Collapsing of 3D objects to 2D images in an artificial reality environment

A computing system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a process comprising:
• detecting, by an extra reality (XR) device, a trigger to collapse a selected 3D object depicted in an artificial reality environment;
• identifying a vector for a determined perspective of a user of the XR device;
• generating a plane that is both perpendicular to the vector and intersects the 3D object;
• collapsing coordinates of the 3D object to the plane;
• generating a 2D image based on the collapsed coordinates;
• associating the 2D image with the 3D object;
• and
• updating the artificial reality environment to remove the 3D object and present the 2D image in the artificial reality environment.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a process comprising:

• detecting, by an extra reality (XR) device, a trigger to collapse a selected 3D object depicted in an artificial reality environment;
• detecting a direction of a user's gaze;
• initiating a virtual camera directed along the direction of the user's gaze;
• determining a layer, in the artificial reality environment, that contains the selected 3D object;
• capturing a 2D image with the virtual camera, wherein the captured 2D image excludes content that is outside the determined layer containing the selected 3D object;
• and
• associating the 2D image with the selected 3D object;
• and
• updating the artificial reality environment to remove the selected 3D object and present the 2D image in the artificial reality environment.