Today we compare three of the most popular facial motion capture helmets on the market to discover their pros, cons, and what type of production they are best suited for.

Facial motion capture can provide a fast and effective workflow to bring life to the faces of your 3D characters, by capturing realistic facial expressions for acting as well as dialog.

Mocap helmets can be used alongside various forms of body capture technologies, such as optical tracking (Vicon, Optitrack, Qualisys and others), and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) based tracking (Xsens - Movella Link and Awinda systems, Rokoko Smartsuit Pro, Noitom Perception Neuron, and others).

When used in conjunction with optical systems, simultaneous facial and body capture can occur without loss of facial data due to occlusion. When used with inertial-based systems, full character motion (body and face) can occur over a much larger area than is usually offered by most optical systems.

Facial mocap system technology is also useful for live performance or rapid to air performance, such as Fox TV’s Alter Ego, which was performed in front of a live studio audience.

Face mocap helmets are also well-suited to use by VTubers -- personalities that regularly stream live -- appearing as avatars on Youtube or Twitch, such as Fofamit or Ayumi.

For live streaming, a performer’s body and even hands can be simultaneously captured by other technologies, such as a one-person optical system or HTC Vive trackers, often accompanied by some sort of hand motion capture glove, such as those by Manus or StretchSense.

#1) DIY - An easy homemade solution

You can easily make a DIY facial mocap system from a True Depth-enabled iPhone (models X and newer), along with a bike helmet and parts that are easily found in a hardware store.

A search for "DIY Mocap Helmet" or "Cheap Mocap Helmet" will provide myriad ‘recipes’ of how to go about concocting such a contraption.

Although these approaches are simple and inexpensive, their users never describe them as elegant, comfortable, or stable. Even if one tightens the helmet’s chin strap as much as possible, the helmet and phone will still bounce around.

The quality of the capture will suffer greatly, as a result, as will the chin of the person wearing the helmet.

The performer’s head will also get hot, when wearing a tightly-fastened bike helmet indoors. (Bike helmets provide excellent protection and adequate ventilation, when used while riding a bike, outdoors).

Though bike helmets are great for providing protection when pedaling, they were never made to hold a phone while it captures one’s facial expressions.

Cost: Cheap

Plusses:

• Cheap
• Inherently modifiable
• Great way to recycled your old bike helmet

Minuses:

• Unstable
• Uncomfortable
  • Sore chin
  • Sore neck
  • Hot head
• Weight of the phone is poorly counterbalanced.
• Inhibits performer’s freedom of motion
• Not hygienic if different users share helmet

 #2) Faceware Indie Headcam System

Image Metrics, founded in 2000, offered facial motion capture as a service, before spinning off Faceware to focus on sales of hardware and software for facial motion capture.

Since their software was based on the software that had been developed by Image Metrics, they have been able to come up with a workable and reliable system that is popular in the character animation industry.

Faceware's software provides flexibility for different tracking and retargeting workflows and can be used with or without landmarks that are applied with a grease pencil.

Their Indie Headcam system does not actually integrate with an iPhone, (therefore, no depth sensing), but it includes a GoPro camera.

Cost: $5,749

Includes: first year licenses of Analyzer 3 Studio, Retargeter 5 Studio, and Faceware Studio.

Plusses:

• For individuals or studios that are already experienced with use of their software, it offers a scalable pipeline solution
• Interchangeable helmet padding

Minuses:

• Cost
• Uses two chin straps
• Talent cannot drink water or coffee while wearing helmet
• Weight of helmet with camera is 26 oz.
• Weight of camera is not counterbalanced
• Camera isn’t global (progressive): it uses a rolling shutter which can cause smearing or ‘jello’ artifacts in the captured footage.
• Annual software costs, after the first year
• Software learning curve for those that are new to using it.
• Helmet is not ‘open crown’
• Helmet padding needs to be cleaned via washing machine.
• Helmet needs to be removed for certain adjustments, lest tools end up being used near performer’s face.

#3) FaceCam iPhone HMC

The FaceCam mocap helmet was designed and developed by Academy Award winner Standard Deviation.

Its ‘DNA’ is derived from their high-end helmets used in blockbuster movies such as The Hobbit, Planet of the Apes, Avatar, Alita Battle Angel.

Standard Deviation applied everything they learned over more than two decades of manufacturing custom motion capture hardware for the most demanding movie, AAA games, and live performance applications.

In terms of facial motion capture helmet design, Standard Deviation has always adhered to the following principles:

• No tools should ever be used near the face
• Helmets need to be hygienic: proprietary memory foam padding must be easily swappable, hand washable
• Absolute stability is essential: ‘It don’t mean a thing if your camera has got a swing.’
  • Helmet must be perfectly stable, even under acrobatic conditions.
  • The helmet must be easily and extensively adjustable, moldable, and adaptable to all possible adult head sizes, as well as most heads of younger people, ages ten and up.
  • Swappable foam pads must be configurable for various hair styles.
• Comfort is king:
  • Open-crown design helps your talent keep cool
  • Advanced metal alloys are used to assure that helmet is as light in weight as possible
  • Weight of camera needs an option to be counterbalanced.
• Durable and completely reliable:
  • Helmet and all component parts must be robust enough to stand up to repeated wear and tear, even during high-paced day and week-long capture sessions, during the tightest deadlines.

FaceCam iPhone HMC supports any of the True Depth-enabled iPhones (models X and newer).

Android phones can also be attached, for capturing video to be tracked by image-based tracking software such as Faceware Analyzer and Reallusion iClone’s AccuFACE plugin for Motion Live.

Some of our users attach their aftermarket iPhone ring lights to their phones or or add LED light strips to the FaceCam boom arm.

Cost: $1275. ($75 discount for new customers)

Plusses:

• Extensively adjustable and adaptable
• Super light weight
• Provides ultimate stability
• Extremely durable and reliable: far more so than 3D-printed helmets
• Unique and powerful accessories available, such as our counterweight, spare foam, and tracker mount
• Integrates perfectly with iPhones that run Epic Software’s Metahuman Animator, Live Link Face, Reallusion’s Live Link Face and AccuFACE, (powered by NVIDIA’s RTX GPU)
• No tools needed! Hand adjustable (aside from dentists or a hair dresser, no one should ever use tools near a face).
• Talent can drink water or coffee without having to remove their helmet.
• Enormously comfortable
• No chin straps. Ever!
• Helmet can be quickly and tightly removed by performer with just a single adjustment.
• Highly affordable for a professional HMC (Head Mounted Camera)
• Free second day shipping within the United States. Free UPS Standard shipping to Canada
• Ships quickly: reaches most international destinations in about a week
• One-year parts and labor warranty with available 2-year extended warranty
• Super-easy to get started. New customers will know everything they need to know about how to use the FaceCam after watching 6 short videos.
• Accessories ordered at the same time as a FaceCam ship free, with FaceCam.
• Fast and attentive support.

Minuses:

• Costs more than a bicycle helmet
• Does not include software
• Custom camera attachment requires a DIY approach

In conclusion, selecting the right facial motion capture helmet depends on your production needs, budget, and desired performance outcomes.

Whether you're a hobbyist exploring DIY solutions, an independent studio leveraging Faceware's established tools, or a professional seeking the cutting-edge technology and comfort of the FaceCam iPhone HMC, there are options tailored to every level of expertise.

By understanding the unique advantages and trade-offs of each system, you can make an informed choice that elevates your creative projects and ensures optimal results for your facial motion capture endeavors.