FaceGen
Encyclopedia
FaceGen is a 3D face-generating middleware
produced by Singular Inversions. It is used where there is a need for a large number of different possible faces, either at random or from photographs. The most notable examples of its use are for player character creation in Tiger Woods PGA Tour
(photo game face), The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
and the Football Manager
series.
It is also used by various police departments to make 3D models of suspects. According to the company, the software is far more useful in making police sketches than the various 2D software still being used in many places, due to its ability to render accurate 3D models of people with far more options to choose from, in order to create very detailed images.
Another use is stimulus generation for social psychology research. Advantages of its use (compared to using natural photos) is that a large number of stimuli can be generated easily, while the faces can be either matched or varied systematically on characteristics such as race, gender, and caricature, eye gaze, and head position.
expressions for the animation of characters with "speaking" roles.
FaceGen can also generate 3D models from front and side images of a face, or by analyzing a single photograph.
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
produced by Singular Inversions. It is used where there is a need for a large number of different possible faces, either at random or from photographs. The most notable examples of its use are for player character creation in Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR is a series of video games developed and published by Electronic Arts featuring professional golfer Tiger Woods, among other pros on the PGA Tour....
(photo game face), The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single-player action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary 2K Games...
and the Football Manager
Football Manager
Football Manager is a series of football management simulation games developed by Sports Interactive and published by Sega. The game began its life in 1992 as Championship Manager; however, following the break-up of their partnership with original publishers Eidos Interactive, Sports Interactive...
series.
It is also used by various police departments to make 3D models of suspects. According to the company, the software is far more useful in making police sketches than the various 2D software still being used in many places, due to its ability to render accurate 3D models of people with far more options to choose from, in order to create very detailed images.
Another use is stimulus generation for social psychology research. Advantages of its use (compared to using natural photos) is that a large number of stimuli can be generated easily, while the faces can be either matched or varied systematically on characteristics such as race, gender, and caricature, eye gaze, and head position.
Approach
Although FaceGen generates conventional 3D mesh data, it uses a "parameterized" approach to defining the properties that make up a face, and by using a fixed set of parameters it is able to morph and modify a face model independently of output resolution. FaceGen 3.3 allows the user to randomize, tween, normalize and exaggerate faces, and also includes algorithms for adjusting apparent age, ethnicity and gender. It also allows limited parametric control of facial expressions, and includes a set of phonemePhoneme
In a language or dialect, a phoneme is the smallest segmental unit of sound employed to form meaningful contrasts between utterances....
expressions for the animation of characters with "speaking" roles.
FaceGen can also generate 3D models from front and side images of a face, or by analyzing a single photograph.