Faceware Technologies
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Facial animation, motion capture technology |
| Predecessor | Image Metrics |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Faceware Analyzer, Faceware Retargeter, Faceware Live, Head-Mounted Camera System, GoPro Headcam Kit, Professional Headcam System, Indie Facial Mo-cap package |
| Website | facewaretech |
Faceware Technologies is an American enterprise that focuses on advanced facial animation and motion capture systems. Established in 2012 as a spin-off from Image Metrics, the company designs both hardware and software solutions that enable the recording and mapping of actor performances onto digital characters.
The company's lineup features products such as Faceware Analyzer, Faceware Retargeter, and Faceware Live, which are extensively utilized by leading film production houses and video game creators including Rockstar Games, Bungie, Cloud Imperium Games, and 2K. Prominent games incorporating Faceware’s technology encompass Grand Theft Auto V, Destiny, Star Citizen, and Halo: Reach.
Faceware has gained considerable acclaim within the industry for its pioneering contributions and influence on the market. It received the Develop Award for Technical Innovation in 2008 and was recognized for Creative Contribution: Visuals in 2014. Furthermore, it earned Best of Show at the 2011 Game Developers Conference and secured Computer Graphics World’s Silver Edge Awards at SIGGRAPH in both 2014 and 2016. The company was also honored with the XDS Gary Award in 2016, acknowledging its partnership with Electronic Arts at the XDS Summit.
History
Founded in 2000, Image Metrics specialized in facial animation and motion capture technologies tailored to the video game and entertainment sectors. By 2008, it introduced a beta version of facial animation software that allowed studios to incorporate this technology into their workflows, with early use by visual effects firm Double Negative.
In 2010, Image Metrics launched Faceware, a comprehensive facial animation platform aimed at improving creative flexibility and production speed. This software was compatible with any production pipeline or game engine. Bungie became the first major client to implement Faceware. That same year, Image Metrics expanded its capabilities by acquiring FacePro, which enhanced automated lip-sync functionality, along with Character-FX, a provider of tools for creating lifelike facial rigs compatible with Autodesk Maya and 3DS Max.
The company secured $8 million in investment capital and went public through a reverse merger with International Cellular Industries in 2010. Subsequently, International Cellular Industries rebranded to focus exclusively on facial animation technologies. In 2011, Image Metrics rolled out Faceware 3.0, introducing features such as auto-pose, a shared pose database, and curve refinement tools. The firm demonstrated its innovations at events including CTN Animation Expo and Edinburgh Interactive.
In January 2012, Image Metrics established Faceware Technologies as an independent entity responsible for manufacturing and distributing Faceware software to professional animators and educational institutions like the University of Portsmouth. The company released essential products including Analyzer and Retargeter software suites alongside the Head-Mounted Camera System (HMCS), which facilitated real-time capture and mapping of facial expressions onto computer-generated characters; the HMCS was optional and capable of recording multiple performers simultaneously.
Faceware Live was unveiled at SIGGRAPH 2013, offering real-time facial motion capture from any video input. Its 2014 update introduced features such as multi-character streaming, instant calibration, enhanced tracking accuracy, and support for high-frame-rate cameras. In 2015, Faceware launched a plugin for Unreal Engine 4, developed in collaboration with Opaque Multimedia, enabling markerless facial motion capture using conventional video cameras.
In 2016, Faceware introduced Faceware Interactive to create software and hardware solutions that facilitate live virtual interactions between digital avatars and real users, broadening its presence in interactive digital character production.
Partners
In 2014, Faceware Technologies formed a collaboration with Binari Sonori to create a video-driven localization service. That same year, Faceware established a worldwide alliance with Vicon, a leader in motion capture technology, to extend its capabilities into full-body motion capture. This partnership began by integrating Faceware’s software with Vicon’s head rig system, Cara, facilitating efficient data exchange and processing within Faceware’s suite of products.
Overview
Faceware Technologies delivers two primary facial animation software products.
Faceware Analyzer operates as a standalone facial tracking application utilizing a single camera, transforming facial motion footage into data compatible with Faceware Retargeter. The Lite edition automatically captures facial movements for application onto 3D character models, whereas the Pro edition offers features such as customizable calibrations, the ability to import and export actor data, automatic detection of tracking regions, and versatile licensing arrangements. The resulting data is then utilized by Faceware Retargeter.
Introduced in 2014, Faceware Retargeter 4.0 employs tracking information from Analyzer to produce facial animations through a pose-based methodology. Its functionalities include an Autodesk plugin, sophisticated expression sets, visual representation of tracking data, shared pose thumbnail libraries, and batch processing capabilities. The Lite version facilitates transferring performances to animated characters and smooths keyframe transitions; meanwhile, the Pro version enhances this with custom pose creation, intelligent pose recommendations, shared asset libraries, and options for job backup and restoration.
Faceware Live provides real-time facial animation from any video input with a simple one-click calibration process. It converts facial expressions into animation parameters by merging image analysis and data streaming techniques to deliver lifelike 3D character animations.
Additionally, Faceware supplies hardware available for rental or purchase, including the entry-level GoPro Headcam Kit and the Professional Headcam System. The Indie Facial Mo-cap package combines hardware and software tools specifically designed for independent developers and mobile production teams.
Selected works
Faceware’s facial motion capture technology is widely adopted by leading companies such as Activision-Blizzard, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Sony, Cloud Imperium Games, and Microsoft. Rockstar Games notably incorporated Faceware’s solutions in major releases like Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, while Bungie utilized it for titles including Destiny and Halo: Reach. Other prominent games featuring Faceware technology include XCOM 2, Dying Light: The Following, Hitman, the EA Sports UFC series, DOOM, Mirror's Edge Catalyst, Kingsglaive, F1 2016, ReCore, Mafia III, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, NBA 2K10 through 2K17 editions, and Star Citizen. The software has also been employed in film projects such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Robert Zemeckis’s The Walk. This extensive usage highlights Faceware’s strong market presence and competitive edge within the entertainment sector.
