MOVA develops new process for digital face capture
Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Perlman's company, MOVA, has developed a new method using 44 cameras and special makeup to create detailed 3D digital models of faces.
MOVA, a company founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Perlman, has introduced a new technology aiming to streamline the creation of digital human faces. The process, named Contour, captures detailed 3D models of faces using a system of 44 cameras, intended for use in animation and video games.
The Contour system applies a fluorescent makeup to a person's face before capturing images with 44 cameras. This setup records up to a hundred thousand points on the face, allowing for the precise digital replication of expressions and features. The captured data is then processed into a 3D computer model, serving as a base for animators to shape characters for films or games.
Perlman claims this method is significantly faster and more cost-effective than conventional techniques, while delivering improved quality. MOVA believes this will free up animators to focus more on creative work and anticipates potential future consumer applications for the technology.
Industry professionals, such as Don Daglow, president of game developer Stormfront Studios, view the technology favorably. As graphical capabilities in gaming and film advance, so does the demand for realistic character rendering. MOVA's approach addresses a key challenge in animating lifelike digital characters.
Steve Perlman, previously known for founding WebTV Networks and Moxi Digital, also established Rearden Companies, a venture firm supporting new technologies. MOVA has already been providing motion capture services to game and film studios, and the Contour tool is slated for release to select customers in the fall.