Stage Type

AR Overlay

Ask players to scan a specified object using their device's camera and overlay a custom image onto the scanned object in augmented reality.

Video Tutorial

What It Does

The AR Overlay stage activates the device camera so the player searches for a specific image or object in the real world. When detected, a configurable image is superimposed over it for a set duration. Once that time elapses the stage is considered complete and the adventure moves on.

This stage is ideal for revealing hidden clues, transforming physical props, or creating magical moments where the real world is augmented with game content.

Configuration Parameters

Trackable image to look for — The real-world image the player must find and over which another image is superimposed.

Physical width of the trackable (metres) — The width of the above image in the physical world. Doesn't need to be exact — it's a hint to the AR system to improve tracking.

Hint to help the player find the trackable — A text clue shown on screen indicating what the player needs to find in the physical world.

Image to use as overlay — The image superimposed over the real-world target in the device camera.

Example

The images below show the execution of this stage. The first shows the camera scanning before the target has been detected — the text hint "Pez que se infla como mecanismo de defensa" is visible at the bottom. The second shows the overlay applied once the target image is recognised.

AR Overlay — searching
Searching for the target — hint shown at bottom
AR Overlay — detected
Overlay applied once the target image is recognised

Tips

💡Use this stage immediately after an AR Scan stage with the same target image. From the player's perspective it feels like one seamless interaction — the scan finds it, then the overlay appears instantly.
📷If the player moves the phone and loses sight of the target, the hint text reappears. Set a hint like "Point back at the pufferfish!" to guide them back.
🖼Overlay images don't have to be text. Try applying an X-ray filter to the original image, or adding a fake element (e.g. a beard on a portrait) for a surprising reveal.