www.ssontech.com

heynewt · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: L.A. Expat

I've got a shot where I need to add a 3D proboscus (nose) to an actor which grows like Pinochio's nose grows.

I've done just about every tutorial for Syntheyes - there are lots - but I can't find one for facial tracking. It seems especially hard, because faces have parts that are constanly moving. Eyes blink, mouths smile, etc. I can't put tracking marks on the non-moving parts of the face, because, well... it's already been shot.

Anyone know of a good Syntheyes facial tracking tutorial?

Robert N.

rtep · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject:

there's no tutorial for this. you have to be bloody good matchmover to track non-rigid face without markers. good luck.

heynewt · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: L.A. Expat

Well, ok then. I guess that's one way of looking at it. Anyone with a bit more optimistic reply?

LFGabel · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:16 am Post subject:

I've done this before, and there's lots of points you can track on the face, based on the quality of the source plates.

- Inner & outer corners of eyes
- Ridge of nose
- Tip of nose
- Nostrils
- Freckles
- Hair
- Ears

vfxtodd · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

heynewt,

Actually there is a tutorial that can get you 90% of the way there:

"Mesh Match Moving"
http://ssontech.com/content/boxmatch.htm

The tutorial shows you how to match move a box shape to "replace" the cargo part of a truck. The same techniques in the tutorial can easily be applied to a face model, etc.

heynewt · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Location: L.A. Expat

Thanks, yes I did that tutorial. It was actually that tutorial that made me wonder about tracking a face. Good to know that's the starting point.

Robert

vfxtodd · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

Yea, just make sure to use supervised trackers for parts of the face that you can assign to a vertex on the mesh. Like the corner of the eye, corner of the mouth, etc. And if you can put tracking markers on your subjects face, that might give you more to choose from as well.

vfxworld · Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

Since your face is covered with skin, there'll be no chance to track this.
Only way would be manual keyframing.

Go ahead, tell your CG supvervisor he messed it up. No reason why you should spent hours of manual keyframing.

gordonrobb · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 281

A view of the shot might help, even a lower res version. That way people could comment/help better. I have seen this done, just haven't done it myself.