Generic or Lookalike? Selecting 3D Characters for Your Visuals

When you come to Focus Graphics to create illustrations or animations for your cases, there are a lot of options to consider. One of those options is whether to have us use a generic character that resembles your client using gender, skin tone, hair color, and build as a guide; or to go with a custom 3D character based upon an image of your client to create as lifelike a visual as possible. The pros of a generic character is that it will be less expensive since no time needs to be spent creating the custom character, and we can start immediately because we don’t have to wait for proper images of your client. A custom character, however, will be better able to connect the jury to your client and see what is happening in the illustration or animation as what truly happened to your client because the character looks like them. This option is also great when a client has unique or unusual features that may not be available on a generic character. 

Creating a custom character requires specific photos with the following characteristics:

• Should be well-lit with light evenly distributed on the face without any shadows
• No exaggerated expressions
• Teeth should not be visible
• Glasses should be removed
• Full head should be visible…we do not need neck or shoulders
• Hairstyles can be generated, but you can have the client wear a specific hairstyle if you want that one on your 3D character

Tips for photos of your client to ensure a successful 3D character:

• Selfies can create distortions in the resulting images and should be avoided
• Use a modern camera (cell phone cameras are fine)
• Give us your full resolution images, lower resolution images may be too blurry for us to use.

Here are the final 3D characters created from the example images above. The likeness to the example image is quite remarkable and there will be no question that the animation and/or illustrations depict your client:

How you choose to present your visuals is up to you, and Focus Graphics is here to provide options and suggestions to make your ideas come to life! 

READY TO FIND OUT MORE?

Our team of animators, illustrators and medical professionals are ready to make your demonstratives ready for your next mediation or litigation. Request a Quote or give us a call at (702) 849-0090.