character creator software?

[polypod]

I'm interested in making movies and as a director, i'd like to have the ability to create characters in a faster, more fluid way.
Well i've seen software that can do this in Tiger Woods golf, and apparently the most comprehensive 'character creator' tool is coming out with EA's fight night II..
These programs let you tweak everything on sliding scales, to the point that you can make a descent look alike of yourself!
I posted something about this a few days ago in the models forum, but after the first glowering stare, i realized some see it as a shortcut. Maybe some machinima people can see the potential?
Considering that it's actually easier to acheive a specific look(ie myself) because the human proportions are already embedded, i think this can be a huge tool for the digital filmaker.
Is there by any chance a program as powerful is already out for the PC?

 

[switch]

Bleh, there is a program where you can make faces in 3D just by options such ethnicity and loads of sliders to customise the way it looks. Its around $300 I think tho.

And I cant remember the name, I keep thining FacePoser but I know thats a Valve program, I'll keep thinking :/.

Edit, ooh I think this is it http://www.facegen.com/

US$ 495 and US$995 for a commercial licence :/ I havent seen any similar programs tho. Its a decent program, check the demo

 

[Bakurei]

Poser anyone?

 

[nbk]

I would go with Poser, too.

 

[switch]

Yeh poser aswell, I was thinking of FacePoser at first which is a cross between Facegen and poser lol.

 

[Latin_Jones]

I dont' think poser actually allows you to modify the appearance of the character. It's mostly just for 'posing'...

Posers' models are either premade or you make them yourselves in a 3d package.

There are plenty of different models out there, some commercial, that you can download for poser.

 

[polypod]

thanks, poser is very much was i was talking about..
i noticed poser does the same thing with animals!(i'm interested in horses)

i wonder about generic animations for people/horses, whatever..
is there a resource for simply a set of dots moving in 3d space(ie animation) for all kinds of different movements?
For example, can i find a horse gallop animation and then tweak it to my needs?

 

[polypod]

well i've learned a lot in the past few hours..
for those who are interested, here is an FREE plug-in that allows poser content to be imported into Maya!

www.rendermagix.com/trinity/index.htm

i've also found horses and many other things availaible for poser, and they have 'morph targets' assigned so that much tweaking can be done.. the horse package costs money, but could certainly be worth it.