We were the main VFX vendor for a reasonably budgeted VFX film. One of the major sequences we did was the creation of a digital creature, a deformed (er, secret thing) which was based on marquettes made by a well known (er, secret) prosthetics workshop. Although initially, we were only contracted to do clean-up on a prosthetic suit we were asked to do a 3D version after the producers viewed some of our 3D “skin” tests.
These tests involved creating a digital version of the creature, giving him a fully “working” muscle system, and cladding him in a realistic digital skin. While the muscles and the skeleton of the creature had their own challenges, it was the creation of believable skin which proved the biggest challenge. We used a rendering/lighting technique called sub-surface scattering, which reflects light much like human skin (or any translucent thing). We also embedded a circulatory system into the skin (which provided a hint of veins, and changed the creature’s pallor as he became… er… aroused).
Feathering acceptably organic creatures, people, or whatever in amongst the real is an interesting challenge. The big studios have been doing it for a little while, with varying degrees of success, but suddenly the smaller “boutiques” can do it too. I guess the technology to user curve is shortening every day.
The applications are also very interesting.
Taken to a more zoological context, the same system can be used to create believable animal skin, wrinkling, musculature, and skeletons. The advantage of course, in being digital, is that colour, temper, action and speed can all be controlled in a very direct way.
Additionally, using the artificial intelligence (AI) engine in software such as Massive Prime (better known for making crowds of humans hack each other to bits), one is able to randomise/customise the behaviour of a many creatures. In this situation, it will be the subtle addition of chaos which makes it more believable. Using the AI engine from something like Massive will give that edge.
It seems the more chaotic or unpredictable the actions, the more invisible the work becomes…