Handcrafted augmented reality experiences

A method for creating a handcrafted augmented reality (AR) experience, the method comprising:

• capturing, via a camera system, images of a scene;
• identifying an object receiving surface and corresponding surface coordinates within the scene;
• identifying, responsive to input received via a user input system, a customizable AR primary object by receiving a user selection of the customizable AR primary object from a plurality of customizable virtual characters using the user input system, the customizable AR primary object including an image receiving area and associated with at least one set of primary object coordinates;
• generating AR overlays including the customizable AR primary object for positioning adjacent the object receiving surface responsive to the primary object coordinates and the surface coordinates within the scene;
• presenting, via a display system, the AR overlays;
• receiving, via a user input system, customization commands, the customization commands including a predefined media selection customization command for accessing images captured with the camera system;
• receive, via the user input system, selection of an image from the images captured with the camera system;
• generating handcrafted AR overlays including customizations associated with the customizable AR primary object responsive to the customization commands for positioning adjacent the object receiving surface responsive to the primary object coordinates and the surface coordinates within the scene, the customizations including the selected image from the images captured with the camera system added to the image receiving area of the customizable AR primary object;
• presenting, via the display system, the handcrafted AR overlays;
• recording the handcrafted AR overlays;
• creating a handcrafted AR file including the recorded overlays;
• and
• transmitting the handcrafted AR file.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code including instructions that, when executed, are operative to cause an electronic processor to perform the steps of:

• capturing, via a camera system, images of a scene;
• identifying an object receiving surface and corresponding surface coordinates within the scene;
• identifying, responsive to input received via a user input system, a customizable AR primary object by receiving a user selection of the customizable AR primary object from a plurality of customizable virtual characters using the user input system, the customizable AR primary object including an image receiving area and associated with at least one set of primary object coordinates;
• generating AR overlays including the customizable AR primary object for positioning adjacent the object receiving surface responsive to the primary object coordinates and the surface coordinates within the scene;
• presenting, via a display system, the AR overlays;
• receiving, via a user input system, customization commands, the customization commands including a predefined media selection customization command for accessing images captured with the camera system;
• receive, via the user input system, selection of an image from the images captured with the camera system;
• generating handcrafted AR overlays including customizations associated with the customizable AR primary object responsive to the customization commands for positioning adjacent the object receiving surface responsive to the primary object coordinates and the surface coordinates within the scene, the customizations including the selected image from the images captured with the camera system added to the image receiving area of the customizable AR primary object;
• presenting, via the display system, the handcrafted AR overlays;
• recording the handcrafted AR overlays;
• creating a handcrafted AR file including the recorded overlays;
• and
• transmitting the handcrafted AR file.