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Publishing effects
On this page
To publish an effect you first need to export and upload it. Learn how to do this here.
When you're done, you'll find yourself in Meta Spark Hub. Just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the publishing process! The steps include:
- Choosing a name for your effect.
- Uploading your .arexport file, if you haven't already uploaded it directly from Meta Spark Studio.
- Choosing an owner and platform.
- Choosing an audience.
- Selecting categories and keywords.
- Adding your demo video and icon.
- Choosing a publication date.
- Submitting your effect and waiting for it to be accepted.
Choosing a name for your effect
The effect name you choose will appear alongside your effect on the platform it appears on. Names mustn't be duplicated — every effect published by a single owner must have a different name.
Choosing an owner
Owner controls which account is shown alongside an effect. It can be a Facebook account, Page, or an Instagram account. The owner manages the effect and controls permissions.
Choose the effect owner in Meta Spark Hub from the list of accounts available in the dropdown menu. Once published, you won't be able to change the effect owner.
To publish on Instagram, an Instagram account needs to be the owner of the effect. This means that if you want to publish an effect across all platforms (Facebook, Messenger and Instagram), you need to select an Instagram account as the effect owner. Learn how to add your Instagram account/accounts to Account Centre.
Choosing a platform
The platform is where you publish your effect. You can either:
- Publish your effect to all supported platforms at the same time (Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram).
- Publish to specific platforms only.
If you publish to all platforms you’ll be able to distribute, manage and view insights for one single effect across multiple platforms and you’ll only undergo one review process.
Facebook Ads is available as a platform in the Business Tools section of Meta Spark Hub. You'll only see this section when you select a Facebook Page as the effect owner.
Hide effect on Instagram
If your chosen platforms include Instagram, you’ll have the option to hide the published effect from your Instagram profile’s AR effects tab:
On the publishing form, select the toggle underneath the Hide effect on this Instagram profile heading to turn this feature on or off.
When toggled on, the effect will not appear on your Instagram profile's AR effects tab.
To update existing effects in Meta Spark Hub:
- Click Effects in the sidebar.
- Click on the name of the effect you want to change.
- Click Visibility or Details.
- Navigate to Platforms, and toggle on Hide effect on this Instagram profile.
Selecting categories and keywords
You'll need to choose categories for your effect. Categories help people to browse and find effects they'll love.
You can also add up to 20 keywords to describe your effect. These help people find your effect when searching. On average, effects with keywords get more engagement.
Choose an audience
Effects can be Link only or Public. If you select Link only:
- Only people with the share link can find and use your effect.
- Up to 50 people can use the effect in a given 24-hour period.
- Anyone with the link can send it to other people.
- People who use the link will see the effect in the camera tray.
Unlike publicly-published effects, link only effects do not require you to create or choose:
- A demo video.
- An icon.
- Categories.
- Keywords.
See where public effects can be discovered, or find out more about publishing a link only effect.
Adding your demo video and icon
To submit an effect for publishing, you'll need the following assets:
- A demo video.
- An icon.
Demo videos show users what to expect when using your effect. They may also be used as part of the review process. On Instagram, demo videos appear in the effect gallery.
In the example below, you'll see how an icon and demo video appears on Instagram.
- Learn how to create an icon.
- Learn how to create your demo video.
Publication date
You can choose when you want your effect to become visible, once it's been reviewed and accepted. This won't affect when it gets reviewed.
If you published an effect with location targeting before 29 October 2020 the location you set will still work to limit discovery of the effect. If you update your effect after 29 October location targeting will no longer be supported for this effect.
Submitting and allowing up to 24 hours for acceptance
Once your effect is accepted, you'll be notified on Facebook and in Meta Spark Hub. It will then be available through all the chosen platforms.
Keep in mind that before people can use your effect it'll be reviewed to make sure it meets:
- The Meta Spark Policies.
- Community Guidelines on Instagram or Community Standards on Facebook.
The estimated time to review effects is 24 hours. If you submit an updated version of your effect before the old one is accepted, the estimated review time will reset. Take a look at our visual guidelines to make sure your effects are accepted.