Patent Document ID: 8279228
Application ID: 12986095
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of animating a digital facial model, the method comprising: defining a plurality of action units; calibrating each action unit of said plurality of action units via an actor's performance, wherein said each action unit includes a second facial pose data and an activation, wherein said activation of said each action unit is directed to a fascia layer such that a plurality of fascia layers are triggered by activations of said plurality of action units, and wherein said calibrating each action unit includes calibrating said second facial pose data of said each action unit using calibration pose data derived from a calibration performance corresponding with said each action unit; capturing and stabilizing first facial pose data by capturing signal from all facial markers, performing a gross stabilization using a first plurality of markers that do not move due to facial expressions including markers coupled to head, ears and nose bones, and performing a fine stabilization by determining movements of all facial markers relative to the first plurality of markers; determining a plurality of weights, each weight of said plurality of weights uniquely corresponding to said each action unit, said plurality of weights characterizing a weighted combination of said plurality of action units, said weighted combination approximating said first facial pose data; generating a weighted activation by combining the results of applying said each weight to said each action unit; applying said weighted activation by triggering said plurality of fascia layers to be constructed onto said digital facial model; and recalibrating at least one action unit of said plurality of action units using input user adjustments to said weighted activation.