Facebook is making a new tool called Spark AR for building augmented reality effects. The tool will now allow anyone on Instagram to make effects for Instagram stories and custom face filters. Before now, only approved creators could upload augmented reality filters to Instagram.

Instagram is also introducing an Effect Gallery tab to allow artists to display their creations. The AR filters were first introduced in May 2018. However, the feature did not become popular until creators joined the beta version in October last year.

The designers experienced a major boost in following from the creation of the AR filter. This is because the effects created by the designers would automatically show up in a following user’s Stories effect tray.

Today’s update now means more creative people can get involved in the filter making process. It also means there will be more face filters in the Stories Camera’s effect tray. Instagram is also adding a new option called Browse Effects at the end of the tray. This is so that users can discover and try new AR filters.

Facebook first announced that the Instagram filter design process will be available to all at its F8 conference earlier in 2019. According to Facebook, over one billion people have used AR effects created on the Spark AR platform. This includes Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and Portal.

The platform recently added support for Windows and it is now open to everyone interested in making AR effects on their Instagram Stories.