Creating a model using the Face Wizard

The Face Wizard enables you to create a face model, which comprises a relief layer generated from a photographic image containing a side-profile of a person's head and neck. You can use a photographic image saved in any of the following file formats:

• Windows or OS/2 Bitmap (.bmp)
• Tagged Image File Format (.tif)
• CompuServe Graphics Interchange (.gif)
• JPEG image (.jpg)

The process is almost entirely automated. To produce a detailed face shape on a relief layer, your image should ideally be captured by a digital source using a resolution of at least 1024 x 768 pixels. Colour photographic images can be imported, but they are displayed as black and white in Carveco.
You cannot use the Face Wizard as part of an open model. The Face Wizard requires that a new model is created each time that it is used. If you use the Face Wizard with a model already open in Carveco, a message dialog is displayed asking if you want to save the model before it is closed.

To use the Face Wizard  to create a model:

1. In the Toolbox panel, click the Face Wizard button. The Toolbox panel displays the Face Wizard's first settings page.
   To pin the Toolbox panel, click  on the panel's header.
   
   
2. Click the Open Photo  button to display the Select Image File dialog.
3. Navigate to the folder on your computer in which the image file from which you want to create a face shape is stored.
4. When you have found the image file, click its name. Its name is displayed in the File name area.
5. Click OK to import the image.
   If you are using the Face Wizard with a model already open and have not saved any changes that have been made to the open model, a message dialog is displayed asking if you want to save the model. If you have not made any changes to the current model either whatsoever or since it was saved previously, it is closed immediately.
   If you are using the Face Wizard with both a project and model already open, and have not saved any changes that have been made to the model, a message dialog is displayed asking if you want to update the project with the changes. If you have not made any changes to current model either whatsoever or since it was saved previously, it is closed in the Project Tree.

   A new Carveco model is created using the image's dimensions. On the Toolbox panel, the Face Wizard's second page of settings is displayed.
   If you are working with a project, the new model   is associated with   Models in the Project Tree. The model is named (Untitled) by default.
   If you are working with an independent model, the new model   is the root of the Project Tree. The model is named (Untitled) by default.

   In the 2D view, the imported image is shown. This is hosted on the default bitmap layer, which is associated with   Bitmaps in the Project Tree displayed on the Project panel.
   You can change the name of the default bitmap layer.

   Also in the Project Tree is a default vector layer associated with   Vectors. The colour red is assigned to this layer, on which you draw the vector artwork required by the Face Wizard.
   You can change the name and the colour associated with the default vector layer.

   A relief layer named Relief Layer is also created and this is the relief layer on which the three-dimensional face shape is created using the image and its associated vector artwork.
   The TIFF image shown below is a good example of what you can import:
   
   

   You are now ready to create a vector to mark the outline of the head and neck shown in your imported image.

6. In the Toolbox panel, click Create Polyline Tool to enter polyline-creation mode. This displays the Tool Settings: Polyline Creation panel.
7. To join each of the polyline's nodes with a Bézier span, select Draw Smooth Polyline.
8. In the 2D view, click and drag to create a free-form polyline around the head and neck of the person in your imported image.
   Press Alt+B to toggle the display of the imported image. This enables you to view the polyline more clearly.
9. Use one of the following methods to close the polyline:
   • Select Vector > Close > With a Line to close the polyline with a linear span.
   • Select Vector > Close > With a Smooth Curve to close the polyline with a Bézier curve.
   • Select Vector > Close > Move End Node to close the polyline by joining its start and end nodes.

   The polyline is shown in magenta and surrounded by a bounding box, indicating that it is closed and selected.

   Polyline, image displayed

   Polyline, image hidden

10. Press N to enter Node Editing mode. You can see the nodes, spans and control points that make up the polyline you have drawn.
11. Edit the shape of polyline so that it follows the outline of the face area perfectly.
12. In the Toolbox panel, click Next to display the third settings page. You are now ready to specify the positions of facial features in the image.

    If you click Next before creating a vector outline of the head and neck, a message dialog is displayed warning that you must have one closed vector. Click OK to close the message dialog.

13. In the Toolbox panel, click and drag the top target over to the position in the image you want to specify as the centre-front of the person's eyebrow. This must be on or inside of the polyline that you have drawn.
    
    

14. Release the mouse button to set the position. The position is marked by a red square.
15. In the Toolbox panel, click and drag the bottom target over to the position in the image you want to specify as the nape of the neck. This must be on or inside of the polyline that you have drawn.
16. Release the mouse button to set the position. The position is marked by a red square.
    You can right-click Bitmaps in the Project panel's Project Tree, then select Toggle All Visibility from the context menu to toggle the display of the imported image. This enables you to view your selected positions more clearly.

    • Positions, image displayed

      Positions, image hidden

17. In the Toolbox panel, click Next to display the fourth page of settings.
18. In the Head Dimensions area, specify the Width and Height of the face shape you want to create.
19. In the Model Dimensions area, specify the Width and Height of the Carveco model in which you want to create the face relief.
20. Click Next to calculate the face relief.
    If you click Next without having specified the centre-front of the person's eyebrow and the nape of the neck, a message dialog is displayed warning that you must specify these points. Click OK to close the message dialog.
    The calculated face relief is displayed in the 3D view, and the Smoothing Tool settings are displayed on the Tool Settings panel.
    
    

    The area of the imported image shown in the 2D view within the vector outline you have drawn is projected onto the surface of the relief layer.

21. Use the sculpting tools to edit the shape of the face on the default relief layer shown in the 3D view.
22. Click Close to exit the Face Wizard.
    
    The availability of this feature is license dependent.

See also

• Vector > Close
• Relief > Sculpt