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New algorithm for 3D facial model reconstruction and its application in virtual reality

  • Pattern Recognition and Image Processing
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Abstract

3D human face model reconstruction is essential to the generation of facial animations that is widely used in the field of virtual reality (VR). The main issues of 3D facial model reconstruction based on images by vision technologies are in twofold: one is to select and match the corresponding features of face from two images with minimal interaction and the other is to generate the realistic-looking human face model. In this paper, a new algorithm for realistic-looking face reconstruction is presented based on stereo vision. Firstly, a pattern is printed and attached to a planar surface for camera calibration, and corners generation and corners matching between two images are performed by integrating modified image pyramid Lucas-Kanade (PLK) algorithm and local adjustment algorithm, and then 3D coordinates of corners are obtained by 3D reconstruction. Individual face model is generated by the deformation of general 3D model and interpolation of the features. Finally, realisticlooking human face model is obtained after texture mapping and eyes modeling. In addition, some application examples in the field of VR are given. Experimental result shows that the proposed algorithm is robust and the 3D model is photo-realistic.

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Correspondence to Rong-Hua Liang.

Additional information

This research is supported by the National Grand Fundamental Research 973 Program of China under Grant No.2002CB312100, Excellent Youth NSF of Zhejiang Province under Grant No.RC40008, and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation under Grant Nos.602134 and Z603262.

Rong-Hua Liang received his Ph.D. degree from Zhejiang University in 2003. He is now a faculty member in in College of Information and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology. His current research interests include computer vision, computer graphics, and artificial intelligence.

Zhi-Geng Pan received his Ph.D. degree from Zhejiang University in 1993. He is now a professor of State Key Lab of CAD&CG, Zhejiang University. He is also a Ph.D. supervisor of College of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. His current research interests include computer vision, computer graphics, and VR.

Chun Chen received his Ph.D. degree from Zhejiang University in 1990. He is now the dean and a professor of College of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. He is also a Ph.D. supervisor of College of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. His current research interests include computer vision, image processing, and CSCW.

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Liang, RH., Pan, ZG. & Chen, C. New algorithm for 3D facial model reconstruction and its application in virtual reality. J. Compt. Sci. & Technol. 19, 501–509 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02944751

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02944751

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