Image Metrics Offers New Building, Analysis Services For Facial Rigs

UK-based facial animation software company Image Metrics, whose technology is featured in the upcoming God of War III, is offering new facial rigging services to the video game and film markets. The company says the new additions utilize its proprietary tech to speed facial rig creation and improve core facial structures for "highly emotive" facial animation. Image Metrics' new Rig Analysis feature provides feedback on adjustments that support optimum facial performance levels, while via Rig Optimization the company will work with a client's rigs and rig controls to optimize them against tech constraints. The company will also build custom rigs from scratch, and can support clients in speeding or automating the transfer of one rig to multiple characters. "Rigs serve as the core foundation for the character's movement and are crucial for creating believable facial animation," says CEO Michael Starkenburg. "While most game developers will rig a handful of characters per game, our specialists have experience rigging thousands of characters." "Image Metrics' new rigging services take advantage of our expertise in facial animation to optimize the entire facial animation pipeline and quickly bring the faces of one or multiple characters to life."