MB-Lab: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:36, 28 October 2019

Revision as of 07:56, 28 October 2019

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'''MB-Lab''' (previously '''ManuelbastioniLAB''') is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-in]] for [[Blender (software)|Blender]] for the parametric [[3D modeling]] of [[Photorealism|photorealistic]] humanoid characters.<ref name="DE1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalproduction.com/2019/07/24/open-source-character-creation-mit-mb-lab/|title=Open Source Character Creation mit MB-LAB|date=July 24, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729140356/https://www.digitalproduction.com/2019/07/24/open-source-character-creation-mit-mb-lab/|archive-date=July 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was developed by the artist and programmer Manuel Bastioni.{{efn|Active in Open Source since 1999. Coauthor of "The Official Blender 2.3 guide, the open 3D creation suite" with chapter "From Blender to YafRay Using YableX". Founder of [[MakeHuman]] project, that received in 2004 the [[Suzanne Award]] for the best Python script for Blender. He left the MakeHuman project in 2016<ref name="MB-contact">{{cite web|url=http://www.manuelbastioni.com/contacts.php|title=?Unknown|url-status=dead}}{{dead-link|date=October 2019}}</ref>}}, and was based on his over 15 year experience of 3D graphic projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cgpress.org/archives/manuel-bastioni-lab-free-human-models-creation-tool.html|title=Manuel Bastioni Lab free human models creation tool|date=February 2, 2016|website=CGPress|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113080223/http://cgpress.org/archives/manuel-bastioni-lab-free-human-models-creation-tool.html|archive-date=November 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bastioni withdrew support for the project but it has continued as a community project under the ''MB-Lab name.<ref name="DE1"/><ref name="Fork1"/><ref name="Withdraw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blendernation.com/2018/12/15/manuelbastionilab-fork-mb-lab-is-looking-for-contributors/|title=ManuelBastioniLAB fork 'MB-Lab' is looking for contributors|date=December 15, 2018|website=BlenderNation|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607030318/https://www.blendernation.com/2018/12/15/manuelbastionilab-fork-mb-lab-is-looking-for-contributors/|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

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== Technology ==

The software is designed as a laboratory in constant evolution and includes both consolidated algorithms as the 3D [[Morph target animation|morphing]] and experimental technologies, as the [[fuzzy mathematics]] used to handle the relations between human parameters, the [[Nonlinear system|non-linear]] interpolation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manuelbastioni.com/guide_define_the_character.php#meta_parameters|title=Define the character|website=www.manuelbastioni.com|access-date=2017-05-08}}{{dead-link|date=October 2019}}</ref> used to define the age, mass and tone, the auto-modelling engine based on body proportions and the [[expert system]] used to recognize the bones in [[motion capture]] skeletons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manuelbastioni.com/guide_posing_the_character.php#animations|title=Posing the character|website=www.manuelbastioni.com|access-date=2017-05-08}}{{dead-link|date=October 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Graph_of_non-linear_functions.png|thumb|The graph of non-linear functions used in the algo of age metaparameter. The vertical axis represents the delta value to add to the average character. The horizontal axis represents the age from 18 to 80 years old.]]

The software is written in [[Python (programming language)|Python]] and works on all the platforms supported by Blender: Windows, macOS and Linux.

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== License ==

ManuelbastioniLAB is completely open source, released under standard licenses <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manuelbastioni.com/guide_license.php|title=License|website=www.manuelbastioni.com|access-date=2017-05-08}}{{dead-link|date=October 2019}}</ref> of the [[Free Software Foundation]].

* Code: All files written in Python are released under [[GNU General Public License|GNU General Public License 3]].

* Data: All data files released in the ManuelbastioniLAB package are released under [[Affero General Public License|GNU Affero General Public License 3]].

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== Anatomy and mesh topology of 3D human models ==

[[File:Comparison_between_the_results_of_the_age_algorithm.png|thumb|A comparison between the results of the age algorithm. The image also shows the skin shader and the wrinkle map that is automatically created by the ManuelbastioniLAB.]]

ManuelbastionLAB provides two different base meshes for male and female models. Each model respects the fundamental requisites of a professional mesh, as defined by the author:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manuelbastioni.com/guide_base_characters.php|title=Base characters in Manuel Bastioni Lab|website=www.manuelbastioni.com|access-date=2017-05-08}}{{dead-link|date=October 2019}}</ref>

* Optimization for [[subdivision surface]]s.

* No triangles.

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Concerning ManuelbastionLAB, the word [[phenotype]] is intended with the following meaning:

::''A "phenotype" defines merely the physical appearance of a class of characters, it is not related to politics, culture, language and history. It's used to describe the variations of human traits in relation to the evolution in a specific geographical area. ManuelbastioniLAB supports most of the common human phenotypes to the extent of volumetric modelling features.'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manuelbastioni.com/guide_phenotypes.php|title=Phenotypes|website=www.manuelbastioni.com|access-date=2017-05-08}}{{dead-link|date=October 2019}}</ref>

The lab provides three main classes of humans: Caucasian, Asian and Afro. For each class there is a specific set of phenotypes. Each phenotype can be loaded from the library and used as base for a custom character, or mixed with another phenotype. The available phenotypes are: