Retargeter in action. Version 4.0 of the facial mocap retargeting tool will debut at GDC next month.

Faceware has announced Retargeter 4.0, an update to its 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage and MotionBuilder plug-in for retargeting facial mocap data onto a 3D animated character.

The software is based on technology developed by Faceware’s parent company, Image Metrics, and used on projects including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Red Dead Redemption and Crysis 3.

Faster, higher-quality initial solves
According to the developer’s newsletter: “In the two years since Retargeter was released, the most common challenge was consistency in the initial solve. The new workflow drastically reduces the amount of effort in creating this initial solve and significantly increases the quality of the solve.”

“Improved character setup allows for automatic consistency and an upgrade to our shared pose library functionality will aid in the management of animation teams.”

Retargeter 4.0 will “debut” at GDC 2013 next month – although we’re not sure whether that means that the software will be released at the show, or just receive its first public outing.

Read more about Retargeter on Faceware’s website

Tags: 3ds max, Faceware, Image Metrics, Maya, mocap, motion capture, performance capture, Retargeter, Retargeter 4.0, retargeting, softimage