In class, we discussed Google’s ‘Just a Line’ and the complexities surrounding drawing in space. This week I decided to give the drawing in space apps a go and found a few on the app store. I decided to use the Paint Space AR app by Zane Assets LLC and found it incredibly difficult yet fun to attempt to place things in space with my phone.
To begin, there’s a great tutorial that gives you access to all of the fun features that you can add to a space, drawing, or art creation. I was not able to take any screenshots with these animations as I did not know they were not available to use in the free version after the tutorial. At this point in time, I do not see myself using this too often so opted out of the added expenses and do not have any screenshots to impress.
The two features that come included with the app are a simple paint brush with 6 color choices with stroke thickness as well as a photo placement option. I decided to play around with both and see how difficult this would end up being, knowing that the shake of the hand and the way the phone’s accelerometer works PLUS no guiding from the app would result in something less than perfect — and behold a cube attempt was more like a shack of a house that would barely keep the wind out.
Holding the phone steady was pretty impossible for me — possibly the charge of caffeine or just the fact that I am not a still person. The UI of the app is pretty simple and easy to follow and understand. The app does a good job of orienting after leaving and returning and has a nice live response where you can actually draw in-between things in space! I combined my imperfect cube with a line of dimensional magnitude to poke holes through the inaccuracy that existed. With that said, I will not classify myself as an expert 3D AR builder just yet.. but who knows, the house of cards I’ve always tried to build out of a deck of cards could see the day of light after 30 years.
As an exercise or practice, I can see this technology or utilization of AR to bring people into an experience of game play, 21st century version of Draw Me (3D edition), sculptural art that could disappear (ie Snapchat & Jeff Koons), and more fun ways to bring the interactivity of using mobile devices to unlock more than what meets the eye immediately.