Chapter Summary
This chapter covers all the features found in the Face Room, including the capability to create a face from loaded images. Using the parameters found in the Texture Variation panel, you can change the texture for the current face, or using the Face Shaping Tool, you can deform the geometry of the actual head model. You can then apply the resulting face directly to the figure. This chapter also covered facial expressions that are possible using the Face Morph values available in the Parameters palette.

What You Have Learned
In this chapter, you:
•         Discovered the layout of the Face Room interface, including the Face Shaping Tool panel.

•         Loaded and positioned front and side face images to create a custom face.

•         Changed the texture parameters including facial color, ethnicity, age, and gender.

•         Interactively deformed the face model using the Putty and Pin Tools.

•         Changed the face shape using the parameters found in the Face Shaping Tool panel.

•         Applied the finished face to the current figure.

•         Saved and loaded texture maps for editing in an external image-editing package.

•         Loaded expressions from the Library and saved expressions back to the Library.

•         Saved and loaded texture maps for editing in an external image-editing package.

Key Terms from This Chapter
•         Caricature. A silly drawing of a face that overemphasizes a person’s prominent features such as a large nose, big ears, or a small mouth.

•         Ethnicity. The facial features that are inherent with a unique ethnic group such as African-Americans, Europeans, and Asians.

•         Expression. When the face features are saved in a unique position to show different emotions.

•         Face shape. The underlying 3D geometry that the texture is mapped on in order to create the face.

•         Face texture map. An image that is wrapped about the head model to show details.

•         Phonemes. Facial expressions that occur when different speaking sounds are made.

•         Pin Tool. A tool used to prevent vertices from moving out of position.

•         Putty Tool. A tool used to sculpt the shape of a face.

•         Sellion. That part of the nose that extends from its tip up between the eyes. 

•         Symmetry. A property of faces that makes all features on one side of the face the same as features on the opposite side.

•         Temples. The portion of the face that lies between the ears and the eyes.

Kelly L. Murdock has more than 15 years experience in the computer graphics arena, especially in the area of 3D graphics. Included in the experience is a variety of tasks from high-end CAD product design and architectural pre-visualization to virtual reality and games. Kelly is best known for his international best-selling books on graphics including the 3ds max Bible, Illustrator Bible and Naked Maya. He also is the author of Poser 6 Revealed and Poser 7 Revealed as well as Edgeloop Character Modeling for 3D Professionals. Kelly currently works as a freelance designer for Logical Paradox Design, a company that he founded with his brother.