Programs to create your face in 3D

OfSalvatore Aranzulla

Are you tired of the usual photos you use to make your friends on the Internet recognize you? Then do as I do and create your own 3D virtual alter ego. How? well, read this guide of mine entirely focused on the subject and you will find out immediately. I assure you it is much simpler than you can imagine. In fact, by resorting to the use of special online services, computer programs and apps for smartphones and tablets you can managecreate 3D face, or rather an avatar, quickly and easily, without necessarily having to be an expert in graphics and new technologies.

If that interests you, I therefore suggest you take a few minutes of free time all to yourself, to make yourself comfortable and immediately start concentrating on reading this tutorial of mine entirely focused on the subject. I assure you that together we will see some good ones. Also keep in mind that in most cases you won't have to download anything to your computer at all, you can do everything right online, from your favorite web browser window, what you usually use to surf the net. As for the use of software and apps, on the other hand, no devices with particular technical requirements are required, just a normal computer and / or a recent generation smartphone and that's it.

Then? Would you like to finally put the goodies aside and start getting serious? And? Magnificent. I therefore suggest not to delay any longer and immediately take action. Position yourself comfortably and follow step by step all the instructions on what to do that you find right below. At the end, you'll see, you can tell yourself very happy and satisfied with what you have learned. Enjoy your reading and have fun!

Index

PhotoFace (Online)

The first of the useful resources for creating a 3D face that I want you to try isPhotoFace. It is an online service through which it is possible to generate a three-dimensional face, animated and, wanting, also speaking, starting with a simple selfie. It's free and offers very noteworthy end results.

The only thing you must necessarily keep in mind is that in order to use it you need toFlash Player installed on the PC (for more details on this, read minededicated article) or you can use a browser that integrates it "as standard" (it is.Chrome).

To use PhotoFace, the first step you need to take is to connect to the relativewebsite. Once this is done, you choose, by clicking on the buttons at the top left, whether to upload the photo you intend to use directly from your computer (Upload photo), whether to take one at the moment using the webcam possibly connected to the PC (Webcam) or whether to take the shot from the Internet (Search). You can also use some ready-to-use images, just select the one you prefer among the various proposals below.

Then specify if the face in the photo is that of a man or that of a woman and click onNext twice in a row. Then click on the boxDefault photoin such a way as to be able to view the three-dimensional preview of the 3D face. If that interests you, I point out that you can also mask the newly generated three-dimensional face as a celebrity by clicking on the boxBe a celebrityat the top right and choosing from the character that most pleases you.

Therefore, proceed to customize the facial expression using the commands on the left. Proceed in the same way with the aesthetic characteristics, you just need to use the controls that are a little further down. Then add, if you want, a background by choosing from those available in the appropriate list on the left, at the bottom of the screen.

As for the possibility of making the newly generated three-dimensional face speak, you have to click on the links corresponding to the sectionAdd audio. More precisely, by clicking onPre-recorder you can load an audio file already saved on your computer, pressing onType In you can type a text to be spoken, while clicking onUse Mic you can make a voice recording right now using your computer's microphone.

To conclude, choose whether to save the newly created 3D face as an image or as a video by pressing, respectively, on linksDownload Image orDownload Video which are located in the lower right part and click onOK. If you prefer to share the three-dimensional character generated by email, Facebook, direct link or embed code, select the relevant link from those available and that's it.

Thats My Face (Online)

The above service to create a 3D face has not particularly convinced you and you are looking for some alternatives? Then try to take a look atThats My Face. It is free and allows you to create a three-dimensional character starting from your own photo using a very accurate facial analysis system. Wanting, it is also possible to request (but for a fee) creating an action figure or other gadget with your face, always in 3D.

To use it for your purpose, connected tohome page service and click the buttonUpload Photos which is on the left, scroll down the new page displayed and press the buttonContinue. Then create an account on the site by selecting the linkCreate an account which is below and filling in the form that appears with the requested data. Then he presses the buttonRegister.

At this point, you will find yourself again in front of the main page of the Thats My Face website. Click on the button againUpload Photos, then onContinueand fill in the fields displayed to log in with your previously created account.

Then fill out the new on-screen form by typing your name, your age, your gender, ethnicity and choose whether to keep the beard or not (if present in the picture). Then click on the buttonChoose file / Open file at the sectionFronal Photo and select a front photo of you and save it on your computer.

For an even more accurate final result, you can also choose to upload photos of your left and right profile by clicking on the buttonChoose file / Open file that you find in the sections sectionsLeft Profile Photo (optional) eRight Profile Photo (optional). Then press the buttonUpload which is at the bottom and then on thatContinue.

To conclude, move the colored squares that appeared on your photo on the left to match the points indicated in the example photo on the right, click on the buttonSubmitat the bottom of the screen and then press onOk. You will then be sent an email from the service with the image of your 3D face that you can download to your computer and use as you see fit.

3D Face Reconstruction from a Single Image (Online)

3D Face Reconstruction from a Single Image instead, it is an online tool developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham and Kingston University in the United Kingdom powered by artificial intelligence that allows in a few seconds to transform a frontal photo of a face into a 3D model and to rotate it and observe it from different perspectives. It's free, it works from any web browser and the final result can be saved to your computer as an .obj file.

To use it, connected toWeb page of the service, check the box next to the itemI am not a robot, click on the buttonChoose file / Open file, select the front photo saved on your computer that you want to turn into a 3D face and press the buttonUpload Image.

Therefore, wait for the upload procedure to be started and completed and on the page that will subsequently be loaded you will therefore find yourself in the presence of your three-dimensional model..

Then use the adjustment bar on the empty to define if and how much you want to separate the 3D face from the photo below and leave or remove the check from the box next to the wordingShow background image to define if you want to leave or remove the background. To download the face instead, presses the green button at the top, always on the right.

Looxis Faceworks (Windows)

Instead of relying on an online service, you would prefer to create a 3D face using a special computer program? Then I strongly advise you to contactLooxis Faceworks. This is a no-cost program for Windows operating systems, similar to the solutions I have already told you about, allows you to transform a very common photo into a three-dimensional face through simple commands within everyone's reach. It allows you to define facial contours and adjust the points on the face. It should be noted that together with the front image, two more must be selected to create the three-dimensional right and left sides of the model.

To use it, connected first to thethe page is downloaded of the program on the Softpedia website and click on the buttonDownload at the top left then select the buttonSotpedia Mirror (US) and wait for the program to be downloaded to your PC.

Once the download is complete, open the .exe file you just got, click onOK and then onNext. Then select the itemI accept the agreement to accept the terms of use of the service and press again onNext then click on the buttonInstall, areYes and to conclude press onFinish.

Then start the program by recalling it frommenu Start then click on the itemModel at the top of the window of the same, cheap withLoad Front… and select a front photo of you saved on your computer that you want to use as a basis for the creation of the three-dimensional face.

Now, adjust the points and lines superimposed on the photo just selected in the left part of the window so that they coincide perfectly with the contours of the face. Meantime, at the bottom right of the program window you can see a preview of what has been done.

Click now on the button with thelattice that you always find in the upper part of the program window, on the toolbar, and place all the additional points that have been added on the photo in correspondence of the nose, eyes, mouth, cheekbones etc.. then proceed with the upload of the right and left side photo by first clicking onLoad Side… and then onLeft Side in the menuModel and proceed in a similar way to what I have just indicated.

A complete changes, click on the itemFile at the top left and chooseSave As… to save the three-dimensional face generated in the format compatible with the program only or chooseExport… to save them in .obj format.

Myidol (iOS)

You want to create a 3D face straight from your smartphone or tablet? Then the best resource in the category is without a doubtMyidol. This is a free app that can only be used oniOS thanks to which it is possible to create beautiful three-dimensional avatars with decidedly realistic features including not only the face but also the rest of the body. You do it all by taking a photo on the spot (or by loading one from your camera roll) and making any subsequent customizations to the generated character. The final results are very realistic and satisfying.

To use it, download, install and start the app on your iDevice and then press the buttonTap to creato your avatar in the main screen of the same, position in front of the front camera of the iPhone or iPad and try to align the nose, eyes, front and mouth with the guides you see appear on the screen and then presses on the display to take a selfie. Alternatively, take a photo already saved from the gallery by tapping on the preview at the bottom right.

Therefore, wait for the app to process your face and then move the points added on the photo in such a way as to trace the contours of the face, indicates whether the person in the image is male or female and at the end of the procedure you will find yourself in front of your three-dimensional avatar that you can further customize using the various controls at the bottom of the screen. For example, you can change the color of the skin, the haircut, the accessories used, the clothes, shoes etc..

Then when you have obtained a final result that satisfies you, stage on the itemDone top right, assign a name to your avatar and press ongreen tick then use the various options that you see appear on the display to change the background, add stickers and various other decorative elements and to save them in the device roll or, still, to share the 3D character on social networks.