Hello awesome folks!
Before getting to the news, let us remind you that FaceRig is at this time still in development, but we're really closing in to version 1.0 :) .
Before committing to a purchase we recommend that you read the EULA (as you should do with any software you buy and/or use.) Please make sure to also check the minimal requirements and remember that for now FaceRig is Windows-only, and that the mobile/low voltage versions of the listed CPU's and GPU's typically have less performance than their desktop counterparts.
Now to the actual news!
We've deployed a new update to the "nextversion branch" 8 hours ago, and now we are promoting it to the "default" branch as well.
This update brings you more free content (avatar props), enables a special face action (key- triggering puffed cheeks) and fixing a lot of bugs as we rapidly approach our exit from Early Access :). We have also updated the tracking library version which is pretty sweet and improved the quality of the video exporter, but the undisputed star of this update remains the New Virtual Webcam driver, which should work with pretty much everything (including the upcoming Windows 10 OS) if installed correctly.
We plan to officially end Early Access on the 1'st of July (but if we find more bugs on this update we may delay it a few days, up to max. a week). Please keep in mind that 24 hours before the switch, the 33% Early Access discount will end.
Here is the full change log:
FaceRig v0.997.101b (build 567 Holotech Studios - June 25 2015)
- added a calibration overlay visual cue on the tracker source feed (renamed as "You") when trying to auto-calibrate expression or pose
- export movie time display error fixed
- changed Quick Export icon button to a Save Movie text button (visible in the replay bar)
- Unicode naming support for files (replays, screenshots, videos)
- pursed lips from pose avatar mode was not working, it is fixed now
- unsure triggering was not working in pose avatar mode, it is fixed now
- non-loadable skins issue solved
- some tweaks to window resizing (rendering aspect should be kept now to 16:9 all the time)
- added puffed cheeks to the Special Actions behaviour of the avatar, use F to trigger.
- by default the avatar cannot do crossed eyes, to enable it we've added an option in the Behaviour tab of the Avatars dialog (enable crossed eyes).
- while opening the Overlay Editor, the rest of the UI will disappear
- removed the Load button from Avatars and Backgrounds galleries. Note that all avatars, avatar skins and backgrounds now load on click
- we've removed the specific Enable Tongue switch from the Behavior tab of the Avatars dialog. To enable tongue action, just make sure the Special Actions behavior is on.
- updated the ULSee Face Tracker version. There should be a significant improvement of head pose estimation.
- fixed Advanced tracking > Retargeting tab contents disappearance issue.
- added soft lock behavior on eyes look at camera
- export movie now blends 8 frames in one to add a special cinematic motion blur effect. Export could take a bit longer, but the overall results are totally worth it.
- fixed inner eyebrow tracking interpretation issue ( no more extra twitchy eyebrows).
- fixes to the replay: pursed lips now save properly, puff cheeks and tongue action save properly
- various UI styling tweaks
- fixed defective tongue action and audio lipsync on retargeted avatars when user's pose is over a certain angle (pitch and yaw)
- puffed Cheeks and tongue out override audio lipsync animations
- fixed audio issues when replaying a performance
- fixed eye pupils going down when moving eyebrows up. changed default range for eyes Up/Down Action Unit
- optimized UI rendering on DX11
- added a "smart look at camera" slider. If set to max, the avatar always looks at camera, ignoring tracked gaze direction; going to min value, the avatars eyes snap to camera then they are closer than a threshold angle. Set it to min to have 100% tracked eye gaze, with no auto lock to the camera whatsoever.
- and last but not least, we've added new free props :D 3 types of piercings, a "press conference" type of booth and a newsroom desk. Check out the new props, as well as a short tutorial on how to attach props in FaceRig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yoDPybyKE
Regarding the new virtual cam driver: if you are still seeing and using something with "32" or "64" in the name as a virtual webcam, you are most likely using the old virtual cams. Please make sure you update the program correctly through Steam and stop using the old drivers :D.
If you encounter any difficulties using the new virtual webcam driver, let us know on the forum.
[update]:
If you have any issues related to FaceRig no longer seeing a feed from your real camera after installing the update with the new virtual camera driver, this should be solvable by simply going in the Advanced FaceRig UI, General Settings, Devices Tab , and re-selecting again your desired camera from the drop down list (even if it was already selected). This will re-initialize it and only needs to be done once :).
Some users have also reported needing to plug out and plug in their USB physical webcams after this update, so that they get their "default camera" status back.
Have an awesome weekend,
The FaceRig Team