Accurate Characterization of Skin Deformations Using Range Data

Generating realistic skin deformations arising from joint movement and muscle contraction is a requirement for producing realistic human character animation. For example, the human arm, hand, or foot change shape in significant ways during motion, ways which are difficult to model accurately with traditional character animation techniques. This thesis suggests a new way to build realistic animated models of the human form. We exploit range image technology to capture the true human form and create parameterized animated surface models based upon this data. The thesis improves in several ways upon the algorithms required to process the range data, as well as presenting a methodology for the required data capture, data integration and surface parameterization. Results are presented for the parameterized flexion of a human arm model. iii Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the generous contribution in time and ideas of my supervisor, Professor Michiel van de Panne. Professor James Stewart also contributed his time (when it was in such high demand) to read the thesis. Both were of great help in making this document much more understandable. SPAR Aerospace allowed the use of their laser range scanner for this research. The people at SPAR, particularly Eldon Wong and Perry Newhook, were always willing to help with the scanning and other aspects of the research.