In two research papers in the last year, the research wing of the Disney organization has made seemingly huge strides with CGI replication of human faces. Both pieces demonstrate an ability to render much more realistic humans using significantly less processing power and time than is the current standard.
The first paper, from last April, shows the Disney Research Studios using mathematical models to, far more accurately and efficiently, emulate the reflection of more naturalistic light sources from skin textures. Prior technologies had resigned themselves to using a sort of standardized, neutral, distant light source on CGI faces due to the tremendous allorhythmic work a computer would have to do to emulate more naturalistic and random light sources.
Disney seems to have found a way around that with astonishing results.
The second paper deals with aging and de-aging human faces. Previously, to change the age of human faces an intermediate, synthetic, face would have to be put into play, thus leaving the viewer with an “uncanny valley” phenomenon. With Disney’s new technology they can use data sets to age directly from the human face with a much greater sense of realism and in far less time.
The uses for these technologies in film and theme park work could be game-changing, though it’s hard not to feel a sense of slight unease at the possibilities as well as simulating a person becomes both more realistic and easier.
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Kelly McCubbin is a columnist for Boardwalk Times
