Headshot Mesh Workflow: Turn Any 3D Head Model into a Fully Rigged Character

Headshot 3

The AI-Enhanced 3D Head Generator

Image Workflow

Mesh Workflow

✦ Early Bird Special ✦

TURN 3D HEAD MODELS INTO FULLY RIGGED CHARACTERS

Headshot harnesses the power of AI to handle diverse mesh conditions with a remarkable level of tolerance. It particularly excels at working with severely flawed models, effortlessly generating fully-rigged, professional-grade characters.

Mesh wrapping comparison showing Complete, Covered, and Incomplete head conditions alongside full body and stylized character results

CREATE DIGITAL DOUBLES FROM PROVIDER ASSETS

  • Photogrammetry
  • Digital Sculptures
  • Mobile 3D Scanning

With a range of services including custom scans and a professional 3D head library, photogrammetry offers unparalleled model details and texture resolution. Headshot 2 leverages this technology, enabling studios to effortlessly create and animate celebrities, game characters, and photo-realistic crowd simulations for movies and archviz.

In the media entertainment industry, digital sculptors skilled in tools like ZBrush and Blender create high-definition 3D characters for intellectual properties. Headshot simplifies the process by seamlessly converting these highly detailed models, regardless of whether they are realistic or stylized, into real-time characters.

Mobile scanning provides a convenient and cost-effective method for creating 3D models. However, unwieldy scanning conditions may result in compromised quality. By selecting the effective surfaces, Headshot AI can overcome these challenges by seamlessly filling in the missing areas, such as the ears, skull, and neck, ensuring high-quality results.

BRING IN STYLIZED CHARACTERS

Cubic Styles & Sharp Lines

Accurate depiction of eye blinks and iconic expressions on stylized characters with exaggerated eye sockets and angular contour lines relies on precise alignment of mesh points and edges. Headshot's distinctive normal baking technology makes this achievable.

Stylized character with cubic proportions and sharp angular contour lines wrapped into CC topology
Extreme Head & Neck Shapes

For stylized creatures with a bold design, achieving resemblance is made easier by adding additional alignment points to define exaggerated areas like the ears and neck. These specific details can also enhance the otherworldly characteristics of the creatures.

Stylized creature with exaggerated head and neck shapes converted using additional alignment points

INTUITIVE WRAPPING PROCESS

  • 1. Auto Detect
  • 2. Align Points
  • 3. Head Gen AI
  • 4. Refine Mesh
  • 5. Attach to Body

Automatic Feature Detection

Get started quickly with three preconfigured options: 24, 32, or 35 alignment points. Alternatively, use auto detection to automatically populate the essential 24 alignment points. By synchronizing the camera navigation, you can easily compare the positions of the alignment points between the source and target meshes.

Add Details with Extra Alignment Points

The system offers flexibility by allowing the addition of extra points to accommodate distinctive facial and body features. Whether it involves adding points for stretched elf-like ears or incorporating more points for a prominent hunched back, the system is fully compatible with any standout anatomy.

Generate 3D Heads Based on Effective Areas

With the advanced capabilities of Headshot AI, you can effortlessly generate a comprehensive 3D head from a partial mesh. Enjoy the flexibility to choose which details to preserve according to your preferences, whether you prioritize the face, include the ears, or encompass the entire head. Regardless of your choice, Headshot 2 guarantees exceptional results delivered with speed and efficiency.

Partial mesh with selected effective areas used to generate a complete 3D head via Headshot Head Gen AI

Refine Topology with 3D Brushes

Benefit from robust 3D brushes, which can efficiently project the head shape, smooth out topology, and optimize edge loops. This process not only enhances the likeness of the character but also enables improved performance with facial expressions, particularly in the areas of the eyes and mouth.
View the CC Face Topology Guideline (PDF) >

Brush Type

Brush Type

Assign Body Shape & Bake Textures

Effortlessly assign the suitable gender or body type to the generated head and ensure a seamless attachment with the corresponding neck shape. Achieve professional-grade results by utilizing image masking and a wide range of texture bake options. Refine the body type further using morph sliders at any point in the process for added customization.

Body shape assignment and texture baking interface showing gender and body type options with neck shape matching

TACKLING CHALLENGING SCENARIOS

  • FACE
  • ATTACH TO BODY
  • PRESERVING HAIRSTYLE

Wrapping a sophisticated or creatively designed 3D head can present challenges and potentially yield unintended results. Headshot provides a multitude of options to effectively handle difficult cases, such as stylized eyes, ears, and even slightly parted lips. By employing specific techniques tailored to each situation, artists can confidently achieve their desired outcomes with precision.

Face

Face

The advanced body type options enable effortless retopology of the head, allowing for easy modifications using your own assets. The mesh wrap tools simplify the process of achieving a striking resemblance, even for stylized characters with unconventional neck shapes. Additionally, the body morph sliders offer precise control over the configuration of the character's physique.

Body Type

Body Type

Maintaining the hairstyle is crucial to achieve a faithful resemblance between the source and target models. By designating the entire head as the effective area and using the "No Mask" option, the original hair shape and textures is kept intact, while editing tools offer surplus ways to clean and refine the final geometry.

Mesh wrapping result preserving original hairstyle geometry and texture using the No Mask option

CC5 HD WORKFLOW NEW!

  • Subdivision Output
  • Texture Baking

Choose to wrap the source mesh to a selected subdivision level from SubD-0 to SubD-2. Keep the mesh lightweight for real-time games or preserve maximum detail for 3D printing and film production. Normal maps can also be baked based on the selected mesh level.

Mesh wrapped to SubD-0 subdivision level — lightweight geometry optimized for real-time game use Mesh wrapped to SubD-0 subdivision level — lightweight geometry optimized for real-time game use
Mesh wrapped to SubD-1 subdivision level — balanced geometry suitable for general production use Mesh wrapped to SubD-1 subdivision level — balanced geometry suitable for general production use
Mesh wrapped to SubD-2 subdivision level — maximum mesh detail preserved for film production and 3D printing Mesh wrapped to SubD-2 subdivision level — maximum mesh detail preserved for film production and 3D printing

Headshot stands out from other model fitting solutions with versatile texture baking options. It is the only system that supports high-poly normal baking, vertex color to texture conversion, and UV remapping. Other exclusive features include image-based color projection and textureless rendering with stand-in eyes. The outcome is an astonishingly detailed CC3+ head at 4,000 quads, showcasing remarkable resemblance and geared for real-time performance.

Texture baking result showing a high-detail CC character head at 4,000 quads with normal map and color projection applied

TEXTURE MASKING

  • No Mask
  • Template Mask
  • Custom Mask Painting NEW!

To ensure the integrity of bust models with desirable hair or coverings and without distorted textures, choose the "No Mask" option. Additionally, for the correction of minor texture artifacts that occur when blinking or opening the lips, apply eyelash and lip masks to achieve the right results.

Texture masking with No Mask option preserving original hair and head covering without texture distortion

When generating a 3D head from a partial mesh, texture tearing or stretching can occur due to degradation. Even with a flawless source mesh, accurately projecting eyelash and inner lip details can be challenging. Headshot 2 offers a convenient solution by providing predefined texture masks to quickly hide problematic areas, ensuring a seamless and visually appealing result without the need for image editing.

Texture masking with Template Mask hiding eyelash and inner lip artifacts for a clean result

The Custom Mask option provides maximum flexibility for texture refinement. Besides exporting maps to an external image editor for shadow or hair removal, you can now paint directly within Headshot 3 using the mask brush tools, with support for painting across selected texture channels.

ENHANCE WITH SKIN DETAILS

  • SkinGen
  • Dynamic Wrinkle
  • Eye Options NEW!

Low-resolution textures often result in deficient close-ups. With the dynamic skin editor, SkinGen, you can overcome this limitation by layering intricate details like pores, veins, freckles, sun tan, scars, and even apply makeup to enhance the realism of the eyes and lips. Realistic Human Skin >   Makeup & SFX >

Take realism to new heights by seamlessly incorporating dynamic wrinkles into the generated digital doubles. Witness the remarkable level of expression details that come to life in real-time when you apply face key, facial puppet, and tracking techniques.

Dynamic wrinkles applied to a digital double showing real-time expression details including forehead and nasolabial fold movement

Choose from a library of realistic eye presets, or use the color picker to create custom eye colors and fine-tune the real-time eye shader for complete control.

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Download CC Face Topology and UV Guide
Download Headshot Morph 1400+ guide
Download Headshot Morph 1400+ guide