Modeling for Lip-Sync

Tutorial ONE

This tutorial is meant as a brief overview of how to create multiple head shapes for morphing. I’ve used the box modeling method to create this character. Also known as subdivided surfaces or meshsmooth modeling or any other number of terms depending on what software package you use.

Step 1: Model half the head to simplify the process. Make sure to model on the center of the x-axis, later you'll mirror clone the head and weld the center vertices together to complete the whole head. By modeling on the x-axis it will make the welding process much easier.

Step 2: Clone the model and create new mouth shapes. Again make sure the head stays on the x-axis center.

Step 3: When you're done modeling the new head shapes mirror clone all the respective heads on their x-axis. Now all the vertices along the center should be perfectly matched between the left and right side of the head.

Step 4: Next attach the left heads to the right or right to the left with all there respective clones to make them one object. Make sure to keep it consistent. Always match right to left or left to right for each head.

Step 5: Now that you have a whole head you can weld the shared vertices. Select all the vertices down the center of the head and set the weld value to .01 to make sure you're only going to weld the shared vertices and not the ones that just happen to be close together.

Step 6: Do step 5 with all the heads you've modified. Once you've completed all welds you can add the Morph Modifier to the head you want to remain as the default head shape and add the morph targets to it. The last step would be to add the Meshsmooth Modifier at the top of the stack.

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