3D Animation Takes Forensics One Step Further
Computer Animation for Crime Research
If you’ve seen “CSI” or any other police investigation show, you’ve heard of forensics. You’ve probably also seen a mock software program on these shows that recreates the human face based on a murder victim’s skull. Maybe you’ve even seen a real program, or work in computer animation and use similar software on a daily basis.
Typically, forensic artists will take a skull or piece of a skull found by police and recreate the human face using 3D animation software. Another artist will then create the face from clay, giving police a lifelike replica of the victim.
3D Software Recreates Facial Expressions
Now, these artists are using 3D software to recreate not only the face, but the facial expressions of the victim as well. The Max Planck Institute in Saarbr�cken, Germany, has developed the software that will enable this new computer animation to advance forensic investigation technology.
The software is even able to recreate the ethnicity and sex of the victim, based on thicknesses and depths in the skull. The next steps are to recreate hair color and skin texture.
Generally thought of as something used in film, TV, design, architecture, and manufacturing, 3D animation is becoming a crucial part of criminal justice. Earning your degree in computer animation will allow you the luxury of choosing which one of these fields interests you the most - this kind of flexibility is definitely not the norm.
