Create custom textures and 3D models for Augmented Faces

  • Augmented Faces in ARCore uses custom 3D models and 2D textures, created by artists and exported as FBX files, to overlay onto detected faces.

  • ARCore provides a canonical face mesh (FBX and PSD files) to guide the creation of compatible assets for accurate overlay on user faces.

  • The FBX file defines the face mesh structure and regions, and any custom 3D models should be skinned to its associated bones while adhering to a specific hierarchy.

  • The PSD file provides a reference texture with layers for mask, lines, UVs, and background, aiding artists in aligning textures with facial features.

  • When exporting custom FBX files, the reference 'facemesh' should be excluded, as ARCore generates its own face mesh at runtime.

To implement Augmented Faces, you need customized textures and models for overlaying on identified face meshes. These assets are created by artists ahead of time in 3D modeling and animation software, and exported as FBX files.

Canonical files

The SDKs ship with a canonical_face_mesh.fbx file and a canonical_face_mesh.psd file to help artists create assets that will overlay properly onto faces detected by ARCore. These files can be found in the assets/canonical_face_mesh.fbx folder.

Create 3D models with the FBX file

The FBX file contains the face mesh topology, UV texture coordinates, and rig that defines the supported facial regions provided for creating and attaching assets. To ensure they're compatible with ARCore, FBX files should be saved using supported settings.

This file contains a reference facemesh that should not be exported as part of the final FBX. ARCore will generate and update a separate face mesh at runtime.

Create 2D textures with the PSD file

The .psd face mesh reference texture is used to see how a texture that an artist creates lines up with a user's facial features at runtime. It includes four layers:

  • Mask: Shows where the eyes, nostrils, and mouth are located in the texture.
  • Lines: Guidelines that show how a user's facial features line up with a texture during runtime.
  • UVs: Represents triangulation of the 468 point face texture mesh.
  • Background: A neutral gray background layer to make the other three components visually clear.

If you modify the PSD file, you should see your changes as soon as you export.

Customize the canonical face mesh

If models and textures are being created using the assets/canonical_face_mesh.fbx included in the SDK, these settings are also required when exporting FBX files:

  • Make sure the any custom meshes are skinned to the associated bones or regions.

  • Use the following hierarchy:

    asset
|__root
|   |__NOSE_TIP
|   |__FOREHEAD_RIGHT
|   |__FOREHEAD_LEFT
|__facemesh           <-- for reference
|__                   <-- place additional custom 3D meshes here

  • Do not export the included facemesh model. This mesh is for reference only. ARCore will create a separate face mesh at runtime. Use the UVs in facemesh as a reference when creating custom face mesh textures.

  • Place custom meshes as children of the asset node.

  • Use of namespaces is supported.

  • The asset contains four bones consisting of root and NOSE_TIP, FOREHEAD_RIGHT, and FOREHEAD_LEFT regions. Do not change the names of these bones.