New Spline features

Spline announced a set of brand new features that are partly available today and will rollout throughout the year.

Data

You can now use real data in your Spline scenes to create 3D visualisations of graphs, live updating elements like package tracking, or show the live weather. You can use API calls from any source to create powerful experiences.

As part of data you can also use OpenAI’s API which allows you to generate dynamic content, automated responses and experiences based on AI output. You can use this to create dialogue for characters or write personalised story element descriptions. But let your imagination run wild!

The final part of the data update is Webhooks, allowing you to show real time notifications, integrate with IoT devices like showing the live temperature or changing stock prices.

Android Support

Last year Spline added native iOS support, now they are releasing a first beta of native Android support, with a full release expected by the end of the year. So you can now use your 3D scenes on Android phones, watches, TVs, cars, fridges, or just anything that runs Android. Making it now possible to show your real 3D objects on all major platforms (Android, iOS and web). And just like iOS, you can export your scene as an Android app and publish it directly in the Play Store.

Code API

Previously you could trigger actions from code on web, but it will also be possible via SwiftUI and Kotlin. So you can change states, object properties, materials, transitions and events all from your existing app. When a user presses a button or does a certain action, your 3D scenes can now respond to it. This will be available in beta later this year.

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Check out all of the announcements:

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Interactions in LottieLabs

LottieLabs is one of the Lottie animation tools (not to be confused with LottieFiles’ Creator). This week they added interactions, which makes it the first design editor to support interactions. It was previously possible to add interactions via code, but now you can create them visually. Allowing you to add clicks, scrolls, hover and more to bring your animations to life even more.

Read the full announcement of Interactivity

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Blood, sweat and details

Ben Fryc (Staff Designer 3D/Motion at Wealthsimple) took the stage at Config to talk about the hard work that goes into 3D design.