Israel-based TechImage Ltd announced its entry into the three dimensional animation software market with its new facial animation and motion capture technology at NAB this week. The company is not demonstrating the product yet, but promised that unlike currently-available motion-capture systems, its product will be able to capture the precise facial movements of an actor in 2D video form, extract 3D motion data using image analysis techniques, and transfer the movements, by applying an anatomical muscle structure, accurately and efficiently to any 3D model. In addition, the software does not require specialized motion capture hardware and creates lip-synchronization automatically, it claimed. The product will be aimed at professional animators in the feature films, television, commercial production, high-end video, advertising, and game, multimedia and web development markets.
