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Scan a space and set a surface anchor

  1. Adobe Aero User Guide
  2. Introduction
    1. What is Adobe Aero
    2. Adobe Aero mobile (iOS) system requirements
    3. What is Augmented Reality
    4. Common AR terminologies
    5. Adobe Aero | Common questions
    6. Get started with the user interface
    7. In-app learning resources in Adobe Aero
    8. Using mobile gestures in Adobe Aero
    9. Key 3D modeling concepts
    10. What's new in Adobe Aero
  3. Aero desktop
    1. What's new in Adobe Aero
    2. Adobe Aero desktop | Common questions
    3. Workspace Basics
    4. Keyboard shortcuts
    5. Import assets into Aero
    6. Adobe Aero desktop system requirements
    7. Supported file formats
    8. Work with cloud documents
  4. Aero Player (Beta) on Android
    1. Discover Augmented Reality content in Aero Player (Beta)
    2. Adobe Aero (Beta) on Android | Common questions
    3. Adobe Aero (Beta) on Android System requirements
  5. Make your digital assets ready for AR
    1. Asset sources for Aero
    2. Prepare Photoshop assets for Aero
    3. Prepare Illustrator assets for Aero
    4. Prepare Dimension assets for Aero
    5. Optimizing Assets for AR
  6. Import AR-ready assets
    1. Import assets into Aero
    2. Import Mixamo assets into Aero
    3. Supported file formats
    4. Import FBX files into Aero
  7. Design AR experiences
    1. Add audio to digital assets in Adobe Aero
    2. Scan a space and set a surface anchor
    3. Place digital assets and edit the scene
    4. Add interactivity to digital assets
    5. Set an Image Anchor
    6. Add animated assets in Adobe Aero
    7. Create animations using Directable characters
  8. Export and share
    1. Share your AR creations
    2. Viewing Aero Experiences FAQ
    3. Collaborate with others on Adobe Aero documents
    4. View AR creations
  9. Cloud documents and storage
    1. Work with cloud documents
    2. Upgrade storage for Adobe Aero
  10. Examples, ideas, and inspirations
    1. Design an AR experience using starter assets

Setting a surface anchor helps Adobe Aero understand the space to place the objects. Learn how to scan the space and set surface anchor to ground your design in the real world.

Set a surface anchor
Set a surface anchor

A surface anchor is a trackable position in the physical environment that orients AR content to real world space so that content stays where you want it to stay. When you set a surface anchor, you can place your assets on it and come back to the same point to see the placed objects

Before you begin

  • For the device to take in visual information about the real-world environment, look for a well-lit space that has many textures, defined edges, or variations.

  • Avoid white, shiny, or reflective surfaces. 

Set a surface anchor

  1. In the Edit mode, pan the device slowly from left to right.
  2. The camera computes the location and you see white dots appearing. These dots indicate feature points.
  3. When there are enough feature points, they dissolve into a grid of hexagons.
  4. The surface anchor appears on the grid as a white, round circle with a pin in the middle. You can tap the screen to place the anchor on that point.
Grid of hexagons
Grid of hexagons

Reset a surface anchor

Tap the Settings icon and select Reset. The existing surface anchor is cleared and you can now set a new one.

What's next?

We've got you started with setting a surface anchor in Adobe Aero. After the anchor is set, you can go ahead and place assets in the space and edit the scene.

Have a question or an idea?

If you have a question to ask or an idea to share, come and participate in Adobe Aero Community. We would love to hear from you. 

Don’t forget to showcase your work on Behance and seek inspiration from others' work as well.

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