane now automatically attaches to the detected surface whenever a scene change is detected. This means that the virtual objects will align more accurately with the real world, providing a smoother and more immersive experience.

• Performance Optimizations: We’ve made some tweaks to improve the overall performance, resulting in a slight increase in frames per second (FPS). This should make the experience feel a bit more fluid and responsive.

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v2.0.4 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Face Tracking
CDN WebAR SDK v2.0.4	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 2.0.3

Introduction

We are thrilled to introduce the latest version of our WebAR SDK, which focuses on delivering a more seamless and responsive AR experience. This release addresses key performance issues to ensure your AR interactions are smoother and more reliable. Below are the details of the improvements:

Improved Performance

• Fixed an issue causing temporal/rubber band effect, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience.

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v2.0.3 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Face Tracking
CDN WebAR SDK v2.0.3	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 2.0.2

Introduction

We're excited to announce the latest updates to our AR system, which bring significant improvements in stability, persistence, and overall user experience. These enhancements ensure that your AR interactions are smoother and more reliable than ever before.

Enhanced AR Stability and Model Persistence

1. Improved Tracking and Visibility:

   • Maintains AR content visibility during system repositioning or tracking interruptions.

   • Addresses model disappearance issues, ensuring consistent visibility.

2. User Experience Enhancements:

   • Delivers smoother and more stable AR interactions.

   • Increases overall reliability and user engagement.

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v2.0.2 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Face Tracking
CDN WebAR SDK v2.0.2	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 2.0.1

Introduction

We’re excited to announce the latest update to our SLAM surface tracking technology, focused on delivering an even more refined user experience for augmented reality (AR) applications. This release continues to support AFrame, Babylon, and Playcanvas web frameworks.

Building on a Strong Foundation

The previous update introduced significant advancements in performance, reliability, and user experience for AR development. This release builds upon that foundation by addressing specific user feedback:

1. Enhanced Interaction Stability:

   • We’ve mitigated the “sliding effect” during interactions, resulting in a more responsive and predictable user experience.

2. Smoother Tracking:

   • Jitter issues have been resolved to ensure smoother object tracking within the Web SDK, leading to an improved user experience.

3. Consistent Scale:

   • Scaling inconsistencies have been addressed to guarantee accurate and consistent object manipulation across various Web SDK functionalities.

Continued Engine Support & Existing Features

• AFrame compatibility remains intact, enabling developers to create immersive WebAR experiences with ease.

• Seamless integration with Babylon continues, providing access to high-quality 3D graphics and interactive AR applications.

• Playcanvas support is still available, offering a powerful platform for developing interactive 3D WebAR content.

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v2.0.1 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Face Tracking
CDN WebAR SDK v2.0.1	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 2.0.0

Discover Our Advanced SLAM

We are excited to introduce the latest update to our SLAM surface tracking technology, designed to offer enhanced performance and reliability for AR experiences. This release supports AFrame, Babylon, and Playcanvas. Key Features and Improvements:

1. Enhanced Accuracy:

   • Improved tracking precision for more stable and accurate surface detection.

   • Reduced drift and increased robustness in diverse environments.

2. Faster Initialization:

   • Quicker setup times allowing for near-instantaneous surface recognition and interaction.

3. Optimized Performance:

   • Smoother and more responsive tracking with reduced computational overhead.

   • Enhanced performance on a wide range of devices, ensuring a seamless user experience.

4. Improved Stability:

   • Enhanced algorithms for maintaining stable tracking even in challenging conditions such as low-light or dynamic environments.

5. Increased Range:

   • Extended tracking range enabling larger and more complex AR interactions.

   • Improved handling of occlusions and dynamic changes in the environment.

6. User-Friendly Integration:

   • Simplified API and SDK integration process, making it easier for developers to incorporate advanced surface tracking into their applications.

7. Support for Multiple Engines:

   • AFrame: Full compatibility with AFrame, allowing developers to create immersive WebAR experiences with ease.

   • Babylon: Seamless integration with Babylon, enabling high-quality 3D graphics and interactive AR applications.

   • Playcanvas: Support for Playcanvas, providing a powerful platform for developing interactive 3D WebAR content.

Enhanced User Interaction Control using New APIs

1. SetUserGestureRotation(enabled):

   • This API allows you to enable or disable user rotation.

   • enabled = true: Rotation is enabled.

   • enabled = false: Rotation is disabled.

2. SetUserGestureScale(enabled):

   • This API enables or disables user scaling.

   • enabled = true: Scale is enabled.

   • enabled = false: Scale is disabled.

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v2.0.0 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Face Tracking
	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 1.7.4

What's New?

• WebAR SDK Added new API SetFaceScaleFactor() for face tracking It configures the scale at which AR objects are displayed relative to the user’s face in a web-based AR experience.

• Unity As part of Release 1.7.4 an enhancement has been deployed to Unity build release v.1.7.4-1 with peel-away mode. Enable this feature to allow the object to be displayed even when the user moves the camera away from the marker, the AR object will still remain on the screen. For more information refer 'Build a marker tracking experience'

Downloads	Example Links
Download WebAR SDK v1.7.4 Zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Portal Experience Face Tracking
Download Latest Unity SDK Plug-in	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	Github Repo Examples

Release 1.7.3

What’s New?

• Face tracking released for all rendering engines A-Frame, Babylon.js PlayCanvas

• Enhanced UX for Playcanvas Surface Tracking Introduced a new and improved user experience for PlayCanvas Surface tracking, streamlining and enhancing user interactions. For more information refer article 'Build a Surface tracking experience using A-frame- Step 6'

• Lazy-Mode Support for Face Tracking This update brings lazy-mode support, optimizing face tracking for efficiency and performance.

• WEBARSDK.EnableTrackingOnDesktop() Function A new function to enable desktop-only tracking specifically for face tracking. This is particularly useful in scenarios like BB, where the app initially starts in lazy-mode and subsequently determines the appropriate tracking mode.

• webar-face-pivot - AFrame Attribute A new attribute that allows an entity to move in sync with the user’s head movements, without rotating with the head. This enhances the realism and interactivity of AR experiences. For more information refer article 'Build a Face Tracking experience using A-frame'

• webar-raycaster - AFrame Attribute A specialized attribute for improved AR interaction in face-tracking mode. Developers can now use el.addEventListener('click', (evt) => {}) to receive raycast events. This attribute replaces AFrame’s native raycaster and cursor attributes in face tracking mode, addressing compatibility issues with AFrame’s built-in raycaster component in face-tracking scenarios. Our custom raycaster component ensures better performance and reliability.

Example

<a-scene
      webar-scene="key: <%= htmlWebpackPlugin.options.licenseKey %>"
      webar-raycaster="objects: .clickable; enabled: true;"
      vr-mode-ui="enabled: false"
      device-orientation-permission-ui="enabled: false"
      loading-screen="enabled: false"
      renderer="colorManagement: false; antialias: true; 
      physicallyCorrectLights: false;">

Downloads	Examples
Download WebAR SDK v1.7.3 zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Portal Experience Face Tracking
	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	GitHub Repo Examples

Release 1.7.1

What’s New

Enhanced User Experience for Surface Tracking

• New UX for Surface Tracking: Added a ‘safe zone’ that appears once SLAM anchors, allowing users to place objects anywhere using the cursor. Just tap on the screen to place an object.

• Interactive Animations & Cues: Introduced animations and visual cues to further enhance the user experience during interaction.Model Interaction:

• Pinch to Zoom: Implemented pinch-to-zoom functionality to allow users to zoom in and out for a better model viewing experience.

• Swipe to Rotate: Added the ability to rotate the model by swiping, making it easier to adjust the model’s orientation.

Enabling New UX Experience

New APIs

API	Function
SetARModelPlaceCallback(callback)	Assigns a callback to execute after an AR model is placed within the scene, enabling custom post-placement interactions.
SetResetButtonCallback(callback)	Links a custom callback to the reset button’s action for customized reset logic. Requires webar-ux-control with stageCursorUX: true
SetResetButtonVisibility(isVisible)	Controls the reset button’s visibility within the AR interface, allowing for UI customization.

SDK Configuration Properties

Configuration	Description
rotation-speed	Controls the sensitivity of the AR object’s rotation in response to user gestures. Accepts values greater than 0 and less than 1.
gesture-scale-max	Sets the maximum scale factor for enlarging an AR object using pinch gestures.
gesture-scale-min	Sets the minimum scale factor for reducing an AR object’s size in a single pinch gesture.
hide-reset-button	Optionally hides the reset button from the UI, active only when webar-ux-control with stageCursorUX: true is configured.

Dependency on webar-ux-control: All new functionalities—including callbacks, visibility controls, and interactive attributes—require a properly configured webar-ux-control. This is essential for activating the full range of UX and interactive features in both A-Frame and Babylon.js environments.

Downloads	Examples
Download WebAR SDK v1.7.1 zip File	A-Frame Surface Tracking Marker Tracking Portal Experience Face Tracking
	Babylon Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	PlayCanvas Surface Tracking Marker Tracking
	GitHub Examples

Release 1.7.0

What's New?

Face Tracking for A-frame

Face tracking released for A-frame rendering engine. Will be followed by other rendering engines. Blippar is excited to announce that Face Tracking is now available within our WebAR SDK. The all new Blippar WebAR SDK is an industry-leading facial detection system which allows you to use any face as a digital canvas to build exciting AR experiences and increase user engagement for your brand.

SDK Attributes	A-Frame Attributes	Functions
webar-mode="face-tracking" sets to face tracking mode. For more information refer article 'Build a face tracking experience using A-frame'	<a-entity webar-face> to display 3D models on the tracked face	GetMouthOpenedMagnitude() - To get the magnitude of the distance between the upper and lower lips. It gives a constant value in the range of 0 to 1.5.
	<a-plane webar-facemesh> to display image/video texture on the tracked facemesh
	<a-plane webar-plane> to display webcam video background(optional). Developer can hide this to display a face model on a white background.

Try Now

• webar-sdk zip file has face.html which has a simple 3D face model and facemesh filter.

• The default face.html example in the zip is simplified in order to make an easy to create face tracking tutorial documentation.

• For more complex demo testing, you may try the Newsletter Try-now examples.

New face.html example has:

• Try ons - Coolers and lipstick try-on.

• To test face and facemesh tracking accuracy

• Extended Tracking Range: Enable larger and more complex AR interactions.

• Improved Occlusion Handling: Better manage dynamic changes in the environment.

• AFrame: Full compatibility with AFrame, allowing developers to create immersive WebAR experiences with ease.