FAQs

Blippar is a leading technology company specialising in Augmented Reality (AR). Since 2011, we have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in AR and have helped thousands of brands, retailers and agencies harness these technologies. We provide access to an AR ecosystem with products and professional services to meet specific business needs.

We provide consultancy services, via our Blippar Studio team, who can custom build any App or Web-based AR experience. Our team of experts provide a full-service offering or can work alongside your existing agencies as a tech partner.

Our AR creation tools Blippbuilder and Blippbuilder Script allow agencies and businesses to create their own augmented reality content. These AR experiences can be published to any existing app or a white-label AR app built by us via our augmented reality SDK or to Blippar's Augmented Reality Browser App. AR experiences can also be published to a web browser (WebAR) or ad unit.

We've has been ranked 3 years running within CNBC’s global ‘Disruptor 50’ list for 2017, as well as named top Business Innovator by Bloomberg, most innovative AR company by FastCompany in 2018 and won the best AR app at Mobile World Congress in 2017.

Ambarish Mitra, Omar Tayeb and Steve Spencer came up with the idea for Blippar after sharing a joke about the Queen coming to life out of a £20 note. A few days later, Tayeb had created a working prototype. Blippar was born!

Our mission is unabashedly bold: to be the bridge that brings the digital and physical worlds together, enhancing everyday life with Augmented Reality. Our products help people make sense of the world around them by embedding advanced intelligence and understanding into camera lenses and presenting entertaining or useful content based on top of it using Augmented Reality.

Augmented reality (AR) refers to technology that allows digital information – videos, photos, links, games, etc. – to be displayed on top of real world items when viewed through the lens of a smartphone, tablet or wearable device.

Augmented reality can bring all your physical materials, packaging and even your products to life. AR unlocks digital content and provides a whole new channel to communicate with your customers - your products. And for consumers it visualises products and concepts you wouldn't otherwise have access to. Learn more here on how AR can benefit your business.

Yes! We're growing fast all over the world, so we're always interested in meeting passionate, creative workers that relish a fast-paced environment in a rapidly evolving industry. Check out our careers page to see if there's an opening that fits, or just send us your CV and we'll take a look.

This is our AR professional services and studio team. We work with our clients and their agencies to help them make the most of Augmented Reality and create custom AR solutions for them.

We are always exploring how tech can drive more innovative solutions and with over 18,000 AR experiences that captivate, inspire and inform under our belts we’ve learnt what really works.

We offer custom AR solutions and that includes everything from strategy, ideation, design and UX to build of the experience, QA and data reporting. You can use all of our services or just some of them.

We can create AR experiences that can be published on multiple platforms: in an app (your app, our app, a new app that we create), on the web (no app required), on social media and even on a wearable device.

Yes we work around your needs. You can use all of our offerings (strategy, ideation, design, build, etc) and we can do everything for you from start to finish or we can work with your existing agencies. It's up to you.

Every project is different, and pricing will depend on your specific requirements and the complexity of the project. If you're interested in working with Blippar, contact us to discuss your objectives and we can provide a quote.

Yes. You can either work with us on a custom-made campaign or build one yourself using our self-service tools, Blippbuilder and Blippbuilder Script, and our SDK.

Yes. We offer a software development kit (SDK). The SDK allows mobile app developers to easily add augmented reality capabilities to their apps.

Blippbuilder is our self-service, web-based, AR creation tool. The simple drag-and-drop interface makes it really quick and easy to create powerful augmented reality, even if you have no coding skills .

Here are some terms to help you get started:

- A blipp: digital content that has been added to an object in the real world. When you scan and object or image with the Blippar app, the content is unlocked and displayed on your mobile, tablet or wearable device.

-CTA: A call-to-action (CTA) is an icon or artwork on the original image or object that tells people there is a blipp hiding beneath an image.

-Marker: A marker is the static image or object you want people to blipp. Examples include print pages, product packaging, book covers, T-shirts, posters, billboard ads and business cards.

-Peel-away: The "peel-away" function lets blipp content remain on a device's screen even when it is no longer looking at the marker. This function (which can be turned on and off) means that a user can blipp, for example, a bus stop advertisement, and then get on the bus without losing the blipp from your phone.

-Test code: a test code is a unique access code that allows only you, and anyone you give the test code to preview your blipp. You can generate a test code within Blippbuilder. To test the experience within the app, go to settings and input your code where it says 'enter test code' and then scan your marker as normal.

- Interaction: Any time a users scans your marker we count this as an interaction

For more, checkout our augmented reality glossary.

Here's a list of some of the types of content you can add to your AR experiences:
Photobooth
Tracking video
Full screen video
Animations
3D objects
Background sound
Sound effects
Web links
Image gallery
Tap to call
and many more.

Yes, Blippbuilder allows users to upload 3D models directly into the tool. We support FBX files up to 31,000 polygons that will then be converted our proprietary 3D file format (MD2). Blippbuilder has a transcoder embedded that will transcode FBX files to MD2.

Yes there are! We have a full catalogue of help guides waiting for you to explore when you become a Blippbuilder user and a team of client success managers to answer any additional questions. Here's a preview of how to create an effective AR campaign.

You can choose, your AR experience can be published to the the Blippar App and/or to your own app via the augmented reality SDK, or we can build a white-label AR app for you. You can also choose which countries can view your content. You can now also publish your AR experiences on the web using WebAR (no app required).

We have a full analytics dashboard with lots of data for tracking your campaigns.

Our pricing plans depend on a number of conditions. Please contact us so we can provide you with a quote for the package most suitable to your needs.

It's up to you. You (or your agency) can build a campaign completely by yourselves, or with some support from us, or we can build it entirely for you. The choice is yours. Contact us now to discuss what works best for you.

The basic plan includes access to our support portal, which hosts a catalogue of guides and tips. You can also submit a ticket to our support desk for help.

Advanced plans include unlimited prioritised support through our online helpdesk, and also gives you access to an account manager and 1 on 1 access to our in-house experts. We support you at every stage, from personalised training, code reviews to brainstorming ideas for your next campaign. For agency partners, we also host monthly webinars and provide sales and marketing materials to help them introduce augmented reality to their clients.

Blippbuilder allows you to fluidly collaborate with your team throughout the AR creation process. You can move a blipp from one user account to another or share a blipp with a colleague for review within seconds.

Details can be found here. Please contact our team if you wish to add more.

Yes you can. Once your blipp is created you can create a test code. This code will only allow devices that have inputted the test code to access the blipp so you can ensure it meets your expectations. Using WebAR, we generate a QR code that allows you to test your experience for a limited time.

It's completely up to you. You can choose how long your campaign will be live.

Blippbuilder is perfect for those with no coding skills, while Blippbuilder Script is a more advanced tool that requires JavaScript knowledge. Find more info about Blippbuilder Script below.

Blippbuilder Script is a JavaScript interface that allows developers to custom-build advanced augmented reality experiences based on the Blippar engine.

You can do many things. For example:

Define your scene: Use JavaScript to create your own AR scene from scratch, add images, audio or video files, and define custom hierarchy structure and complex parenting.
Add 3D: Add 3D models and geometry to your blipp with just a few lines of code - no complex 3D experience necessary even though prior experience with 3D content systems (like game engines or 3D packages) could be advantageous.
Full control: Customize the behaviour of your scene by scripting custom animations, effects, dynamic lighting, and more.
App integration: Connect to third-party applications, including Facebook, Twitter, Spotify as well as native browsers, email apps, calendars and more.

You can choose. Your AR experience can be published to the the Blippar App and/or to your own app via the augmented reality SDK, or we can build a white-label AR app for you.

No, Blippbuilder Script works cross-platform. It uses the JavaScript core implementations available on each platform (iOS and Android). We are adding ARkit and ARcore as well -- stay tuned!

Our pricing plans depend on a number of conditions. Please contact us so we can provide you with a quote for the package most suitable to your needs.

You will have access to our Developer Portal this is a fantastic resource filled with help articles, tips, inspiration, materials, and documentation. You can also join our Slack channel for further assistance. Your account manager will also be on hand to help with any issues you have.

The basic plan includes access to our support portal, which hosts a catalogue of guides and tips. You can also submit a ticket to our support desk for help.

Advanced plans include unlimited prioritised support through our online helpdesk, and also gives you access to an account manager and 1 on 1 access to our in-house experts. We support you at every stage, from personalised training, code reviews to brainstorming ideas for your next campaign. For agency partners, we also host monthly webinars and provide sales and marketing materials to help them introduce augmented reality to their clients.

SDK stands for Software Development Kit, it enables mobile app developers to embed the Blippar Image Recognition and Augmented Reality technology into a new or existing native mobile app. In essence, the SDK embeds an AR viewer into the app.

No, the Augmented Reality SDK only works with native apps.

No, the SDK requires internet connection to work.

This is up to you. On the content publication flow, you will be able to choose whether the content is accessible on your SDK only or the Blippar app only or both.

You can create your experience using our Blippbuilder suite which comprises:
Blippbuilder, the drag & drop, self-service web tool for creating AR content.
Blippbuilder Script, the powerful Javascript interface that allows more complex content to be created and published.

If you would like us to create content for you via our Blippar Studio production team, please contact us.

The SDK is compatible with native iOS and Android apps only.

Blippar iOS SDK can only be linked as a part of an Xcode project, we advise to use Xcode 8.3.3 or later. The SDK supports iOS 10.0 and later.

Blippar Android SDK should be linked as a part of the Android project in Android Studio or another Android IDE. The SDK supports Android 4.4 or later, you need to build your app with Android SDK Revision 4.4.0 (API Level 19) or later.

Currently, the Blippar SDK only supports portrait mode.

Every app has different requirements therefore we customise all our SDK packages based on your needs to ensure you have a clear overview of what is needed from the start. Please contact us and we can get started.

We are able to help you with building a new app, either through Blippar team or through an external partner. However, if you're looking to embed the SDK in an existing app, it is highly recommended to work directly with the team who originally built your app.

We provide integration support for the SDK where we are able to advise and consult your development team with an concerns or questions they have during the SDK integration process. If you require further support, we also provide custom development services - please contact us.

We estimate that integration takes 2-4 weeks, but may take longer depending on how much of the user interface and user experience you would like to customise.

When you receive the SDK, you will be able to completely redesign and customise your UI/UX. Alternatively, you are able to use the ViewController which gives you access to the Blippar icons for flashlight and camera switch by default. These icons are not customisable.

The Blippar platform and SDK does not currently support Geo.

No, there will not be any Blippar branding on the SDK.

Get in touch though our contact form for a 30 day free trial.

WebAR is a form of augmented reality that works within a browser and does not require the user to download an app to view it. WebAR can be launched from a QR code, mobile ad units, email marketing, a social media post or anywhere you can place a link.

This offers brands and advertisers the opportunity to deliver rish experiences consumers want to engage with and to deliver AR across a range of mobile and desktop inventory. Users can view the AR experience straight to their phone or desktop without needing another app.

WebAR experiences range from 360 degree views (gyroscope feature) where you can for example look inside a car or a building/house to using our web marker tracker to activate packaging and printed collateral with 3D elements, AR games, videos, face filters and much, much more.

Users need to be informed that there is an AR experience that can be accessed. We advise our clients and users to always ensure the 'Call to action (CTA)' is clear and compelling. The user sees a digital or physical touchpoint (printed collateral, a digital banner, native ad placement, video, social, QR codes, or NFC) & clicks on it or scans with a QR reader. The AR experience loads and user engages in an immersive augmented reality experience.

We measure every active engagement in the experience, such as interactions, engagement rates and dwell time.

A clear call to action on all first stage creative is critical to driving engagement with the unit and that is what will indicate that there is an AR experience.

Pricing depends on the complexity of the build. Please contact us to get started.

The Blippar app is an augmented reality browser. It uses the camera on your smartphone or tablet to recognize images and real-world objects and show digital content right on top. When you scan something, we use artificial intelligence to find relevant content. Then, using augmented reality, the app displays the content on top of the image or object by tracking it in 3D space. The content displayed unlocks an Augmented Reality experience built by us or by others using our AR creation tools.

A blipp is digital content that has been added to an object in the real world. When you scan an object or an image with the Blippar app or using WebAR, the AR content is unlocked and displayed on your mobile, tablet or wearable device.

Download the free Blippar app for Android or iOS, open it up and then hold it up to the image or object you want to scan. Fill the screen the screen with the object or image and wait for it to launch the content.

Blippar can recognise millions of things. We work with global brands, businesses, institutions, and educational establishments to make valuable augmented reality experiences for their users. Check out our augmented reality examples here.

When viewing a blipp, you can use the camera icon to take a screenshot and save it to your device or share it on social media or via email. You can also share it by pressing the share icon in the lower right corner while viewing a blipp. Don't forget to tag us in your post #blippar.

Here are a few troubleshooting tips...
-Wait a bit as you scan, it can take a few seconds to recognize.
-Check that you're connected to the Internet via WiFi or cellular data.
-Make sure you're blipping the right image, and that the image fills the screen.
-Make sure the image is well lit, using the flash if necessary.
-Make sure to hold your device steady as you scan.
-Double check that you have the latest version of Blippar by checking your app store for updates.

Blippar is available to download for Android and iOS and works on smartphones and tablets.

This depends on the content. Typically, the Blippar app uses about 50-200kB of data in order to recognize the object that is being blipped. It then loads the content, which may be anywhere between 50kB to 5MB. Once the content is loaded, the user may interact with more content, which can mean loading web pages, videos or other content. The content creator should always ensure that their content is optimised for mobile so that videos and images aren’t unnecessarily large.

In order to work properly, Blippar needs your permission to access certain information on your device, including…
-Location – Some content is only available in certain regions, or is customized based on your location.
-Storage – Allowing us to store data on your device helps the app run faster.
-Camera – In order to blipp things, we need to use your device's camera.
-Internet/Network – Blippar only works with WiFi or cellular data, so we need to make sure that you're online in order to download blipp content.
-Sleep Prevention – We don't want your screen turning off while you enjoy a blipp.
-Vibration – You can choose whether your device will vibrate while blipping

Yes! Blippar's technology can be integrated into any wearable device with a lens.

The Blippar Partner Network is a global community of talented agencies and companies who are offering innovative augmented reality services to their clients using Blippar's technology. This service offering enables them to boost consumer engagement and collect powerful real-time data for their clients while creating a new revenue stream for their business.

Our partners have skilled in-house design and development teams and creative capabilities that allow them to build and deliver successful, value-adding AR experiences to their clients. Current partners include creative agencies, digital content marketers, print and packaging companies, publishers, developers, and many more.

Becoming a Blippar Partner empowers you to sell and create augmented reality experiences in-house using your cretaive and/or development teams. This allows you to take advantage of the huge growth of AR advertising market.

As a Partner, you can pack your clients’ products, packaging and all marketing collateral with interactive and engaging digital experiences, all shareable via social media.

Blippar Certified Partners receive 12-months access to our self-service tools, enabling the simple and efficient creation of impressive AR campaigns. Benefits include individual training and support in both the selling and the production of blipps, a dedicated Partnership Manager and Product Specialist that you can always reach, a monthly Partner Newsletter and exclusive Partner Webinars, plus the opportunity to place the Blippar logo on your own website and to present yourself as our Certified Partner. We also forward relevant project leads that we receive from your market area and this way help boost sales and increase Blippar activity in the region.

We are looking for skilled agencies and companies that can help enhance and grow the business of augmented reality worldwide with Blippar’s products and tools. We expect you to have an in-house design/developer team and creative capabilities so that you can create smart campaign concepts and build beautiful assets for your blipps that look professional and achieve the results your clients want, all using our expert guidance and materials. Prior to joining the program, we will be interested in knowing more about your capabilities, clients and the types of projects with which you envision using AR so we can better understand how Blippar fits into your offering. If you would like to apply, tell us more about your business and plans by completing this form.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements, and we can put together a package suitable for your requirements.

You will have access to Blippar’s proprietary, best-in-class image recognition and augmented reality technology, allowing you to build and sell your own blipps using our self-service tools. We do not have a commission revenue model - we only charge for the interactions incurred in each blipp, all other services provided by our partners to their clients are priced by them converting Blippar into an additional revenue stream for your business, delivering more services to your current customers and attracting new clients.

There are numerous opportunities where AR can add value to the solutions you provide to your clients as blipps can launch AR games, discover recipes, do virtual try-ons, launch celebrity selfies or even 360º panoramas of the interior of a house or a car. Blipps can also feature videos, sequences, animations, PDF downloads, click-to-buy links, image galleries and much more, with all experiences shareable via email and social media.

Our partners receive initial training in both the selling and the production of blipps so you are well-equipped to start providing AR solutions. You will also receive a Blippar Certified Partner logo to be added to your website and any of your marketing collateral to show that you are accredited and an official Blippar partner. We work closely with our partners and aim to share all of our knowledge and expertise accumulated over the years in order to maximise the success of our partners’ campaigns. This happens through regular calls, meetings, newsletters, webinars and training sessions.

As a partner, you will be first to learn of any important news related to our platforms and new products well before the public. We will also send out a monthly partner newsletter to keep you informed of relevant updates from the company and from the partner community.

Prior to joining the program, we will be interested in knowing more about your capabilities, clients and the types of projects where you envision using AR so we can better understand how Blippar fits into your offering. If you would like to join, please contact us to discuss.

Blippar for Education is Blippar's programme for educators and educational content providors. It allows them to make learning materials interactive via augmented reality.

Please check out our pricing on the Blippar for Education page.

That depends on the pricing package you choose. For more details please contact us for pricing.

Yes, you can make promotional materials using Blippbuilder. Learn more on our Augmented Reality for Education page.

Yes, you are free to create Blippbuilder accounts for your students. In order to do so, please ask our team to create a group for your insitution and add you as a group admin. It will then allow you to collaborate on various student projects. Students also need to download the Blippar app on their mobile device in order to view the content created on Blippbuilder.

When an account has been created for a school or college, the first registered user becomes an administrator for that group. As administrator, you can then freely add additional members to the group, both faculty and students.

Blippbuilder is a cloud-based tool, so you just need an up-to-date browser. On rare occasions, school firewalls may block Blippbuilder. It’s completely safe for you to use, so speak to your IT administrator to unblock your access.

Assets are the content features of your blipp – images, videos, and icons – that make your learning materials interactive. Blippbuilder comes with a bank of pre-loaded icons that you can use. Alternatively, you can create custom icons using third-party platforms such as Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft PowerPoint, and upload them to your asset library on Blippbuilder to make the blipp uniquely your own. For more information, see our asset guidlines.

Yes, Blippbuilder allows users to upload 3D models directly into the tool. We work with our own proprietary 3D file format (MD2) however, Blippbuilder has a transcoder embedded that will transcode FBX files to MD2.

The more complex the image, the easier it is for Blippar to recognise the marker. Images with a lot of contrast tend to work very well, while flat or monochromatic images may not work.

There isn’t a defined size limit for a blipp. However, blipps that contain many sequences and embedded assets may become slow to load on the Blippar app. One way to reduce the size of a blipp is to resize the individual assets you are using. For example, if you resize an image in Photoshop and upload it again to your asset library on Blippbuilder, it will reduce the size of your blipp.