Recommend a good ‘head’ graphic generator?

satchel · 02-13-2003, 05:54 PM

Can anyone recommend a good program to make heads for OotP player photos? Something like a 3D graphics program that can easily and simply switch out facial features, with good templates? And able to save or export these files in some common graphics file format?

I played with Maxis’ Facelift but it doesn’t really make good heads, its faces are good but too distorted without being stretched on a frame, which is only done in-game.

I have found several programs that can take a frontal and a side photograph and turn them into a 3D head, but nothing with just generic switchable parts.

In the game Asheron’s Call for example, when you make your character, you can switch through different kinds of eyes, noses, hair, etc., and then save your character. I’d like something similar to use with OotP, so I can make various faces for all the fictional players but have them all in a consistent style.

fhomess · 02-13-2003, 06:01 PM

You could take screenshots of heads you create in Asheron.

satchel · 02-13-2003, 07:13 PM

I don’t have AC any more, I uninstalled it, then gave the software to my best friend’s wife. That was in 1999 anyway, I just remember the process, and I know other games use similar ones.

But your idea about taking screen shots is good, I can take screenshots of the Facelift heads inside that program’s interface. That’s a good workaround for now.

Does anyone have another, more flexible recommendation?

LivnLegend · 02-13-2003, 07:43 PM

Something I'd like to see, Satchel.

If it helps, grab my face pack with 800 anonymous, contemporary players - sans logos. Players of all ages included.

Joe Stallings · 02-13-2003, 07:49 PM

The program we used for Tournament Dreams faces is called FaceGen.

LivnLegend · 02-13-2003, 07:54 PM

$495 program

Wanna split the cost, Satch?

kq76 · 02-13-2003, 10:05 PM

A program similar to facegen is head designer.

kq76 · 02-14-2003, 12:24 AM

I also remember that the hoyle board games v4 game had a good character photo generator. But I think the only way to get a file of the photo would be to take a screenshot.

satchel · 02-14-2003, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the responses. I did briefly investigate the Hoyle one, and file formats were a stumbling block there, but using screenshots might be the solution there too. It’s too bad those other programs are so expensive. Maybe there is some cheaper alternative somewhere.

I have downloaded all the photo sets (thanks to everyone who has made them) and tried different approaches with those; that’s something I’m still working with too, maybe digitizing the photographs in LL’s set, something to get away from the feel of an actual photo, but something consistent as well.

ctorg · 02-14-2003, 11:25 AM

I know I've used a third party program someone created for the Sims, called Bodywarp, to view skins on wire frames. You can even change the position of the head.

satchel · 02-14-2003, 12:53 PM

Head Designer is only about $80...but it’s a plugin for 3DS Max which is at least $450. FaceGen is the sweetest, but it does cost about ten times the size of what I’m willing to spend.

My search continues...

Joe Stallings · 02-14-2003, 01:17 PM

If you are really ambitious, and really good with PhotoShop, you can accomplish alot with the FaceGen demo...

satchel · 02-14-2003, 01:47 PM

The FaceGen demo will soon be mine, and mixed with a little creative thinking, it might be the ticket after all.

DreamTeams · 02-14-2003, 03:40 PM

Thanks for the tip guys. I'd been looking for something like this for quite some time. Just downloaded the demo and have already used it to create some pretty neat faces for my Metros. Here's a sample of what can be done with the demo. (FaceGen made the faces, but I added the other stuff. Pretty neat.)...

Tiger Fan · 02-14-2003, 03:48 PM

They look great. Really add a lot to fictional leagues if a bunch of people could combine their work with this and come up with a 1500-2000 player set.

satchel · 02-14-2003, 04:13 PM

DT, how did you export the faces, did you just take screenshots of them?

DreamTeams · 02-14-2003, 04:14 PM

Howdy Tiger Fan,

That can be done if someone is willing and has the time. It'll take a LOT of snapshots, cutting, pasting and resizing. The demo can be used without limit, but won't allow exporting or mass generating. Only the purchased version allows that, and it costs are quite high ($400 +). Still, the demo will allow a brave soul to do what's needed. Is there a brave soul, out there?

DreamTeams · 02-14-2003, 04:15 PM

Yes, Satchel. Snapshots are the ticket.

satchel · 02-14-2003, 04:16 PM

Even a 30-team league only needs about 1000 faces at first, to cover the core majors rosters plus the players who shuffle between the majors and minors.

satchel · 02-14-2003, 04:17 PM

Thanks DT.

02-13-2003, 05:54 PM	#1
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	Recommend a good ‘head’ graphic generator? Can anyone recommend a good program to make heads for OotP player photos? Something like a 3D graphics program that can easily and simply switch out facial features, with good templates? And able to save or export these files in some common graphics file format? I played with Maxis’ Facelift but it doesn’t really make good heads, its faces are good but too distorted without being stretched on a frame, which is only done in-game. I have found several programs that can take a frontal and a side photograph and turn them into a 3D head, but nothing with just generic switchable parts. In the game Asheron’s Call for example, when you make your character, you can switch through different kinds of eyes, noses, hair, etc., and then save your character. I’d like something similar to use with OotP, so I can make various faces for all the fictional players but have them all in a consistent style. __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-13-2003, 06:01 PM	#2
fhomess Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,693	You could take screenshots of heads you create in Asheron. __________________ StatsLab- PHP/MySQL based utilities for Online Leagues Baseball Cards - Full list of known templates and documentation on card development.

02-13-2003, 07:13 PM	#3
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	memories... I don’t have AC any more, I uninstalled it, then gave the software to my best friend’s wife. That was in 1999 anyway, I just remember the process, and I know other games use similar ones. But your idea about taking screen shots is good, I can take screenshots of the Facelift heads inside that program’s interface. That’s a good workaround for now. Does anyone have another, more flexible recommendation? __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-13-2003, 07:43 PM	#4
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	Something I'd like to see, Satchel. If it helps, grab my face pack with 800 anonymous, contemporary players - sans logos. Players of all ages included. __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

02-13-2003, 07:54 PM	#6
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	$495 program Wanna split the cost, Satch? __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

02-13-2003, 07:49 PM	#5
Joe Stallings Administrator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 239	The program we used for Tournament Dreams faces is called FaceGen.

02-13-2003, 10:05 PM	#7
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 12,031	A program similar to facegen is head designer. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project) For Beta/Devs: Full screen (1920x1080)

02-14-2003, 12:24 AM	#8
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 12,031	I also remember that the hoyle board games v4 game had a good character photo generator. But I think the only way to get a file of the photo would be to take a screenshot. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project) For Beta/Devs: Full screen (1920x1080)

02-14-2003, 10:21 AM	#9
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	input Thanks for the responses. I did briefly investigate the Hoyle one, and file formats were a stumbling block there, but using screenshots might be the solution there too. It’s too bad those other programs are so expensive. Maybe there is some cheaper alternative somewhere. I have downloaded all the photo sets (thanks to everyone who has made them) and tried different approaches with those; that’s something I’m still working with too, maybe digitizing the photographs in LL’s set, something to get away from the feel of an actual photo, but something consistent as well. __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-14-2003, 11:25 AM	#10
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	I know I've used a third party program someone created for the Sims, called Bodywarp, to view skins on wire frames. You can even change the position of the head. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

02-14-2003, 12:53 PM	#11
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	programs Head Designer is only about $80...but it’s a plugin for 3DS Max which is at least $450. FaceGen is the sweetest, but it does cost about ten times the size of what I’m willing to spend. My search continues... __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-14-2003, 01:17 PM	#12
Joe Stallings Administrator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 239	If you are really ambitious, and really good with PhotoShop, you can accomplish alot with the FaceGen demo...

02-14-2003, 01:47 PM	#13
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	solution? The FaceGen demo will soon be mine, and mixed with a little creative thinking, it might be the ticket after all. __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-14-2003, 03:40 PM	#14
DreamTeams Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,522	Thanks for the tip guys. I'd been looking for something like this for quite some time. Just downloaded the demo and have already used it to create some pretty neat faces for my Metros. Here's a sample of what can be done with the demo. (FaceGen made the faces, but I added the other stuff. Pretty neat.)... Attached Images __________________

02-14-2003, 03:48 PM	#15
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,873	They look great. Really add a lot to fictional leagues if a bunch of people could combine their work with this and come up with a 1500-2000 player set. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

02-14-2003, 04:13 PM	#16
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	method DT, how did you export the faces, did you just take screenshots of them? __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-14-2003, 04:14 PM	#17
DreamTeams Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,522	Howdy Tiger Fan, That can be done if someone is willing and has the time. It'll take a LOT of snapshots, cutting, pasting and resizing. The demo can be used without limit, but won't allow exporting or mass generating. Only the purchased version allows that, and it costs are quite high ($400 +). Still, the demo will allow a brave soul to do what's needed. Is there a brave soul, out there? __________________

02-14-2003, 04:15 PM	#18
DreamTeams Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,522	Yes, Satchel. Snapshots are the ticket. __________________

02-14-2003, 04:16 PM	#19
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	number of faces Even a 30-team league only needs about 1000 faces at first, to cover the core majors rosters plus the players who shuffle between the majors and minors. __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

02-14-2003, 04:17 PM	#20
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	Thx Thanks DT. __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59