Beeble has released Beeble Camera, a free iOS app that uses Apple’s LiDAR and ARKit frameworks to track iPhone movement in real time while recording. The app anchors captured footage to real-world space and uploads it directly to the Beeble Web platform for AI processing. According to the developer, uploaded shots are processed into camera-tracked, rotoscoped and relightable VFX passes. These passes can then be composited in Beeble Studio, the online Beeble Editor, or exported into Blender and Unreal or using a dedicated plugin, or any other DCC through a straight export.
Setup and Shooting
After installing Beeble Camera from the App Store, users must scan their environment with the iPhone to allow ARKit to detect surfaces. A floor grid can be tapped to set the origin point for tracking. The app also allows insertion of reference geometry by placing a .usdz file into the scene. This can be scaled, rotated and moved as needed. Once the environment is prepared, recordings capture both video and camera metadata. For improved results, Beeble recommends using a gimbal, ensuring a clean lens (D’uh), and shooting under even lighting conditions.
Uploading and Processing
Recorded clips are uploaded from the phone to Beeble Web, where AI routines create roto masks and relightable passes. These are automatically aligned with tracked 3D data from the shoot. The same 3D reference model used on-set can be converted to .glb and imported into the Beeble Editor, where metadata ensures accurate placement in the composite. Alternatively, Blender users can bring in the footage via the Beeble add-on, which carries over the camera-tracking data.
Availability
Beeble Camera is available now as a free download on the iOS App Store. Processing and compositing features require a Beeble Web account.
What’s Next from Beeble
Beeble CEO Hoon Kim has confirmed plans for a local version of the platform in future updates. He discusses this roadmap and accessibility of AI-based relighting in our Digital Production interview, so read on over there 🙂
