Realistic Avatar Creator: the real you in the Virtual World
Tags: android, java, avatar, programming
Published: 2022-09-14 06:26:10

> How to provide immersive interaction to customers? Let users become Realistic Avatar Creators . This article will teach you how to build Realistic Avatar system step by step.

Nowadays, we can reshape our world by making realistic Avatar to experiment with digital versions of ourselves, crossing the vast Web horizons. We have learned how personalization and versatility are what characterize avatars. The custom avatars have different features: some are realistic, others very imaginative and cartoonish.  But what do users like the most?

## Making an AVATAR: what do users want?
### 1) Realistic Avatar

![realistic avatar](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/u9s71paytc81htnvymd1.png)

Realistic avatars allow users to experience their actual life existence on the Internet. One can duplicate itself faithfully with powerful artificial intelligence algorithms and facial recognition technology.
Still, realistic avatars might make users feel constrained to carry their image and reality online, thus losing the freedom that the world wide web permits.

### 2) Realistic Cartoon Avatar
![realistic cartoon avatar](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/f3jl1eixr5fe1v3fpasi.png)

Realistic cartoon avatars allow users to have their lifelike avatars on the Internet while simultaneously enjoying the fun and creativity that comes with customizing their digital selves. Cartoon characters tend to transmit that sense of freedom and escape from reality that the digital world allows.

### 3) Pixel Avatar
![pixel avatar](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/wx8hrzyfb23839q9nqnp.png)


 
One of nowadays's top internet users' concerns is privacy. Blockchain technology's diffusion helps overcome this issue, and the use of Pixel Avatar is widespread. Pixel avatars safeguard privacy; however, given their abstract look, users lose the realistic and custom touch experience.
So, each type of avatar has its own advantages and disadvantages. What kind of avatar should we choose?

The main trend now is to become a realistic avatar creator. The imperative is to make our avatars just like social media profiles!

## How to be a realistic avatar maker

The Virtual Avatar SDK launched by ZEGOCLOUD allows your users to upload a photo to make a realistic avatar.
This content is only supported in a Lark Docs

{% embed https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sr9wnneHqGI %}

### Make an avatar from a photo

Virtual Avatar SDK can quickly analyze avatar features in photos.

```java
// Extract facial features based on the introduced image.
ZegoFaceFeature faceFeature = ZegoAvatarService.getInteractEngine().detectFaceFeature(bitmap);
 
// Create a ZegoCharacterHelper class to simply the implementation process for API call.
// The absolute path of basic resources.
mCharacterHelper = new ZegoCharacterHelper(getFilesDir().getAbsolutePath() + "/assets/base.bundle"); 
                
// Set the avatar creation coefficient.
mCharacterHelper.applyFaceFeature(faceFeature);
 
// Get display view
mZegoAvatarView = findViewById(R.id.zego_avatar_view);
 
// Display the avatar on the screen and call the API on a UI thread.
mCharacterHelper.setCharacterView(mZegoAvatarView);
```

### Beautify and custom your avatar

After obtaining the initial avatar model, we can set various feature 
values through the interface to beautify the avatar.
We can adjust Skin tone, Eyebrows, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Lip, Mouth corner, Chin, Cheek, and more. For detailed parameters, please refer to Development Documentation.

```java
// Set the avatar creation coefficient. For the value of faceshapeID, see the following table. Constants defined in ZegoCharacterHelper can be used directly.
mCharacterHelper.setFaceShape(ZegoCharacterHelper.FACESHAPE_EYE_SIZE, 0.5f)
```
### Outfits and style

Virtual Avatar SDK provides various makeup and accessories such as eyebrows, tattoos, beards, cosmetic contact lenses, glass, earphones, earrings, hair, clothes, pants, shoes, and many others.
Users can render and replace these materials on their avatars in real time, building exclusive images in line with their preferences.
Please refer to Development Documentation.

```java
// Ensure that the external directory of Packages is set before the API is called.
mCharacterHelper.setExtendPackagePath(getFilesDir().getAbsolutePath() + "/assets/Packages"); // Set the directory where the makeup, hair, glass, and other resource packages are stored.
 
// Set the glass. Ensure that the resource already exists in the path specified by setExtendPackagePath.
String packageID = "earphone7"; // earphone7 is the directory name of an earphone resource. Use the directory name under Packages provided by the ZegoAvatar SDK.
mCharacterHelper.setPackage(packageID);
```

### Speech simulation
We see eye and lip movements when we interact with other people in the real world. The same applies to the metaverse.
The Virtual Avatar SDK of ZEGOCLOUD supports sound-driven mouth movements based on the sound waves of voice. This feature drives a virtual avatar to change its mouth shape in real-time.

```java
// Start voice detection.
ZegoAvatarService.getInteractEngine().startDetectExpression(ZegoExpressionDetectMode.Audio,expression -> {
    // Drive mouth shape changes of the virtual avatar.
    mCharacterHelper.setExpression(expression);
});
```
### Facial expression mirroring
Non-verbal communication represents a significant part of human communication. According to body language researcher Analysis by Albert Mehrabian, over 55% of communication is non-verbal. Digital avatars should be able to mimic facial expressions in real time and make natural eye contact. 

By displaying people's expressions in real-time, we allow users to interact more naturally in a virtual environment.

The Virtual Avatar SDK provides the facial expression mirroring feature. This technology captures facial expressions on users' faces based on accurate recognition of face key points and 52 basic facial expression dimensions, including the face, tongue, and eyeball. It restores and renders them on virtual avatars in real-time.

```java
// Start facial expression detection.
ZegoAvatarService.getInteractEngine().startDetectExpression(ZegoExpressionDetectMode.Camera, expression -> {
     // Ensure that mCharacterHelper is created, AvatarView is set, and a default avatar is set by running setDefaultAvatar or setAvatarJson.
    // Drive facial expression changes of the virtual avatar.
     mCharacterHelper.setExpression(expression);
});
```
---

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