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How to Make Your First AR Drawing: A Precise Step-by-Step Tutorial

Want your drawings to come alive in AR? This hands-on guide shows how artists can create augmented reality drawings with a no-code WebAR platform like Kivicube.

How to Make Your First AR Drawing: A Precise Step-by-Step Tutorial
Layered AR Collage with Spatial Depth

This tutorial walks you through the exact process of creating an augmented reality drawing using a no-code WebAR platform. We'll use Kivicube, since it fits this workflow especially well and doesn't require any programming.

By the end, you'll have a drawing that comes to life in AR — viewable instantly through a browser.

Step 1: Prepare Your Layers

  1. Open your drawing in software like Photoshop or Procreate.
  2. Export the background, mid-ground, and foreground elements as separate transparent PNGs. Clear layers are crucial for a good AR drawing.
Export the layers from your drawing as separate files
Export the layers from your drawing as separate files

Step 2: Build Your AR Scene in Kivicube

1.Register for a free Kivicube account and log in.

Sign up for a free Kivicube account
Sign up for a free Kivicube account

2.Click "New Collection" in the top right corner, select "Image AR", and give your collection a name.

Start by creating an Image AR collection in Kivicube
Start by creating an Image AR collection in Kivicube

3.Then click "New Scene" and select the "Image AR" type. Name your scene.

Inside the collection, create a new AR scene and name it
Inside the collection, create a new AR scene and name it

4.In the editor, go to the left panel. Under "Target Image", upload your final drawing. This is what users will scan.

Upload the image you want to scan.
Upload the image you want to scan

5.Under "Image" in the asset library, upload your transparent PNG layers. Then, drag each layer into the scene. Use the transform tools to position them in 3D space.

Build a 3D AR scene from your images with transform tools
Build a 3D AR scene from your images with transform tools
Try Kivicube

Step 3: Add Animations (Make It Live)

Add Pop-up Animation:

  1. Select a layer.
  2. Click the "Animation" tab on the right.
  3. Choose "Pop Up".
  4. Set the Trigger to "Tracked" (so it plays when the image is scanned).
Select a layer, click the plus icon, and add a pop-up animation
Select a layer, click the plus icon, and add a pop-up animatio

Copy This Animation:

  1. In the animation panel, hover over the "Pop Up" animation you just created and click the "Copy" icon.
  2. In the pop-up window, select all other layers that need the same animation and confirm. This applies the animation to multiple layers at once.
Click the “Copy” button to apply the animation to other layers
Click the “Copy” button to apply the animation to other layer

Add Rotation Animation:

  1. Select a layer again.
  2. Click "Animation" and add a new one. Choose "Rotate".
  3. To make it play after the pop-up, set its Trigger to "After Pop Up ends".
  4. Copy this rotation animation to other layers using the same method above.
Add rotation animation triggered after pop-up
Add rotation animation triggered after pop-u

Test & Iterate

  1. Click the "Save & Share" button in the top right.
  2. Scan the generated QR code with your phone, pointing the camera at your original drawing (the Target Image).
  3. Observe how it looks in real space. Return to the editor to adjust positions or timing if needed. This step is vital for any AR artwork.
Click Save and Share, then try out your AR scene
Click Save and Share, then try out your AR scen

Step 4: Share Your AR Drawing

  • Once published, Kivicube provides a permanent link and QR code.
  • Share this link on social media, or print the QR code next to your physical artwork. Anyone can experience your augmented reality drawing instantly in their browser—no app required.
Scan the QR code with your camera to launch your AR
Scan the QR code with your camera to launch your AR

Prefer Watching Instead?

If you prefer video tutorials, you can also learn how to create an Augmented Reality Drawing from scratch by following this video guide:

Learn to create an AR art collage with our full tutorial

Final Thoughts

You've just turned a static image into interactive AR art using a no-code WebAR platform. This workflow is the foundation for many AR projects — from illustrations and books to exhibitions and portfolios.

If you get stuck or want feedback, join our friendly Discord community and connect with other creators building in AR.

Join Discord

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