Low cost avatars animation system from real images compliant MPEG4

Abstract

In this paper we present a low cost system to capture, modelization and animation of avatar face with a few control points based in FAP´s MPEG4 coordinates. A Facial Animation Engine is designed as high-level interface for the synthesis and animation of virtual faces that is in full compliance with MPEG-4. We implement the MPEG-4 standard specifications for the adaptation and animation of 3D wire-frames models with respect to the reproduction of two characteristics: realism in adapting the model geometry to the characteristics of any specific face and realism in performing facial expressions. Starting from a facial wire-frame model and from a set of configuration files, the developed system is capable of automatically generate the animation stream of FAPS (Facial Animation Parameters). Our system uses an Interpolation approach to emulate the behavior of face tissues. The final objective is to use the system in real time environments and for portable PDA, mobile phone applications or virtual reality applications.