Facial animation models (Lucasfilm).
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions to perform a method that includes receiving multiple representations of one or more expressions of an object. Each representation includes position information attained from one or more images of the object. The method also includes producing an animation model from one or more groups of controls that respectively define each of the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations. Each control of each group of controls has an adjustable value that defines the geometry of at least one shape of a portion of the respective expression of the object. Producing the animation model includes producing one or more corrective shapes if the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations.
TECHNICAL FIELD(1) This document relates to a system for producing animation models such as facial animation models.BACKGROUND(2) Ever increasing computational power allows complex calculations to be tackled with increased efficiency in less time. For example, robust computer systems can execute applications to simulate objects such as fictional characters and even realistic-looking human forms. To visually present such seemingly realistic characters, a significant amount of detail may be included in the simulated objects (e.g., fine wrinkles in the corner of a character's eye). However, even with increased computational power, a considerable amount of time may be needed to produce such levels of detail for simulating objects. Further, some projects may call for multiple characters (e.g., a motion picture that only includes animated characters) and possibly increase production time by multiple folds.SUMMARY(3) The described systems and techniques are for efficiently producing an animation model in a “top-down” manner by using collected representations of an object (e.g., electronic scans of different facial expressions as presented by actor). Providing a construction base, the collected representations (e.g., scanned facial expressions) can be actually presented along with other representations (e.g., other facial expressions) by the produced model.(4) In one implementation, rather than painstakingly building a detailed model of a character's face in a serial manner to repres
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a computer system, multiple representations of one or more expressions of an object, wherein each of the multiple representations includes position information attained from one or more images of the object; selecting, by the computer system, one or more groups of controls that respectively define each of the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations, wherein each control of each group of controls has an adjustable value that defines a geometry of at least one shape of a portion of the respective expression of the object; producing, by the computer system, an animation model from the one or more groups of controls, wherein the animation model comprises a three-dimensional rig comprising a collection of shapes with respective controllable geometries; determining, by the computer system, that the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations; and producing, by the computer system, one or more corrective shapes in response to the animation model being incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations.
14. A system comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising: receiving multiple representations of one or more expressions of an object, wherein each of the multiple representations includes position information attained from one or more images of the object; selecting one or more groups of controls that respectively define each of the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations, wherein each control of each group of controls has an adjustable value that defines a geometry of at least one shape of a portion of the respective expression of the object; producing an animation model from the one or more groups of controls, wherein the animation model comprises a three-dimensional rig comprising a collection of shapes with respective controllable geometries; determining whether the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations; and producing one or more corrective shapes if the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations.
27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method comprising: receiving multiple representations of one or more expressions of an object, wherein each of the multiple representations includes position information attained from one or more images of the object; selecting one or more groups of controls that respectively define each of the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations, wherein each control of each group of controls has an adjustable value that defines a geometry of at least one shape of a portion of the respective expression of the object; producing an animation model from the one or more groups of controls, wherein the animation model comprises a three-dimensional rig comprising a collection of shapes with respective controllable geometries; determining whether the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations; and producing one or more corrective shapes if the animation model is incapable of accurately presenting the one or more expressions of the object as provided by the multiple representations.