Skip to content

← ArchivePaper2022

MoRF: Morphable Radiance Fields for Multiview Neural Head Modeling

Daoye Wang, Prashanth Chandran, Gaspard Zoss, Derek Bradley, Paulo Gotardo

SIGGRAPHDisney Research70 citesFacial

Extends NeRF into a generative morphable model producing multiview-consistent photorealistic head images with controllable identity parameters.

Abstract

Recent research work has developed powerful generative models (e.g., StyleGAN2) that can synthesize complete human head images with impressive photorealism, enabling applications such as photorealistically editing real photographs. While these models can be trained on large collections of unposed images, their lack of explicit 3D knowledge makes it difficult to achieve even basic control over 3D viewpoint without unintentionally altering identity. On the other hand, recent Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) methods have already achieved multiview-consistent, photorealistic renderings but they are so far limited to a single facial identity. In this paper, we propose a new Morphable Radiance Field (MoRF) method that extends a NeRF into a generative neural model that can realistically synthesize multiview-consistent images of complete human heads, with variable and controllable identity. MoRF allows for morphing between particular identities, synthesizing arbitrary new identities, or quickly generating a NeRF from few images of a new subject, all while providing realistic and consistent rendering under novel viewpoints. We train MoRF in a supervised fashion by leveraging a high-quality database of multiview portrait images of several people, captured in studio with polarization-based separation of diffuse and specular reflection.

How to read this

Category
Method: a generative morphable neural radiance field for heads
Contributions
  • MoRF, extending a NeRF into a generative neural model synthesizing multiview-consistent photorealistic complete-head images
  • Variable, controllable identity: morphing between identities, synthesizing new ones, or quickly fitting a NeRF from few images
  • Supervised training leveraging a high-quality dataset
Context
Positioned between StyleGAN2-style head generators (lacking explicit 3D control) and single-identity NeRFs, drawing on animatable face modeling (related to Feng et al.'s DECA, 2021).Builds on: Learning an Animatable Detailed 3D Face Model from In-The-Wild Images
Correctness
Addresses the known failure where 2D generators alter identity when changing viewpoint; the key dependency is the high-quality supervised dataset, so readers should keep in mind that identity control and novel-view consistency are tied to that training data and to the morphable parameterization.
Clarity
Moderately dense (NeRF plus generative morphable model); a first pass conveys the goal and capability, a second pass for the conditioning and training setup.
How to read it
First pass on what MoRF enables (3D-consistent identity control) versus prior GAN/NeRF tradeoffs; second pass on the morphable parameterization and supervised training if you build head avatars.

Builds on

Built upon by

Nothing yet.

Related work

Keywords

This page summarises the entry and links to its original source. The archive never hosts or redistributes the publication itself.Show it in the full archive list →