Hybrid Character Generation via Shape Control Using Explicit Facial Features

Abstract

We present a hybrid approach for generating a character by independently controlling its shape and texture using an input face and a styled face. To effectively produce the shape of a character, we propose an anthropometry-based approach that defines and extracts 37 explicit facial features. The shape of a character’s face is generated by extracting these explicit facial features from both faces and matching their corresponding features, which enables the synthesis of the shape with different poses and scales. We control this shape generation process by manipulating the features of the input and styled faces. For the style of the character, we devise a warping field-based style transfer method using the features of the character’s face. This method allows an effective application of style while maintaining the character’s shape and minimizing artifacts. Our approach yields visually pleasing results from various combinations of input and styled faces.