MetaHumans lets you create ultra-realistic digital humans in minutes

It seems that computer-generated digital humans are rapidly emerging from the strange valley. Take a look at Unreal Engine’s awesome new MetaHuman Creator, which lets you create photorealistic “fake” people in minutes.

Unreal Engine posted the video above which is the closest example we’ve seen so far of a technology demonstration capable of depicting realistic human faces and bodies as it is very possible to envision a future where this technology seems as real as reality. The company calls it MetaHuman Creator, and it’s slated for release this year.

Here are some examples of “humans” created with the software:

For those who are not familiar, Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D graphics creation platform owned by Epic Games Studios, at the heart of many video games and regularly updated with its time. It was first deployed in 1998 in the first-person shooter, Unreal (hence the name), but has seen its use spread throughout the industry ever since. What were once crudely represented landscapes, riddled with obvious polygons, have evolved with computing power to give us truly exceptional, almost lifelike graphics.

While video games have become more advanced, even the most technically impressive still contain obviously computer-generated people. While it’s possible that studios are going for the most human look possible, most gamers haven’t been clamoring for games that actually look like movies or look real. Gameplay is often more important than graphics in the long run, but that hasn’t stopped Unreal Engine developers from continually trying to push the boundaries, as graphics demos are more often than not the best way to see a game. new video game.

In the released demo, there are a few faces that still give off that weird valley effect, but a few more that, when not paused and taken a close look, look extremely real. Compare these images to what was done in the Unreal Engine just three years ago below:

It is without a doubt a giant leap forward.

Last year, Unreal showed a demo that influenced its developer’s work in lighting which, combined with ray tracing, creates truly stunning and lifelike landscapes.

Combining how completely man-made scenes can look like photographs with realistic lighting and reflections gives artists the ability to create truly lifelike landscapes.

So what does this mean for photography? For now, the cameras are probably safe, but it’s not clear if that will always be the case. Earlier this year, Shutterstock picked up the 3D rendering stock agency TurboSquid for $ 75 million and a quick scan of the company’s assets will show that many of the objects that can be purchased and implemented in various 3D scenes are incredibly realistic.

In some cases, entire rooms are made of full 3D elements from TurboSquid and look completely real.

The only thing these rooms lack are people, and if Unreal’s technology continues to evolve at its current rate, there’s no reason to believe we’re not just a few years away from seeing. dozens of completely fictitious people fill TurboSquid’s asset library. One day, and one day very soon, businesses may claim that they no longer need real people for photo ops. It will undoubtedly be a real topic of conversation.

In the end, many of these companies will go for what is more affordable.