Method of creating avatar from user submitted image

A method for creating an avatar from an image, the method comprising:

• receiving an image including a face from a user;
• identifying the coordinates of one or more facial features within the face;
• constructing a 3D model of the face from the image including:
• choosing a predefined 3D model;
• adding an alpha channel using an alpha template, wherein the alpha template is deformed so that its facial feature coordinates match those of the face from the user;
• deforming the predefined 3D model to match the shape and location of the identified coordinates of the one or more facial features;
• projecting the facial image over a predefined 3D model;
• correcting uneven lighting of the 3D model;
• adding a predefined teeth texture to the 3D model;
• and
• adjusting the color of the 3D model to match the skin color of the animated character;
• animating the 3D model, wherein animating the 3D model includes:
• an expression definition, wherein the expression definition:
• defines a certain facial state:
• and
• includes:
• muscle parameters, wherein the muscle parameters:
• model the contraction an anatomically plausible facial muscle;
• and
• are applied in successive iterations;
• and
• translation parameters;
• and
• furrow parameters, wherein the furrow parameters:
• alter the texture of the 3D model;
• deform a furrow image so that its facial feature coordinates match those of the face from the user;
• and
• leave the coordinates of the vertices of the 3D model unchanged;
• and
• attaching the 3D model to an animated character.

In a computing system, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to create an avatar from an image by performing the steps:

• receiving an image including a face from a user;
• identifying the coordinates of one or more facial features within the face;
• constructing a 3D model of the face from the image including:
• choosing a predefined 3D model;
• adding an alpha channel using an alpha template, wherein the alpha template is deformed so that its facial feature coordinates match those of the face from the user;
• deforming the predefined 3D model to match the shape and location of the identified coordinates of the one or more facial features;
• transforming the 3D model to become frontal, wherein transforming the 3D model to become frontal includes:
• storing the facial feature coordinates of an average frontal face;
• calculating a deformation matrix from the facial feature coordinates of the average frontal face and from the 3D coordinates of the 3D model;
• projecting the facial image over a predefined 3D model;
• adding a predefined teeth texture to the 3D model;
• and
• adjusting the color of the 3D model to match the skin color of the animated character;
• rendering the 3D model at a predefined 3D angle;
• animating the 3D model, wherein animating the 3D model includes:
• an expression definition, wherein the expression definition:
• defines a certain facial state:
• and
• includes:
• translation parameters;
• muscle parameters, wherein the muscle parameters:
• model the contraction an anatomically plausible facial muscle;
• and
• are applied in successive iterations;
• include:
• a vertex to which a muscle is attached;
• and
• a vertex which moves on muscle contraction;
• and
• furrow parameters, wherein the furrow parameters:
• alter the texture of the 3D model;
• deform a furrow image so that its facial feature coordinates match those of the face from the user;
• and
• leave the coordinates of the vertices of the 3D model unchanged;
• and
• attaching the 3D model to an animated character.