Image Metrics facial animation processes explained

If Image Metrics doesn’t ring a bell, we’ll have you know that it’s the facial animation company behind many high-profile video games with characters that don realistic facial expressions. With Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Unreal Tournament 3 under its belt, Image Metrics is difficult to miss. Head over to the full article to find out why.

Behind many triple A titles of this generation that boasts of impressive facial animations is Image Metrics. With Rockstar, Konami, Midway, and even Sony in its client list, the company’s technology made its way to the forefront of 3D facial movement animation. Those who are interested in the convincingly real expressions behind Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Unreal Tournament 3 can now take a look behind the scenes.

The Computer Graphics Society has an extensive feature that aims to take everyone by hand through the processes of Image Metrics‘ popular technology. CGSociety shed light on many interesting facets of production, from the early stages of capturing motions, building a massive library of images and animations, to creating video with in-betweens and final touches.

There’s a lot to learn for the uninitiated. For starters, Image Metrics can be quite overwhelming with its ability to track every movement and the smallest details such as contours and shape of the mouth, the eyes, the size of the pupils and the position of the brows frame by frame. Other powerful tools will then be used to edit motion captures, and allow directors to faithfully render what they envision.

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