Avid Announces Softimage Face Robot

Avid Technology, Inc. has announced that its Softimage subsidiary is to debut Softimage: Face Robot, described by the firm as "the industry’s first software application dedicated to the creation of believable facial animation for high-end film, post and games productions", this month. Designed for studios faced with high-quality or high-volume facial animation requirements, Face Robot software is intended to enabling professionals, including game developers, to animate a digital human face with higher quality results and in less time than using traditional methods. The tool is designed so that artists can generate emotive expressions that replicate natural, organic movement of skin and soft tissue. In addition, the software works with all major 3D applications. Key features of Face Robot include an integrated facial soft tissue solver, direct manipulation of face controls, iterative performance refinement tools, animation retargeting, SDK and multiple scripting languages point caching with all major 3D applications, .C3D Motion file import, the ability to import and export Maya .mb &.fbx, 3ds Max .max, Point Oven .psc, and .lwo2. The application package also includes reference HD footage of actors performing facial expression and phonemes. Michael Isner, manager of special projects at Softimage and leader of the Face Robot development team, said, “The main objective behind developing Face Robot is to maximize the life-like appearance of a face while minimizing the difficulty of getting there. By working closely with top animators in the industry, we delivered a tool that is dedicated to enhancing the artistic approach to a 3D workflow.”