How the AR camera works

Last updated 31 August 2026 · AR ARTIST, operated by MT Mind

Short version: your camera feed is used to draw an effect on your own screen, in your own browser, while the page is open. It is not recorded and it is not sent to us. Nothing you capture reaches us either.

What happens when you open a Lens

Scanning the QR code on an AR ARTIST piece opens ar-artist.com/lens in your phone’s browser, already pointed at the effect made for that design. The page asks your browser for permission to use the camera — and the microphone, if you record video with sound. Your browser shows that request; you can say no, and you can withdraw it later in your browser or device settings.

Once you allow it, each frame from the camera is passed to the augmented reality software running inside the page, which draws the effect on top and shows the result back to you. That loop happens on your device, frame by frame, and stops the moment you close the page.

The augmented reality itself

The effects are Snap Inc.’s Lenses, delivered through Snap’s Camera Kit. To provide them, Camera Kit downloads Lens content from Snap’s servers and, as described in Snap’s documentation, reports anonymised usage, performance, and diagnostic information back to Snap. Before the first Lens runs, Camera Kit shows you Snap’s own terms of service notice and asks you to accept it. If you decline, no Lens will run.

What we do not do

We do not record, transmit, or store your camera or microphone feed.
We do not receive the photos or videos you capture — they are created in your browser and stay on your device unless you choose to share them.
We have no accounts and never ask for your name, email, or phone number.
We set no advertising or analytics trackers.

Our web host keeps ordinary server access logs (IP address, timestamp, page requested) for security and troubleshooting, as any website does.

Your controls

Camera and microphone — grant or revoke permission at any time in your browser or device settings. Without it the page simply shows no camera feed.
Snap’s notice — declining Snap’s terms prompt blocks all Lenses; the plain camera still works.
Your captures — a capture is discarded when you retake it or close the preview. Saved ones live in your own camera roll, under your control.

Children

AR ARTIST is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them.

Questions

The full detail is in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Anything else, write to us: MT Mind — mandartare812@gmail.com