Sending your effect to Facebook or Instagram

To see how an effect looks when it's being used in the camera, you can send it the Facebook or Instagram camera.

Click the device icon in the toolbar, and select Send to App:

Next to either Facebook Camera or Instagram Camera, click Send.

You'll get a notification, inviting you to try the effect in the camera.

Using the Spark AR Player app

Before you can preview an effect in the Spark AR Player app, make sure you've downloaded and installed Spark AR Player, on either an iOS or Android Mobile Device. You'll also need a USB cable handy.

When you're ready, connect your mobile device to your computer with the USB cable, and open the Spark AR Player app on your device.

If you're opening it for the first time you'll be asked to enable access to some features, like your camera and microphone. If you're using an Android device, you'll be asked to turn on developer mode and USB debugging in your phone settings.

Previewing your project

To see your project in the Spark AR Player app, again, click the device icon here in the toolbar. This time:

1. Select Send To Connected Device - you'll see your device listed here.
2. Click Send.

You should now see the effect playing on the device.

Testing performance

When your effect is playing in the Spark AR Player app, you'll see its FPS. This means frames per seconds, and represents how fast or slow your effect is on the device you're mirroring it to. You should aim for an FPS of 30 or more.

To see more detailed information about your effect and its performance, tap FPS.

Learn more about different ways to improve the performance of effects.

Viewing previous versions of effects

You can view earlier versions of projects you've mirrored on your device, without being connected to your computer or the internet. To do this:

1. Open Spark AR Player.
2. Tap the menu in the top left.
3. Select the effect you want to view and the version.
4. Tap Done.

You'll see the previous version playing on your device.