ALICE is our new ecosystem for the development and control of Digital Humans. A New Design have integrated a number of key technologies to provide specific 3D scan processing, automated character creation and our custom Maya 'Uber Rig' and solver. Then we have proprietary re-targeting software to apply animation direct to blend shapes from a third party animation source or iPhone App. This all sounds complicated (and it is) but the outcome is a fully integrated and seamless digital double service designed to be easy to use and cost efficient.

3D scan processing

We process your scans - we have a comprehensive suite of software for processing 3D scans captured by photogrammtery systems. You upload the RAW images and we return a clean, retopologised model with associated maps.

All deliveries include our custom designed base mesh with optimised UVs, diffuse, specular, roughness, ambient occlusion and displacement and/or normal maps.

Single Neutral Head scans - we process and deliver a single expression capture and deliver clean, animation ready model.

Expression or FACS sets - we process and deliver a full data set of expressions all consistently cleaned, wrapped and ready for rigging.

Single ‘A Frame’ Body Scans - we process and deliver a neutral, non-clothed body scan and deliver clean, animation ready model utilising our custom base mesh and optimised UV layout.

Uber Rig

Some of the main issues facing our clients when attempting high end facial animation are time, cost and complexity. With ALICE we aim to solve these problems whilst continuing to improve the level of detail in the product which we are delivering.

We continue with our ethos that RAW data is the best data. We always strive to create intelligent solutions which do not hinder the creative process; our models are not manipulated or hand sculpted before delivery unless requested. We give you a data set that works and which you will not need to reverse engineer - instead valuable time can be used to perfect your creative vision. We deliver a production ready digital character rig that is ready for hand animation or motion capture in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Reduced data set ALICE digital human - Animation ready character built from a reduced pose set of 18 scans. This data is combined with blend shapes from our library to create a full data set. Proprietary 'Uber Rig' with robust face solver using over 500 blend shapes and 9 bones. Delivered as a Maya scene ready for Unreal implementation.

Full data set ALICE digital human - Animation ready character built using our complete pose set of 81 scans. The full resolution of this data is fed through our procedural processing pipeline and then optimised for both render and real time output. Proprietary 'Uber Rig' with robust face solver using over 500 blend shapes and 9 bones with dynamic normal and diffuse maps triggered by blend-shape activation (beta). Delivered as a Maya scene ready for Unreal implementation.

Blend Shapes vs Bones - Our 2021 rig comes with both. 4 LODs starting with LOD 0, which is majority blend shapes and 9 bones, then we increase to LOD 1 which is just under 400 bones with 8 influencers (12 is possible) down to LOD 4 which is 30 bones and 4 influencers.

This makes our RIg super versatile and ready for both feature film and game engines.

Character Creation

A full spectrum of character creation - the data we deliver is of a very high quality, however there are always a few manual additions which can push the character to another level.

Teeth, eyes and tongue - we can provide our stock model elements or provide completely custom models. For some projects we even specify full dental scans to eek out that extra level of realism.

Groom - from brows and eyelashes, peach fuzz, ear and nostril hair, beards and full head grooms.

Custom Look Dev - we can provide help with custom shaders and game engine intergration.

Adoption of client base mesh - a one off service to intergrate your base mesh into our automated processing workflow.