Setting up your Project for Vuforia
Importing and activating the Target Database in Unity

Setting up Image Targets

This section shows you how to set up a simple Image Target and get it responding to basic tracking events.

To allow your application to recognize images and use them as Targets to trigger gameplay, display graphics or information, you need to create a Target database. You can create Target databases directly from the Vuforia Developer Portal Target Manager page, as the steps in this section describe.

Log into your Vuforia Developer account. Then navigate to the Target Manager page and click on the Add Database button.

Adding a new Target Database
Adding a new Target Database

On the Create Database page, type a name for your database, select Device from the Type options, then click the Create button.

Creating a new Target Database
Creating a new Target Database

This adds the new Target database to the Target Manager list. Now click on the Database name in the list to open the Device Database list.

Managing the new Target Database
Managing the new Target Database

This brings you to the Target list page for the database, where you can add new Targets and download the database in specific formats for use with several platforms. Click the Add Target button to open the Add Target popup window.

Open Add Target window
Open Add Target window

The Add Target window presents you with options to specify details about the Target you want to add. There are four different types of Targets you can add: Single Image, Cuboid/Box, Cylinder and 3D ObjectA 3D GameObject such as a cube, terrain or ragdoll. More info
See in Glossary
. Under Type, Select Single Image and browse your hard drive to locate the image you want to use as an Image Target.

Choosing Target Type
Choosing Target Type

This example uses a playing card to demonstrate the Image Target recognition capabilities in Unity.

Image Target used
Image Target used

Use any image, but make sure that the image has enough detail to be rated as a 5-star Target so that the cameraA component which creates an image of a particular viewpoint in your scene. The output is either drawn to the screen or captured as a texture. More info
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can easily track it.

Choosing Target image
Choosing Target image

The Width value is a scale value that you need to set to the size you want the image to appear in your Unity SceneA Scene contains the environments and menus of your game. Think of each unique Scene file as a unique level. In each Scene, you place your environments, obstacles, and decorations, essentially designing and building your game in pieces. More info
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(in real-world units). Unity measures everything in your Scene in relation to the size of your Target image. For this example, the width of the playing card is 5.5cm, so you would use 5.5cm as the Width value. If you need a larger size Target, then increase this Width.

Setting a Target Width
Setting a Target Width

Enter a name for the Target image, and click the Add button to upload the Image Target to the database.

Naming the Target and adding it to the database
Naming the Target and adding it to the database

The image appears in the list of Targets with a Rating value represented by stars. If your Rating is less than 5 stars, it may be harder for the camera to track it. To learn more about what affects Image Target ratings, see Vuforia documentation on Optimizing target detection and tracking stability.

Once you are satisfied with your image’s Rating, select the checkbox to the left of the Image Target name and click the Download Database button.

Downloading the Target database and Target quality rating
Downloading the Target database and Target quality rating

On the Download Database window, under Select a development platform, select Unity Editor, then click the Download button. This downloads a Unity package of the Target database that you can save on your hard drive.

Downloading Database Unity package
Downloading Database Unity package

Switch back to your Unity project to import the Unity package for use in your application.


  • 2018–03–28 Page published with editorial review

  • Vuforia documentation updated for Unity XR API in 2017.3

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Setting up your Project for Vuforia
Importing and activating the Target Database in Unity