Like many forensic artists, Mr. Bender’s start as a forensic artist began almost as an aside in his art career. Mr. Bender, a talented reconstruction and composite artist, will be displaying his work in a gallery at the Phillips Museum of Art in Philadelphia from March 13th to April 13th. If you are in the Philadelphia area, make sure to check out his work. It is a rare thing when a forensics artist work is put on display in an art museum. Wish i could catch the show myself, but I can’t be there. Someone take pictures and email them to me at bytedreams@poserforensicartists.com . Would love to post some to this site.

In the meantime, here is a link to a recent news article about Mr. Bender you will enjoy reading.

Friday I went home from the day job with a plan. I would spend this weekend relearning css, possibly writing some tutorials for my MSN web design group, and learn Hexagon 2.0, a program I’ve had on my computer for almost a year, but haven’t used until now. Well, I stuck to part of that plan. I spent the whole day Sunday creating an object to add to a dress I had created last Sunday for one of the Poser characters. Most of the time was spent learning a new tool within Hexagon called “copy on support,” which replicates an object and positions the copies on another - think links in a watchband-like.

So, what does any of this have to do with Forensic art? Well, one should know how to model something from scratch, if you can’t find a suitable model on the ‘net already, like a specific style of sunglasses, cap, shoe, etc. So - Hexagon has my vote. I needed a couple of tutorials to get started though. The documentation was difficult to grasp out the box, and something was missing from other tutorials I had looked at, until I came across an online tutorial written by John D. Johnson that really put the overwhelming abundance of tool choices into some kind of perspective I could digest. It wasn’t until after getting half way through Mr. Johnson’s tutorial, that I was able to return to another tutorial I had looked at months ago, but couldn’t really grasp. JGreenlees’ 3-part downloadable dress tutorial was a breeze after this one. And I began to make some really good progress. They were both very helpful getting started with Hexagon.

Of course, everyone learns at different pace, and this program is no exception to that. There are two very popular modeling programs available on the internet which others have found quite useful, Wings3D and Blender. Both of these I found much more complex than Hexagon, but that’s just me. I’ve known a couple of 20-something guys that learned them in one weekend. But I think Hexagon has a nicer interface. It’s still being developed over at Daz3D, and I think I heard in their Hexagon forum that a newer, updated version is being worked on.

On another tip, since I’m making plans and halfway sticking to them, I’ve put the “Most Wanted” images back on my plate.  That is where I will use Faceshop Pro and Poser to create images based on the FBI’s most wanted lists..

CBS4(Denver) - May 19, 2007

watch video

Recent article appeared in local arizona newspaper about a couple of visiting students to the school in Scottsdale Arizona who are forensic artists in South Africa. The article mentioned these two artists as using computers for sketches in their forensic art work, but doesn’t tell what software they use. I’m curious about that, and perhaps I’ll be able to find some more info about that later, but in the meantime, here’s a link to the article.

Over all, I found this standalone product very useful, and quite easy to get started. FaceShop Pro maps a face from a single photo onto a selected character model’s head that one would export from Poser sans eyes, as a morph target. You then import it into Faceshop, follow the onscreen prompts to match points and curves from the photo to the head object, save the results, then import back into Poser, and onto the same character you exported from. Then in Poser, you select the head of the character, and choose “Load Morph Target” from either the menu, or the parameter dials. Sounds easy? it is! However, better results are achieved after editing the texture map, and if you have the skills, editing the exported head using Poser’s morphing tools, or in your favorite modeling program.

In my example to the left, I show how an unedited texture from a sketch I drew looks. Pretty close to the original sketch. Yes, the program will even map a face from a sketch, though might take a couple of attempts to get the points and curves right, and some modest tweaking of the face afterwards. This image though, I did not have to tweak more than the lips. Still, it’s doable, which makes me think this would be a very good tool for the forensic artist who also uses Poser.

As a new product, FS Pro is not without some faults, and the programmers are working right now to iron out some of the problem areas. People have reported crashing and freezing in the program. So far the most common cause of the problem seems to be related to the size of the photo used. FS seems to work best with images that are about 800 pixels or less in width.

FS comes with a manual in pdf format. The manual could use some rewriting, but most of the information to get started is there. I happened to have read the manual straight through before getting started. In addition, I found the threaded posts at Daz3D about the program equally helpful.

FaceShop pro comes in a lower priced Basic version, but this version is limited and works with only two specific characters — Michael 3 and Vicky 3. It also only works with Daz Studio. The Pro version works with all character models, and works with Poser as described above, and works with Daz Studio. The results do not seem to be interchangeable though, so faces created in Daz Studio may not work in Poser.

I browsed the book “Secrets of Poser Experts” today and one secret stands out in the majority of chapters — these experts sketch. They put pencil to paper before they even boot up their machines. Its an invaluable skill, knowing how to draw. For other art genres sketching out the ideas come first.  Using poser as a composite sketch program during an interview, it is best to get as much practice in hand sketching as possible first, because you won’t be able to do this during the interview.

Composite sketches are rarely done by programs like Poser. My thoughts about this — the process of drawing directly during the initial interview adds a dilemma to the idea of using Poser as a primary tool, but it is a dilemma in which we can and should find a workaround for, and not just dismiss as Poser not being the right tool for the job.   We should find ways to make it the right tool.

Drawing by hand is something that should be practiced whenever and as often as possible — in my case, whenever I can’t find an outlet to plug up my laptop.  Hand drawing solidifies the intimacy an artist needs with a subject, the human face. It is important to become intimate with how the face is put together as a whole, as well as features that make one face distinct from another.  When you start up Poser and load a character into the document view, you probably should immediately choose the face camera to zero in on the character’s head.  At the same time you need to know your characters’ faces as well as you know your own.  For forensic art purposes, these characters should be considered featureless, blank shapes waiting for you to mold into something, based on the information the victim is giving about what he or she saw.  It’s a hard task, and knowing your characters is the first part of getting this down right.  You need to recognize very early during the interview process, which character you are going to use for the job, and you need to know this right away, and without interrupting the thoughts of the witness.

A lot of practice is involved here, and drawing should be included in the practice you do for yourself.

Finding subjects to practice your drawing is not difficult.  Sit down with pencil, paper, and practically any magazine, your family photo album, magazines and newspapers.  Online references can be found also, like Flickr, or even MySpace — wherever you can find pictures of people.  Choose a random face, and start drawing.

Online References:

Basic Anatomy for the Artists (WetCanvas.com)

Tools that Compliment the G2 Characters

Poser 7 introduced two new characters, Simon and Sydney, that are similar to the G2 line of characters: Miki, James, Koji, and Kelvin. Recently added to the G2 line is a new Jessie figure. These characters have very realistic features out of the box, but don’t include a full set of morphable features to create unique looks. For this, one also can purchase inexpensive 3rd party morph sets such as those designed by RDNA and others. The other option is to make your own morphs. Poser 7’s new morphing editor has tools built in to reshape figures, but this may not be as easy as it looks, and I do recommend the use of a graphics tablet and stylus for getting more accuracy than a mouse can give. The face room introduced in Poser 5 is still available in version 7 as well, and gives the ability to push and pull along a model’s surface. Each G2 figure also comes with an additional face model especially designed for use in the face room. For more accuracy and control one can import the .obj into a modeling program such as Hexagon2 or Carrara.

But, like myself, what if you have a collection of stuff over the years that you want to extend for use with these characters, what’s in your toolbox that will currently work with these new figures, or what new tools are out there that extend what you already have?

Here’s some recommendations for extending these new figures that I’ve tried so far:

Hair conversion systems for Jessi G2 and Sydney - each sold separately. Designed by Netherworks, they are currently available at ContentParadise and the Netherworks site for about $8.00. These python scripts convert any hair model previously designed to fit one character, ie; Aiko and Vickie versions 1 through 3, and makes them compatible with other characters, as well as bringing in the morphs that accompany them.  The hair conversion scripts come with  easy to read instructions for converting conforming hair (cr2) and prop hair (hr2 and obj). I’m waiting for a similar pack to come out for the male models.

PhilC.net has a plenty of tools/python scripts available such as Wardrobe Wizard and the shoe converter. These tools can help you get more out of existing clothing and prop items you already own. He has upgraded most of these for use with Sydney. Jessie G2 shares the same basic body geometry as Sydney, so clothes that fit Sydney should also fit Jessie G2.

I listed Miki under the G2 category, but now that Miki 2 has been released, I wonder if we shouldn’t call her G2.5. She’s a lot different from the first version, and different from Sydney and Jessie2.  I think the major differences are with the character’s heads, mostly.

There are many tools out there that compliment and enhance one’s character/model work in Poser. Such a tool is Hexagon 2, a 3D modeling program. Learning it on my own has been a daunting task, but I feel it is one that is absolutely necessary if you need to fine tune features. With Hexagon 2, you have more control over your content than you ever imagined, including the ability to make entirely new content for using in Poser — any version of Poser.

My study of Hexagon was made more difficult because finding good tutorials at the basic level was difficult. There are some tutorials around - but many assume some degree of familiarity with using Hexagon. I downloaded an interesting one the other day that was a 4 hour video on making a mountain bike, but have only been able to watch a few minutes of it at a time. All good, burnt it to a cd, and am saving it for later. Many Hexagon tutorials of this kind are at Polyloop.net, a site/forum run by the original makers of Hexagon to continue support of the program — now owned by Daz. But I began to get frustrated a bit at many of these because although they are great for learning to model in Hexagon, they tended to be kind of long, and assumed a basic knowledge set.

So that meant looking for other sources. Basically what I needed was a way to manipulate the face of a character with more precision than even Poser 7’s new morphing tool would allow. The basics of what I needed to learn was how to bend, curl, subdivide, extrude, twist, bevel, bloat, and smooth an existing head. I think I’m getting close. One of the tutorials I found most helpful in this regard was at PoserPros.

Another tool useful to Poser, and almost essential is UVMapper. There’s a free version available, but I here the professional version is a must-have for serious content making. I haven’t gotten it yet, but plan to. UVMapper helps in the creation of texture mapping 3d models. Some programs - like Hexagon - have mappers built into the program, some work better with Poser content than others. I think UVMapper is the tool of choice for most Poser users.

For world/environment building, there are Bryce (Daz Studio) and Vue 6 (e-on software). I just downloaded and installed the new free Personal Learning Edition of Vue 6, but have not had a chance to really give it a good run. But I can tell you, if you’re familiar with the easy to use Bryce software, you’ll recognize right away the familiar interface in Vue 6.

Hold tight while I explore some new layout ideas for the site.  As you can see, I’ve switched from a community site using Drupal, to a pseudo-community site using Wordpress.  I opted for this solution because I didn’t want to spend as much time as I did getting the site to run smooth.  Incorporated into this version of the site is a simpler forum for visitors to interact in the spirit of community.  Taken away are the miniblogs and the separate user galleries, which were not being used anyway.

After I finish designing and tweaking the layout,  I will be able to return to the subject at hand -Forensic art and Poser/CG exploration.