VFX House Digital Domain launched Markerless MoCap Facial Tracking System

Basse asserts that by removing the requirement for tracking markers, Masquerade3 can streamline both time and expenses

Digital Domain, the visual effects studio, has unveiled an updated version of its Masquerade facial motion capture system, which eliminates the necessity for actors to wear tracking markers on their faces during filming. According to CTO Hanno Basse, the company is sharing this development with its clientele and anticipates utilizing the technology on multiple projects throughout the year.

Previously, earlier iterations of Masquerade facilitated performances such as Josh Brolin's portrayal of Thanos in "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame," as well as Tatiana Maslany's depiction of the titular character in "She Hulk." Basse asserts that by removing the requirement for tracking markers, Masquerade3 can streamline both time and expenses while enhancing precision in performances. He explained that it removes the need to get the dots on people’s faces every day. So it saves time and money on set. Furthermore, he notes that the previous reliance on tracking markers often necessitated extensive post-processing efforts to clean up tracking data inconsistencies, a step now mitigated through the utilization of machine learning directly from the actor's performance. Recent film and TV credits from Digital Domain encompass projects such as "Blue Beetle," "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," "Dark Matter," "Ahsoka," and "The Last of Us."