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Tips for producing media

This document contains technical guidelines and best practices for producing media (images, animations, videos and 3D models) used in augmented and mixed reality Artworks on Jandig. Many of these guidelines can also be useful for producing content for other platforms.

In addition to producing a version considering the following limitations, it is recommended that a higher-quality "ideal" version also be produced, which can be used in controlled environments and/or in the future (as these limitations decrease).

Supported formats

When uploading an Object, the currently accepted formats are:

  • GIF — simple animations, with good compatibility and support for transparent backgrounds, allowing the animation to blend well into the augmented reality scene.
  • PNG — static image (no animation).
  • MP4 and WebM — video, including transparency support in WebM. Recommended for longer or more detailed animations, since video compresses much better than GIF.
  • GLB — 3D model. Only available for MR Exhibits (the Mixed Reality app for Meta Quest). AR Artworks (the mobile app, based on Markers) do not accept GLB Objects.

You can also attach an optional audio description to an Object, in MP3, OGG or WAV format, to make the Artwork more accessible.

Details

Use as few details and small elements as possible, as they may not be identifiable by the public.

One way to test this is to save the storyboard images at 300x300px and check if you can still identify all the elements. It's important to remember that the public may see the content from a distance, so it will appear quite small on the phone screen.

Amount of colors (GIF)

The recommendation is to reduce this as much as possible, without compromising the original colors.

To optimize these values, we recommend minimizing the use of gradients and avoiding fade transitions.

A technique to plan this before producing the animation is to export the storyboard images as GIF with different amounts of colors.

Resolution

Since the content is mostly viewed on smartphone screens, and often from a distance, we recommend creating content around 300x300px to 400x400px. Resolutions higher than that rarely bring a perceptible quality gain on the device, but significantly increase file size and loading time.

For GLB models (exclusive to MR Exhibits on Meta Quest), the relevant resolution is the model's textures — prefer optimized, compressed textures instead of very high-resolution ones.

Framerate (GIF and video)

There's no fixed ideal number — the recommendation is to test and use the lowest frame rate that still looks smooth for that particular animation. Lower frame rates reduce file size and loading time, so it's worth gradually lowering it until you notice quality starting to be compromised.

Loop

To create the illusion of continuity, the animation (GIF or video) should loop. That is, the transition from the last to the first frame should be imperceptible.

Duration

The shorter the content, the better. This allows for better image quality and ensures the public watches all of the material. We recommend up to 15 seconds of duration for animations and videos.

File size

This is the strictest parameter: smaller files load faster and consume less of the public's mobile data. As a reference (the smaller, the better):

  • GIF: ideally up to 500 kB, 1 MB at most.
  • MP4 / WebM: since it compresses better than GIF, it's possible to keep good quality with files up to 1-2 MB for short looping clips.
  • PNG: ideally up to 300 kB, since it's a static image.
  • GLB: since it's used in the Meta Quest app (usually over Wi-Fi), mobile data matters less, but device performance still matters — prefer optimized models (low poly count, compressed textures).

This limitation exists mainly for the following reasons:

  • We have no control over the public's connection speed when accessing the content, which can make downloading all Artworks slow.
  • We don't want to weigh down the public's data plan.
  • Smaller files require less processing, making the platform compatible with a wider range of devices.

Conclusion

To achieve an optimal result, it's best to test the parameters together (resolution, colors, framerate and duration).

A recommended process is to export with heavily reduced parameters (e.g., few colors, low resolution, low framerate) as well as a higher-quality version, and compare them. From there, adjust one parameter at a time, reducing it until you notice the point where quality starts to be compromised.

If, even after reducing all parameters to the minimum acceptable level, the file is still large, keep adjusting different combinations until you reach an optimal result. Also remember to keep a high-resolution version for use in controlled environments and/or in the future.

If you use Adobe Media Encoder, there's a tutorial developed by UEMG available for download as a PDF.

We also prepared a tutorial on how to export GIFs with a transparent background: download the PDF.