Intro to Faceware Analyzer

This article will familiarize the user with the basics of Faceware Analyzer and will include links to more detailed articles and tutorial videos regarding each subject. Start here if you are using Analyzer for the first time or if you need to refamiliarize yourself with the workflow.

 

 

What is Faceware Analyzer?

Analyzer is the video analysis and facial tracking portion of the Faceware Creation Suite. The user records a facial performance video and creates a new Analyzer project (referred to as a "job" in the software) using the video. The software tracks the facial features and exports the tracking data in a format that is used by Faceware Retargeter in a 3d animation package to apply the motion to a character.

 

Analyzer/Retargeter represent a non-realtime pipeline: recording the performance to be animated onto a character at a later point. This is ideal for movies, video games, television production, commercials, training videos and more.

 

 

 

Getting Started with Analyzer

Click here for information about installing and loading Analyzer for the first time.

 

The basic Analyzer workflow contains the following steps. Click on any of the links or videos for more information.
 

1. Create a new Analyzer tracking job from a recorded video.


 

2. Decide which tracking method you wish to use:


Option 1: For the most accurate tracking using a custom model for your actor, begin by creating Training Frames to mark unique poses in your actor's performance. Once you have created your training frames, Track the footage to generate the in-between frames. Repeat by creating new training frames and tracking until the tracking landmarks follow the facial features accurately.


Option 2:  For fast and automatic feature tracking, but with less accuracy and control, use Autotrack to generate the tracking data.

 

 

3. "Parameterize" the tracking data.

Export your tracking as an .fwr performance file that can be used in Faceware Retargeter to animate your character.

 
  1. Hit F12 or click the 'Parameterize' button in the upper right-hand corner of the application.  This will open up the parameterization dialog box (displayed below).
  2. Select a Neutral Frame for the given actor if you have one.  Neutral Frames are not necessary for parameterization, but can yield a significant positive effect on the resulting animation, particularly if you are using AutoSolve in Retargeter.  If you have exported a Neutral Frame from the current shot, it should already be selected.

    *Note: For Analyzer 3.8+, a neutral frame will be automatically generated by the software's deep learning estimation if one is not provided by the user.
     
  3. Choose to parameterize valid frames (denoted on the timeline by a light blue bar at the bottom) or manually enter a frame range or ranges.
  4. Hit "Ok."  The software will take a few moments to contact our server and parameterize your data.  The time will vary slightly depending on the number of valid frames, but should not take more than a few minutes.

 

Once parameterization is complete, Analyzer will have created a .fwr file in the same location as the .fwt file and project folder.  This .fwr is the performance file that will be loaded into Retargeter.

 

 

What's next?

Open your new performance file (.fwr) in Retargeter - Bring your tracking data into your animation application of choice with the Retargeter plugin to animate your character

 

Export your custom tracking model (Studio Plus only) - Use your training frames and custom model from one Analyzer tracking job to track future jobs with the same actor so you don't have to start from scratch every time.

 

Analyzer Beginner Tips and Keyboard Shortcuts - Maximize your efficiency with Analyzer with these handy tips and shortcuts.

 

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