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Doing realistic facial expressions

SertorialSertorial Posts: 962
edited December 1969 in New Users

Does anyone know of any links to resources, tutorials about how to do facial expressions? I am finding this very difficult indeed. The "out of the box" expression morphs in DAZ (fear, happy, flirting etc) are awful, so I guess it's all about tweaking individual dials... But I am needing some guidance.

Thanks

Comments

  • Cayman StudiosCayman Studios Posts: 1,135
    edited December 1969

    Yes, as you say, tweaking individual dials - a bit of this a bit of that, until you get what you want. I find that most of the provided expressions are sort of cartoonish - but then a lot of people are looking for precisely that.

    For more realistic expressions my view is "less is more". In real life people expend a lot of energy trying to suppress overt expressions of emotion, and so a lot can actually be done with miniscule deviations from the given neutral expression.

  • derekmccaughey2010_a63ad0a6abderekmccaughey2010_a63ad0a6ab Posts: 104
    edited December 1969

    I'm only a beginner but this subject is something I spend a lot of time working on.

    My advice would be...

    1. the default expressions are useful, but use them sparingly (less than 10-15% for any of the "emotions" like, afraid, happy, sad etc)

    2. like cayman said, less is definitely more, so don't use those dials in huge amounts.

    3. Instead of trying to copy a particular expression you might have seen, instead look at your characters face while you move each dial individually, when your characters face starts to "say" to you what you want it to say (rather than looking like you think it should look) then you've probably got a decent facial expression.

    hope this helps.

  • srieschsriesch Posts: 4,241
    edited December 1969

    Unfortunately it's not a link, however there are some interesting and useful tidbits of information I have found in the printed book "The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression", by Gary Faigin .
    I see a single pricy used copy on Amazon here, but you might be able to find it a library or elsewhere too:
    http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Expression-published-Watson-Guptill-Hardcover/dp/B008V0XN3M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376954052&sr=8-3&keywords=the+artist's+complete+guide+to+facial+expression

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    I remember as a brand new newbie (as opposed to an old newbie, lol) that I really wasn't aware of all the posing dials to morph faces. I'm giving some examples (did a few eyebrows just now) and I've decided to have some fun with this and ask people to "strut their stuff" so to speak over in my art studio thread and show some great expressions and share a few morph settings if they feel like it. (Not required.) If you'd like to take a peek or participate, it's here. Head shots only-- the focus is expressions. I'm going to go play around and dial up a few expressions myself just for the fun of it. I'll try to try out some of the expressions packages and let you see what they look like with some tweaks :) Have you tried any that you like?

    Here's the thread.
    http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/19756/P1215/#409249

  • Design Anvil - Razor42Design Anvil - Razor42 Posts: 1,237
    edited December 1969

    Expressions can be extremely difficult to present realistically,I've found as has been said less is more.
    What makes this so difficult is our brain is finely tuned to deciphering minute changes in facial structure, Its the basis of human communications. Small mistakes are grabbed hard by our mind. Then just when you think your on the right track you have to pass through the Uncanny Valley...

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Razor 42 said:
    Then just when you think your on the right track you have to pass through the Uncanny Valley...
    Nod nod nod. That moment of it looks so good it just looks fake. Happens very fast too...
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Speaking of GREAT expressions...Jaderails' avatar :) Of course, my avatar has an expression too, it says "Gimme a carrot. NOW."

  • Design Anvil - Razor42Design Anvil - Razor42 Posts: 1,237
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Speaking of GREAT expressions...Jaderails' avatar :) Of course, my avatar has an expression too, it says "Gimme a carrot. NOW."

    Lol, I'd second the notion of how great Jaderails avatar is. Seeing the evolution of it was very cool!

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    That is very little hand tweaking to a snarl left from the first Genesis Expressions pack.

    And thank you much folks.

  • SloshSlosh Posts: 2,391
    edited December 1969

    Allow me to reiterate, less is definitely better, but also keep things asymmetrical. A smile never truly goes up the same on both sides, nor do one's eyes open the same amount. When I do a smile, I crank one side up a tiny bit more, then usually squint the eye on the same side just a bit. Less, not more.. It's subtle, but our eyes pick it up. Same goes for the eyebrows. I like to slightly change the opposite eyebrow to all of the smiling, squinting side.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited December 1969

    Slosh said:
    Allow me to reiterate, less is definitely better, but also keep things asymmetrical. A smile never truly goes up the same on both sides, nor do one's eyes open the same amount. When I do a smile, I crank one side up a tiny bit more, then usually squint the eye on the same side just a bit. Less, not more.. It's subtle, but our eyes pick it up. Same goes for the eyebrows. I like to slightly change the opposite eyebrow to all of the smiling, squinting side.

    And YOUR avatar proves you know what you're doing. (DROOL) Is that a self portrait? :) (And NO, mine isn't. I'm not Mr. Ed)

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