TikTok AR Filters for Brands

Creative fun with video and audio is a key part of TikTok’s DNA. Spectacular editing and frame modifications, accelerations and slowdowns, stickers and interactive color filters – all that, combined with virtually infinite imagination of app’s users, positions Augmented Reality effects as a logical, evolutionary step for TikTok, rather than a completely new functionality.

Without a doubt, among all popular social media platforms, it is TikTok that equips its users with the widest range of creative tools for content editing. It comes as no surprise then, that every month it enjoys increasing interest – and number of downloads – across all demographics. And as a consequence – marketers’ interest too.


Alex Kawaguchi using many TikTok filters in one video

 

Branded effects

TikTok’s branded effects are categorized into three types: 2D, 2D Pro, and 3D. These names fairly represent the extent of reality augmentations that can be achieved with them.

TikTok is all about super short formats and pure entertainment, so when it comes to AR effects what matters most is a catchy concept, not a sophistication level. If your branded effect is to be successful, it needs to provide users with creative fuel, rather than a refined artistic experience.

2D effects

Modifications that are possible in this category include:

  • Two-dimensional masks responsive to head movements
  • Static or animated foregrounds and backgrounds (but only partial)
  • Face and hand gesture triggers

2D facial + 2D foreground | Shein Fashion Show, Coca-Cola

 

2D facial + 2D foreground | TikTok 2D
2D hand + 2D foreground | #You’reIT

 

2D Pro effects

This type of branded effects allows for more advanced augmentations:

  • Face modifications
  • Hair color change
  • Iris color change
  • Make-ups

Lip color change, Make-up, 2D facial, 2D hand | it’s Skin
Make-up, 2D foreground | Ponds

 

Hair dye | not.zoey.101

 

Make-up, face distortion | Face Deformation
Eyeshadow color change, Make-up | Eyeshadow Color Change

 

3D effects

Just like the name suggests, it is all about three dimensions here:

  • 3D mask (or entire head) – animated, responsive to facial expressions
  • 3D object for anchoring in user’s surroundings – animated, controlled by face or hand gestures
  • Highest level of detail and interactivity, most advanced textures, most realistic immersion

3D elements control | 3D Elements Control
3D head | Nike
3D character | 3D character

 

Triggers

TikTok’s camera recognizes an impressive number of 19 hand gestures (including 4 kinds of hearts!) and 7 facial expressions. These are called triggers and can be used to control, change, launch or finish elements of a branded effect.

Number of triggers supported in an individual branded effect depends on its type:

  • 4 triggers in 2D effects
  • 2 triggers in 2D Pro effects
  • 1 trigger in 3D effects

2D facial, 2D hand, 2D foreground | Maeil Dairies, #CODMZOMBIEDANCE

Accuracy and stability of triggers may vary depending on lighting conditions, user’s distance from camera, and device used.

Upon launching an effect that utilizes triggers, user has hint text displayed on screen – e.g. show your palm, swipe – so they know what interaction is possible in it. The hint text is provided by the effect creator and must not exceed 30 characters.

Thank you reading our first article on TikTok Augmented Reality! We hope that it’ll inspire you to create your own effect on this platform! Check out the growing collection of TikTok effects on Lenslist: