Modeling and animation of human expressions using NURBS curves based on facial anatomy

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method in facial modeling and animation. Non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) curves are used to model and animate human facial expressions. Based on facial anatomy, control polygons are positioned, and sample points of the NURBS curves are associated with the facial mesh geometrically. Features of facial muscles are simulated based on fuzzy sets. Facial muscle movements can be modeled by changing the weights or moving the control points of the NURBS curves. The method is significantly different from the traditional parameterization methods in facial animation.