CaptiveMotion LLC Announces Proof of Concept Video for Ultra High-Fidelity Facial Scans

CaptiveMotion LLC Announces Proof of Concept Video for Ultra High-Fidelity Facial Scans

TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- CaptiveMotion LLC, an industry-leading studio specializing in high-fidelity facial performance capture announced today a groundbreaking proof of concept video. Starting with ultra-high-resolution facial scans acquired from Aguru Images, Inc. (http://www.aguruimages.com/), the world's leader in high-performance shape and material property measurement for true-to-life computer generated digital doubles and other world materials, CaptiveMotion began the process of modifying and preparing the scans for animation. The challenge was to modify Aguru's incredibly detailed scans into a format compact enough for the gaming community. Aguru Images scans weigh in over 2.8 million polygons with 5 million pixels of color and specular data.

CaptiveMotion engineers created a proprietary set of automated tools to re-sample the surfaces into a video game ready mesh of less than 7,000 polygons. The high-resolution geometric detail was maintained using industry standard displacement for cinematics and normal maps for real-time in-engine lighting. CaptiveMotion high-fidelity motion capture data was used to drive the final model. The resulting proof of concept video is exceptional and can be viewed at http://www.captivemotion.com/

"When I saw Aguru's work, I knew that this was the 'holy grail' of scanning systems," said Adam Kraver, president of CaptiveMotion. "It produces exactly the kind of high-fidelity facial model that is desperately needed in the vfx, advertising and video game industries." A veteran of over 15 years in the game industry, Adam was the chief technologist that invented and developed CaptiveMotion's high fidelity facial performance capture system. "Although CaptiveMotion processes are specifically designed to meet the high-volume needs of the video game industry, we can significantly increase the quality and fidelity of animated characters in any industry and the Aguru scans allow us to overcome the final hurdle."

"When we saw the work that CaptiveMotion was doing, we knew we wanted them to drive our scans. The turnaround on the demo has been extraordinary. We literally sent them a pair of scans 2 days before Siggraph started, and by the time the show floor opened we had 5 minutes of amazing animation," said Paul Carroll, Directory of Development for Aguru. "Although, I have to say, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable seeing someone else's words and voice come out of my mouth."

What sets CaptiveMotion's "Embody" motion capture system apart from the competition is that it is a highly automated internal system that requires no artists or animators to look exceptional. Everything included in the demo is consistent with production line processes and time frames with no pre-artistic production or post production touch-up. There are virtually no changes to the captured data beyond adding a light source and the final rendering and the level of detail is 100% feasible for any production: from a large scale RPG style console game to a time-sensitive broadcast production.

CaptiveMotion LLC is currently working on a complete tool chain for transferring Aguru Images model data cleanly and effortlessly onto high resolution performance capture data. A follow-up video planned for early 2009 will highlight CaptiveMotion capability for full body capture integrated with facial performance capture of over 2,000 markers.

   Contact Information:    Mark Carson   CaptiveMotion, VP   (480) 899-6222   mark@captivemotion.com    Saul Orbach   Aguru Images, COO   (516) 578-8512   saul.orbach@aguruimages.com    

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Source: CaptiveMotion LLC

CONTACT: Mark Carson, CaptiveMotion, VP, +1-480-899-6222,
mark@captivemotion.com; or Saul Orbach, Aguru Images, COO, +1-516-578-8512,
saul.orbach@aguruimages.com

Web site: http://www.captivemotion.com/
http://www.aguruimages.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment