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Building Augmented Reality Experiences with Niantic 8th Wall (2025)

  • Writer: ARI Leadership Team
    ARI Leadership Team
  • Sep 10
  • 3 min read
Tutorial by the Alternate Reality Initiative (ARI)
Tutorial by the Alternate Reality Initiative (ARI)

Augmented Reality (AR) allows us to blend the digital and physical worlds by superimposing computer-generated objects into real environments. If you’ve ever played Pokémon Go, you’ve already experienced what AR can do. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the process of creating your first AR experience using Niantic Studio (powered by 8thWall).

Whether you’re brand new to AR or have a background in Unity, this guide will give you practical hands-on steps for setting up, importing 3D models, and experimenting with image targets and interactive scripts.



1. Getting Started: Niantic Studio Setup

  1. Head over to 8thWall and create a free account.

From the dashboard, create a new project. This is your AR workspace.



Inside the project, you’ll see a familiar layout if you’ve used Unity before:

  • Scene Hierarchy: What’s in your scene

  • Scene Viewer: What your user sees

  • Inspector: Where you tweak object properties

  • Assets: All your models, scripts, and images

  • Status Bar & Launch Toolbar: Build and run tools

This is your AR playground.



2. Adding Your First 3D Model

Now let’s bring something into the world.

  1. Find a model: Try Sketchfab, Free3D, or TurboSquid.

  2. Upload it: Add the model to your project’s Assets.

  3. Drag & drop: Place the model into your scene.

  4. Edit properties: Use the Inspector to resize, rotate, or move it.

  5. Build & test: Click Build, then connect your device and scan the QR code to preview the model in your real environment.


🔎 Pro tip: Switch your Camera type to AR before rebuilding, otherwise your model won’t appear in AR space.


3. Using the Image Positioning System

Right now, your object just floats. To make AR meaningful, we can anchor objects to real-world surfaces using image targets.


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Choosing a Good Image Target

  • Use a photo with rich details and contrast.

  • Avoid repetitive patterns, blank areas, or reflective surfaces.

Recommended size: at least 480x640 pixels.


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Setting It Up

  1. Upload your image under the Image Targets menu.

  2. Add an Image Target object to your scene.

  3. Assign your uploaded image in the Inspector.

  4. “Child” your 3D model under the Image Target.

Now when you build and test, your model appears fixed onto the chosen image in real life. Adjust its scale and orientation as needed.




4. Adding Interaction: Drag and Drop

Static models are nice—but let’s make them interactive. We’ll use the provided draggable.ts script.

  1. Download and upload the script into your Assets.

  2. Create a Parent object in your scene.

  3. Add a collider and attach the draggable.ts script.

  4. Make your model a child of the parent object.

In the script settings, link it to your scene’s Camera.



Finally, enable physics:

  • Set Physics Type to Dynamic.

  • Add a large invisible floor plane with a collider (so your object doesn’t fall forever).

Now when you build, you can tap to pick up, drag, and drop your AR object.




5. Tap-to-Place Experiences

Another interaction style is tap-to-place: users tap the ground, and the object appears at that location.

Here’s the workflow:

  1. Clone the provided template project.

  2. Upload an image to use as the cursor skin.

  3. Add it as a UI element, make it a child of the cursor component.

  4. Upload your model and attach it to the “Placement Container” component.

  5. Build & test.



The underlying script uses raycasting and a state machine:

  • Waiting State: Shows a cursor, updates its position, waits for a tap.

  • Placed State: Animates and drops your object into the scene.

This interaction feels natural and mirrors how many mobile AR apps work.



6. Wrapping Up

Congratulations—you’ve built:

  • A project in Niantic Studio

  • Anchored objects with image targets

  • Added interactivity with draggable scripts

  • Created tap-to-place placement

From here, you can explore more: adding animations, experimenting with Gaussian splatting, or combining AR with multiplayer experiences.


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Keep experimenting, keep saving your work, and most importantly—have fun creating your own AR worlds!



This tutorial was adapted from a Niantic Workshop run by the Alternate Reality Initiative (ARI), University of Michigan’s XR student club.



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