Faceware Technologies Releases Faceware Live 2.5

With technology advancements in CG, VR/AR/MR, interactive marketing, and graphics processing, we’re seeing a growing number of inquiries for live CG performances and the ability to ‘drive’ digital characters in real time. To deliver on that, the market needs face tracking technology that is completely stable and tracks facial movements across a range of different conditions. With Live 2.5, we’re taking another important step toward making that future a reality.  The quality of realtime, markerless tracking we can do now is absolutely mind-blowing.

Peter Busch, vice president of business development at Faceware Technologies

Upgrades to version 2.5 include:

• Advancements to Face Tracking Technology – Face tracking is even more stable than before, and better able to detect different types of faces (different skin tones, heavy facial hair, glasses, etc) in different lighting conditions. Once detected, Live 2.5 captures 180 degrees of motion with significantly less jitter than before.
• New Animation Tuning Workflow- Animators can customize the live streaming animation to, for example, amplify or suppress a specific motion, such as an eyebrow raise or smile.  These fine tune adjustments are done on a pose by pose basis.  Those animations (and all settings) can be saved to a profile. Animators can even isolate controls to pinpoint certain areas of the face that require extra attention.  Lastly, Animators can simulate data without need for a live camera feed, which significantly helps in the character setup process.
• Command Line Calibration – Animators can now trigger the calibration and toggle via command-line for improved automation in your setup.
• Animation Preview Characters – Live 2.5 now includes animation preview characters, which animators can use to determine how certain types of motions might look on various facial structures.

Nearly 20 other improvements have also been included in this upgrade. A full list can be found here.