Photogrammetry and facial scanning help create a character’s likeness; facial performance capture makes that character move. They are connected parts of a production pipeline, not a one-click process: a scan provides shape and visual reference, while artists and tools prepare the model, materials, rig, and animation for a game.
How do you scan a face for a game character?
Photogrammetry reconstructs a subject’s surface from photographs. The resulting scan can serve as a likeness reference or as input to a character-creation workflow. Epic Games describes using a scan or sculpt with Mesh to MetaHuman, for example, but a scan alone is not a finished, game-ready character.
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The scan addresses the character’s shape and appearance. The character still needs suitable topology, materials, a rig, and integration into the target project. The exact cleanup and optimization steps depend on the tools and game requirements; there is no single workflow established for every scanner or engine.
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- Capture the likeness. Photograph or scan the subject to create a shape and appearance reference. Epic’s Blue Dot case study describes a scan used with Mesh to MetaHuman.
- Build or fit the character. Use the scan or sculpt in the chosen character workflow, then prepare the model, materials, rig, and game assets. The specific preparation varies by tool and target.
- Record facial performance. Capture an actor’s expressions using a supported live or offline method. This produces movement data for a digital character; it does not create the character’s likeness.
- Process and apply the animation. In Epic’s documented mono-video workflow, footage is imported with Capture Manager, processed in the MetaHuman Performance Editor, exported as an animation sequence, and applied to a MetaHuman in a level sequence.
- Review the result. Check the face, eyes, mouth, and expressions under the intended camera and lighting, then refine where needed. Epic’s Blue Dot production account describes review and additional refinement in Unreal Engine, but that example does not establish how much cleanup every solve will require.
What is the difference between face scanning and facial motion capture?
Face scanning records what a face looks like: its surface, proportions, and likeness. Facial performance capture records how a face moves while an actor speaks or emotes. A character can be built from a scan and animated from separate performance footage.
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- Photogrammetric Metrology: The cost-effective, all-in-one 3D scanner with integrated photogrammetric metrology. The Photogrammetric Kit enables the high-resolution capture of small details on large objects while ensuring a photogrammetric length accuracy of 0.02 mm + 0.05 mm x L(m). The kit includes 4 high-precision carbon fiber scale bars and two sets of 208 (sticky and magnetic) coded targets for complex measurements
- High-Accuracy Versatile Scanning: The new high-precision calibration board improves single-point cloud accuracy by 20%, reaching 0.04 mm. The quad depth camera system flexibly handles diverse scanning needs across various sizes and complexities. From tiny screws using Near mode to capture its fine details to large machinery, with Far mode quickly capturing large surfaces
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- Powerful Hardware Configuration: Efficiently capture and process scans with the MIRACO Plus's 8-core 2.4GHz processor, 32GB RAM (capable of capturing up to 10,000 frames), and a 256GB hard drive. Quickly transfer your projects to MacOS and Windows systems over Wi-Fi 6 or USB Type-C. Export scans in PLY, OBJ, STL, ASC, 3MF, GLTF, and FBX formats for compatibility with other software. Get the perfect view from any angle with the 6-inch 2K AMOLED 180° flip screen
- Dual Scanning Modes: Capture different types of objects with ease using the single-shot capture mode for highly accurate point cloud capture or use the fast up to 20 fps continuous mode to rapidly 3D scan objects
Epic describes MetaHuman Animator as generating animation from video, audio, and depth data, either in real time or offline. The available input and processing method depend on the selected capture path. The scan and the performance solve therefore answer different production questions: “What does this character look like?” and “How does this character act?”
Which facial capture method should you choose?
Choose based on the output you need, whether you want live feedback or offline processing, the detail and depth available, device compatibility, storage, and how much refinement the project can accommodate. A more specialized camera setup is not automatically the best choice for every production.
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- 1cm High-Precision & 70m Long-Range Scanning: Engineered for demanding terrain and architectural surveying. Equipped with dual 1-inch large-area CMOS sensors delivering 16MP resolution per lens (2.4μm pixel size). It reliably captures spatial data from 0.1 to 40 meters (@ 10% reflectivity) and up to 70 meters (@ 80% reflectivity) for highly accurate 3D mapping.
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- Open Algorithm & 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS): Designed for advanced, industry-specific pipelines. The system provides raw data accessibility to support custom SLAM algorithm integration, and optimized 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) workflows using precise image pose metadata.
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| Capture path | What it provides | Useful when | Tradeoffs and checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mono video or webcam | Real-time tracking or offline animation from recorded footage | You want an accessible setup, quick iteration, or a single-camera workflow | Stable framing, visible facial detail, and controlled lighting matter. Epic documents mono-camera and webcam options. |
| iPhone TrueDepth | Offline video accompanied by depth data in a supported capture mode | You want a compact option for offline facial capture | Epic lists iPhone 12 or newer for offline iPhone capture. Confirm the app and model support the exact workflow. |
| Stereo head-mounted camera pair | Video and depth data for offline facial animation | Your production prioritizes detailed performance capture | Epic says vertically aligned pairs are the only configuration its tools have well tested, and recommends at least 60 fps. Hardware varies and may be bespoke; Epic does not name a specific model. Higher resolution and frame rates increase storage needs. |
| Mono-video markerless body/face plugin | A local video-to-animation workflow for face, body, or both | You want to test single-camera markerless capture | In Unreal Engine 5.8, the plugin is experimental rather than production-ready and may change or be removed. Body or combined face-and-body capture is Windows-only. |
These options are documented for particular MetaHuman and Unreal Engine workflows, not as a universal ranking of facial capture technology. The stereo guidance and device requirements are described in Epic’s capture device requirements; the mono-video plugin details are in Epic’s mono-video capture documentation.
What lighting and camera setup do you need?
For Epic’s mono-video workflow, clear, steady footage is more useful than elaborate equipment. Its capture guidelines recommend a stable camera, even diffused lighting, and a face unobstructed by hair or other objects. Avoid harsh directional shadows, blur, and camera shake. Frame tightly enough to show lip seal and the upper eyelids.
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Epic’s mono-video recommendations
- Record in HD or 4K at 60 fps.
- Use H.264 at CRF 18 or better; Epic specifies approximately 25 Mbps for HD.
- Keep the face at least 1/30th of the image width and height. Epic warns that a face smaller than 40×80 pixels is likely to fail detection.
- Use a tripod or phone mount if needed to keep the camera stable, and diffuse lighting to reduce harsh shadows.
These are recommendations for Epic’s documented workflow, not guaranteed thresholds for every scanner, capture app, or game engine. For stereo capture, Epic recommends the highest practical resolution and at least 60 fps; account for the additional storage that higher resolutions and frame rates require.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you use an iPhone for facial motion capture?
Yes, for a supported offline TrueDepth workflow. Epic lists iPhone 12 or newer for offline iPhone capture. The device requirements page gives an estimate of about 170 MB per minute for its listed TrueDepth defaults: front-facing camera, 1280×720 resolution, 60 fps, medium quality, and H.264. That estimate applies to those settings, not to every phone, app, or capture mode. Check compatibility for the exact workflow before recording.
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An iPhone is one documented option, not a substitute for every stereo setup. The right choice depends on the intended output, required depth and detail, and the production’s storage and processing constraints.
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Scanning can provide a detailed likeness input, and performance capture can translate an actor’s expressions into animation. Neither removes the need to evaluate the digital character as an asset: the model must be prepared for its use, and animation should be reviewed in the project’s intended lighting and camera context.
Eyes are especially consequential to perceived realism. In Epic’s Blue Dot case study, 3Lateral Art Director Aleksandar Popov said, “One of the most important aspects is obviously eyes,” describing the artistic attention given to their design. That is a production perspective in an Epic case study, not an independent test or a claim that one capture method guarantees realistic eyes.
Likewise, a capture setup’s technical specifications do not establish a general success rate. The available Epic documentation gives workflow recommendations and device requirements, but not a dated independent comparison of facial photogrammetry systems or a universal success statistic.
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