How-to guide

How to Create an Empty-Scene AR Experience

The `Empty Scene` option in ARLOOPA Studio is the cleanest starting point when you do not want to begin with a single uploaded media asset. Inside the create flow, it appears as one of the first content-type options after you choose the main AR format. That makes it useful when the team wants to enter the editor with a blank canvas and build the scene more deliberately from there. This guide explains when to use the empty-scene path and how it behaves inside marker-based, markerless, location-based, geospatial, and face-tracking workflows.

Empty scene content type option in the create flow

Best for

Teams that want full scene control, multi-asset assembly, or a cleaner starting point than a single uploaded file.

Watch out for

A blank scene can slow teams down if they do not already know what the first asset, action, or layout should be.

ARLOOPA fit

ARLOOPA Studio makes empty-scene creation useful because it still anchors the scene inside a chosen AR format instead of dropping teams into an abstract editor with no context.

Use case fit

When the empty-scene content type is the best starting point

Choose `Empty Scene` when the project needs structure rather than a single uploaded asset. This is useful for custom assemblies, layered scenes, or experiences where the team wants to enter the editor and compose the result from several parts instead of starting from one video, image, or 3D file.

It is often the right choice for teams that already know how the scene should be staged but do not want the starting point constrained by one asset type.

•Use it when you want manual scene control from the start.
•Choose it for multi-asset builds or editor-led layouts.
•Prefer a direct media type when the whole experience is basically one video, image, or model.

Studio steps

How to create an empty-scene AR experience in Studio

Follow these steps in order. If you are new to Studio, finish one screen before you move to the next one.

Start by clicking `Create experience`. Then choose the main AR type that matches your project. After that, Studio will show the content-type screen where you can pick the asset format you want to use.

You cannot open the experience on a real phone until it is published. Before that, use the Studio preview to check the setup and fix mistakes.

1Click `Create experience` in Studio.
2Choose the main AR type that matches your project. Use `Marker-Based AR` for printed triggers, `Markerless AR` for surface placement, `Location-Based AR` for a map point, `Geospatial AR` for a landmark or VPS project, and `Face Tracking` for selfie effects.
3If Studio asks for a destination or provider first, choose that and continue to the content-type screen.
4Click `Empty Scene` in the content-type list.
5Open the blank scene and start adding the objects, media, or actions you want instead of beginning with one uploaded file.
6Review the result in Studio and fix anything that looks wrong before you publish.
7Click `Publish` to generate the live experience.
8Open the published experience on a real phone and make sure a new user can understand what to do first.

Preparation

What to prepare before using an empty scene

The main preparation point is scene intent. A blank canvas only helps when the team already knows what should be built inside it. If the concept is still unclear, beginning with a direct media type can be faster. If the concept is already defined, the empty scene becomes the more flexible option.

It also helps to decide which assets will be added first. That keeps the editor stage focused instead of turning into an unstructured experiment.

•Define the first asset or interaction before you open a blank scene.
•Use a clear scene plan if several assets will be layered together.
•Choose the main AR trigger or placement flow before you worry about scene decoration.
•Test the audience journey, not only the scene composition.

Launch guidance

Where empty-scene builds usually work best

Empty-scene builds are useful when the scene itself needs structure: event activations, educational sequences, custom brand storytelling, and any project that requires more than one visible element. The benefit is freedom, but that freedom needs a clear plan to pay off.

For simpler one-asset experiences, a direct media type usually gets teams to publish faster.

•Custom multi-asset scenes.
•Editor-led event or education builds.
•Narrative AR experiences with several components.
•Projects where one media upload is too limiting as a starting point.

FAQ

How to Create an Empty-Scene AR Experience FAQ

Where do I find Empty Scene in the create flow?

It appears at the content-type step after you choose the main AR format.

Is Empty Scene better than starting with one asset?

It is better when the experience needs a manual scene structure. If the whole experience is one video, image, or model, a direct content type is usually faster.

Can I use Empty Scene with marker-based or location-based AR?

Yes. The empty-scene option can sit inside the different main AR flows because it is a content-type choice, not a top-level trigger type.

What is the biggest risk with an empty scene?

The biggest risk is entering a blank canvas without a clear scene plan, which can slow down production instead of simplifying it.

Next step

Need help turning a how-to guide into a launch plan?

Use pricing and a live demo to validate the workflow, publishing path, and rollout scope before you build at full scale.

Existing Studio pages