Facial Skin Layered Mapping

Part 2.2 – Flattening: Manual Flatten Techniques

Before You Begin

Open the new version you saved in part 2.

Note: These instructions are for a Windows PC.

Introduction

Manual flattening involves:

• Deciding on a plane or line to flatten to (in our case, plane where the already flatten part of the face is now)
• Selecting the mesh that is not on this plane
• Going into rotate mode
• Moving the pivot point to the last part of the mesh (or the last CP) which on the plane we are flattening to
• Rotating the mesh until the next part or CP is on the plane
• Unselecting the part or CP we’ve just aligned to the plane
• Moving the pivot point to this part or CP
• Rotating until the next part or CP is aligned
• And so on until we are done

1. In wire frame mode switch to the top view.
2. You should see the part of the face we flattened in the last step forming the flat plane we will flatten the remainder of the mesh to. This part should be locked. You should see un-flattened mesh on either side. Select on side.
3. The flattened part has stretched the mesh out. The first task is to move the un-flattened mesh up and out until it is roughly aligned with the flattened part we’ll use the front tip of the ear as a guide -- Figure 2.2.1

Figure 2.2.1

4. Switching to the modeling window, get an rough idea of how much space is between the CP at the tip of the ear and CP in the flattened mesh then, switch back to the action window and move the tip of the ear outward to roughly this distance – Figure 2.2.2

Figure 2.2.2

5. Do this to both sides of the mesh. Moving forward we will try to duplicate our adjustments to both sides of the un-flattened mesh.
6. After we’ve aligned both sides, select one side and go to rotate mode. Move the pivot point to the front edge of the ear – Figure 2.2.3

Figure 2.2.3

7. Now rotate the mesh until the ear is roughly aligned with the plane of the flattened mesh. Do this to both sides – Figure 2.2.4

Figure 2.2.4

8. Now we need to add the ears to the locked mesh. Unlock the mesh and in the PWS select the TmpFrontSectionOne group and the ears group, invert the selection and click on ‘Lock’.
9. Select the mesh on one side, chose a horizontal spline that is roughly in the center of the mesh and is easy to see. We will use this as a guide for flattening the reminder of each side. The first CP on this spline that is not aligned with the flattened plane is the CP we will next rotate into place – Figure 2.2.5 #1. As best as you can, find the point that this spline becomes aligned with the flattened plane – this is normally the point were it connects to the flattened mesh. Go into rotate mode and move the pivot point to this connection point – Figure 2.2.5 #2.

Figure 2.2.5

10. Now rotate this CP onto the flattened plane as shown in Figure 2.2.6.

Figure 2.2.6

11. Now you need to move the pivot point to the CP that you’ve just aligned – Figure 2.2.7 #1.
12. Un-select the CPs on the vertical spline you previously had the pivot point on (you don’t want to rotate these off the flattened plane) – Figure 2.2.7 #2
13. Now rotate the next CP into place – Figure 2.2.7 #3

Figure 2.2.7

14. Continue in this manner until you reach the end of the mesh on one side. You will have aligned the spline you chose as a guide but of course the rest of the mesh is not yet flattened yet and this is okay. Repeat the process on the other side. When this is done go to the front view and save. The mesh should wind up looking something like Figure 2.2.8

Figure 2.2.8

14. Now go to the side view. We will see the mesh that has yet to be aligned. Somewhere near the middle the mesh should line up with the flattened plane. Select the CPs above this area (Figure 2.2.9) and repeat the flattening process we just used from the top view: go into rotate mode; move the pivot point to the area aligned with the flattened plane (Figure 2.2.10); rotate the next CPs on the flattened plane; unselect the CPs you just rotated; move the pivot point to these CPs; rotate and repeat until done.

Figure 2.2.9

Figure 2.2.10

15. Repeat the process with the CP on the lower half. You should wind up with something like Figure 2.2.11

Figure 2.2.11

16. The CPs are now roughly in position so we will go ahead and completely flatten the mesh. Still in the side view, unlock all the mesh, select the entire mesh, go into scale mode and move the sides together until the mesh is flat – Figure 2.2.12

Figure 2.2.12

17. Your mesh should now be flat from the side and top views and from the front view look something like Figure 2.2.13.

Figure 2.2.13

18. Save to a new version and update the revision notes.

Next -- Part 2.3 – Flattening: Stretch testing and final adjustments