Initial commit: Complete project foundation with all documentation, scripts, and project structure

2025-11-20 15:13:53 -08:00
commit 0804197325
96 changed files with 16912 additions and 0 deletions
--- a/docs/FACIAL_CAPTURE.md
+++ b/docs/FACIAL_CAPTURE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+# Facial Capture - MetaHuman Animator
+
+## Overview
+
+This document describes the facial capture workflow using MetaHuman Animator for the Dubai Metaverse project.
+
+## MetaHuman Animator
+
+### Overview
+
+MetaHuman Animator is a tool for capturing facial animation from video or live performance and applying it to MetaHumans in Unreal Engine.
+
+### Requirements
+
+- **MetaHuman Animator Plugin**: Enable in Unreal Engine
+- **Camera**: High-quality camera (webcam, DSLR, or phone)
+- **Lighting**: Good lighting conditions
+- **Calibration**: Facial calibration process
+
+---
+
+## Setup
+
+### Plugin Installation
+
+1. **Enable Plugin**:
+   - Edit > Plugins
+   - Search for "MetaHuman Animator"
+   - Enable plugin
+   - Restart editor
+
+2. **Verify Installation**:
+   - Check plugin is active
+   - Verify MetaHuman Animator tools are available
+
+### Camera Setup
+
+1. **Camera Selection**:
+   - **Webcam**: Basic setup
+   - **DSLR**: Higher quality
+   - **Phone**: Convenient option
+
+2. **Lighting**:
+   - **Even Lighting**: Avoid harsh shadows
+   - **Front Lighting**: Light from front
+   - **Avoid Backlighting**: Avoid strong backlighting
+
+3. **Positioning**:
+   - **Distance**: 2-3 feet from camera
+   - **Angle**: Face camera directly
+   - **Stability**: Keep head still
+
+---
+
+## Calibration
+
+### Calibration Process
+
+1. **Start Calibration**:
+   - Open MetaHuman Animator
+   - Start calibration process
+   - Follow on-screen instructions
+
+2. **Calibration Steps**:
+   - **Neutral Expression**: Maintain neutral expression
+   - **Head Movement**: Follow head movement instructions
+   - **Facial Expressions**: Perform requested expressions
+   - **Completion**: Complete calibration
+
+3. **Calibration Validation**:
+   - Review calibration quality
+   - Re-calibrate if needed
+   - Save calibration
+
+---
+
+## Recording
+
+### Live Performance
+
+1. **Start Recording**:
+   - Begin live performance
+   - Speak dialogue
+   - Perform expressions
+
+2. **Performance Tips**:
+   - **Clear Speech**: Speak clearly
+   - **Natural Expressions**: Use natural facial expressions
+   - **Head Movement**: Natural head movement
+   - **Eye Contact**: Look at camera
+
+3. **Stop Recording**:
+   - Stop recording when complete
+   - Review performance
+   - Process if satisfied
+
+### Video Recording
+
+1. **Record Video**:
+   - Record video of performance
+   - Ensure good quality
+   - Follow recording guidelines
+
+2. **Import Video**:
+   - Import video to MetaHuman Animator
+   - Process video
+   - Extract facial animation
+
+---
+
+## Processing
+
+### Animation Processing
+
+1. **Process Performance**:
+   - MetaHuman Animator processes performance
+   - Extracts facial animation
+   - Generates animation data
+
+2. **Review Animation**:
+   - Review processed animation
+   - Check quality
+   - Refine if needed
+
+3. **Export Animation**:
+   - Export animation to Unreal Engine
+   - Apply to MetaHuman
+   - Test in level
+
+---
+
+## Application
+
+### Apply to MetaHuman
+
+1. **Select MetaHuman**:
+   - Select MetaHuman in level
+   - Open MetaHuman Animator
+
+2. **Apply Animation**:
+   - Apply captured animation
+   - Preview animation
+   - Adjust if needed
+
+3. **Integration**:
+   - Integrate with dialogue system
+   - Sync with audio
+   - Test in context
+
+---
+
+## Best Practices
+
+### Recording
+
+1. **Quality**: Ensure good recording quality
+2. **Lighting**: Use good lighting
+3. **Stability**: Keep head stable
+4. **Natural**: Use natural expressions
+
+### Processing
+
+1. **Calibration**: Ensure good calibration
+2. **Review**: Review processed animation
+3. **Refinement**: Refine if needed
+4. **Testing**: Test in context
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Common Issues
+
+**Issue**: Calibration fails
+- **Solution**: Check lighting conditions
+- **Solution**: Ensure face is clearly visible
+- **Solution**: Follow calibration instructions carefully
+
+**Issue**: Animation quality poor
+- **Solution**: Improve recording quality
+- **Solution**: Re-calibrate
+- **Solution**: Check lighting
+
+**Issue**: Animation not applying
+- **Solution**: Check MetaHuman Animator plugin
+- **Solution**: Verify animation export
+- **Solution**: Check MetaHuman setup
+
+---
+
+## Use Cases
+
+### NPC Dialogue
+
+- **Purpose**: Animate NPCs during dialogue
+- **Implementation**: Capture dialogue performance
+- **Application**: Apply to MetaHuman NPCs
+
+### Cinematic Sequences
+
+- **Purpose**: Animate characters in cinematics
+- **Implementation**: Capture performance for cinematics
+- **Application**: Apply to cinematic MetaHumans
+
+---
+
+## Documentation
+
+### Performance Documentation
+
+Document each performance:
+- **Purpose**: What the performance is for
+- **MetaHuman**: Which MetaHuman it's applied to
+- **Context**: Where it's used
+- **Quality**: Animation quality notes
+
+---
+
+**Version**: 1.0
+**Last Updated**: [Current Date]
+
+**Note**: Facial capture is optional. NPCs can function without facial capture using standard animation.
+