3D facial model reconstruction, expressions synthesis and animation using single frontal face image

With better understanding of face anatomy and technical advances in computer graphics, 3D face synthesis has become one of the most active research fields for many human-machine applications, ranging from immersive telecommunication to the video games industry. In this paper we proposed a method that automatically extracts features like eyes, mouth, eyebrows and nose from the given frontal face image. Then a generic 3D face model is superimposed onto the face in accordance with the extracted facial features in order to fit the input face image by transforming the vertex topology of the generic face model. The 3D-specific face can finally be synthesized by texturing the individualized face model. Once the model is ready six basic facial expressions are generated with the help of MPEG-4 facial animation parameters. To generate transitions between these facial expressions we use 3D shape morphing between the corresponding face models and blend the corresponding textures. Novelty of our method is automatic generation of 3D model and synthesis face with different expressions from frontal neutral face image. Our method has the advantage that it is fully automatic, robust, fast and can generate various views of face by rotation of 3D model. It can be used in a variety of applications for which the accuracy of depth is not critical such as games, avatars, face recognition. We have tested and evaluated our system using standard database namely, BU-3DFE.