Hybrid Facial Model Fitting using Active Appearance Models and Contour-Based Facial Feature Location

Model-based coding techniques require a very accurate initial fit of a facial model to an image sequence in order to achieve realistic results, particularly around the eyes and mouth. This paper presents a facial model-fitting technique which uses a combination of texture analysis using an Active Appearance Model and feature position location to give accurate initial fits. Results, based on the XM2VTS Database, show this hy- brid technique superior to using Active Appearance Models alone especially in the ability to locate the eyes and mouth.