How to Copy and Paste Real-World Objects in AR Using iPhone and Android

Jan. 21, 2021



Larry Tesler created “copy-paste”to copy simpletextsandnotesfrom one page and paste them on another. That simple innovation changed the way we use our computers. The advancement in tech has now allowed us to take this simple copy-paste feature to new heights. Last year, Paris-based designer, Cyril Diagne,created a unique appthat allows users to copy real-world objects and paste them onto a computer using Augmented Reality (AR). Here is how you can copy and paste real-world objects in AR using your iPhone and Android.

Copy and Paste Real-World Objects in AR

Copy and Paste Real-World Objects in AR

AR isone of the big upcoming techs of the future, and hopefully, it will become mainstream sooner than later. Companies like Apple are pushing to bring that future closer by including hardware specifically for AR in their products. Just this year, Apple included aLiDAR sensorin its newiPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Maxflagship smartphones.

This makes me hope that things are going to get interesting soon. Anyway, keeping my musing asides, let’s see how you can use your iPhone or Android smartphones to create an AR model of real-world objects.

The app, dubbed “ClipDrop”, was recently launched on the Play Store and the App Store. So, before you start copying objects and texts in the real world, you need to download and install the app on your mobile device.

There is also aWindowsand a macOS version of the app that you require to paste the copied data onto your PC or Mac. So before you start with the tutorial, make sure to install the apps on your phone and laptop.

So now that your smartphone and PC or Mac is all decked-up with ClipDrop, let’s get into the steps, shall we:

  1. Open ClipDrop on your iOS or Android device.

  2. Here, Select the “Clip” option from the bottom mode-bar. Point your smartphone camera towards the object or subject that you want to copy in AR and tap the middle of the screen to capture it.

  3. Wait for the app to detect the object, separate it from the background, and convert it into an AR-model. Now, with the copied object on your screen, point your smartphone towards your PC or Mac with the ClipDrop app open on it. Tap the “Drop” button to paste the copied AR-model onto your computer.

Note: To paste the AR-objects onto your PC or Mac, make sure your mobile device and your computer are connected to the same network connection.

Pretty awesome, right? This way, you can add any object from the real world to various editing or modelingsoftware like Adobe Photoshopor Unity with maximum ease.

Now, apart from copying objects and even people, you can also copy handwritten or printed texts, much likeGoogle Lens’ cross-platform copy-paste. Moreover, you can click pictures and send them onto your computer or laptop seamlessly using ClipDrop’s cross-platform support.

I hope you enjoyed this fun tutorial. I found the app useful and it’s impressive how well it works. So, take it out for a spin and let us know, how it perform for you guys. Sound off your experiences in the comments section below.

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