FAQ - Create Fantastic Face Composites with Multiple Images

Click on the following links to access questions:

1. Which edition of FaceMixer is right for me?

2. Why I am unable to get any picture at all in the Mixing Preview window (or the preview looks incorrect)?

3. Why the program crashes when export (or the exported image looks incorrect)?

4. Why is the speed slower than "real-time"?

5. What image formats can I import into FaceMixer?

6. Which format is the best for export?

7. Can I add less/more dots on a face?

8. What do I do with my completed composites?

9. Why doesn't my composite look good?

10. Where can I find suitable images for creating add-on effects?

1. Which edition of FaceMixer is right for me?

You may choose from 3 editions of FaceMixer: SE (Standard Edition), Pro (Professional Edition) and Deluxe (Deluxe Edition).

In addition to those found in SE, Pro offers the following features:

• Supports 32-bit Format - When using 32-bit source image file with alpha (BMP, PNG, TIFF, TGA), 32-bit with alpha composites will result, which can be used alone or imported into other advanced image or video editing software to produce additional effects.

• Add-on Effects - Attractive composites with add-on effects such as backgrounds, masks, foregrounds and lights can be easily created and exported.

• Capture from Webcam - Easily and quickly capture some frames from webcam or other video devices as source images.

In addition to those found in Pro, Deluxe offers the following features:

• Add Filter/Caption - Add image filter or text caption for the composite.

• Export FME/FMD - Export x, y coordinates of key dots into FMD if your own program needs these data, and export FME files for FantaMorph to create a morph.

Another important difference between these editions is the maximum number of faces you can mix up in a project. If you are a professional user and want to mix up more than 8 faces, use Pro; if more than 25, use Deluxe.

2. Why I am unable to get any picture at all in the Mixing Preview window (or the preview looks incorrect)?

Your system may has some problems with OpenGL hardware acceleration.
First, please choose Start/Control Panel/Display/Settings, make sure the Color quality is "Highest (32 bit)" if possible.
Second, you should update your display driver. For example, if you are using a NVIDIA card, please download the latest driver from NVIDIA site at http://www.nvidia.com, install it, restart Windows, and then try out FaceMixer again.
Last, if the problem is still not resolved, choose Face Mixing tab and click the Set Options button, on the Options panel, turn off the Preview Hardware Acceleration switch, restart FaceMixer and try again.
For particular display cards, you should even choose Start/Control Panel/Display/Settings/Advanced/Troubleshoot and slide the graphic card's hardware acceleration down from "full" towards "none". FaceMixer may be able to output your large file when you get halfway to "none".

3. Why the program crashes when export (or the exported image looks incorrect)?

This problem is caused by a few outdated display drivers. You should update your display driver immediately. For example, if you are using a NVIDIA card, please download the latest driver from NVIDIA site at http://www.nvidia.com. If the problem is still not resolved after driver update, choose Face Mixing tab and click the Set Options button, on the Options panel, turn off the Export Hardware Acceleration switch and try again.

4. Why is the speed slower than "real-time"?

FaceMixer uses a rendering engine which makes use of OpenGL hardware acceleration. OpenGL is an industrial graphics standard and is supported by most modern video cards. If your video card supports this feature, mixing speed can be very fast, like "real-time". But, if your video card is old, mixing speed may be slow. In this case, updating the display driver or even the video card is recommended.

5. What image formats can I import into FaceMixer?

FaceMixer supports BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, TGA, PCX, GIF, WMF and EMF (Windows Metafile) format.
The Pro or Deluxe edition also supports 32-bit with alpha images in BMP, TIFF, PNG and TGA format. For more information, see "How to Use 32-bit with Alpha Images".

6. Which format is the best for export?

A face composite will be saved as a still image file in your choice of formats: BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, TGA, PCX, and GIF. In most cases, JPEG is the best choice. In Pro or Deluxe, when you use 32-bit source images in order to take advantage of transparency so that the mixing result can be overlaid smoothly onto image or video in other software, you should choose BMP, TIFF, PNG or TGA format.

7. Can I add less/more dots on a face?

You can customize the face model with less/more dots. Using less dots if you want to get a result quickly, while using more dots if you need better image quality. For more information, see "How to Use Face Model".

8. What do I do with my completed composites?

It is very interesting to mix up multiple faces to produce an average face or numerous random faces. Use your face composites to grab people's attention or to have a good time - create web graphics, create thousands of synthetic copyright free photo-realistic faces, email composites to friends and family to make them laugh, create a unique avatar for your blog or bbs, and countless other great ways!
If your composite is unique and exciting, and you want to share it with other users, you might consider submitting it to us for display.

9. Why doesn't my composite look good?

To produce a perfect composite, you need to edit source faces and key dots as accurately as you can, otherwise the composite will look unrealistic. Learn more at "How to Align a Face in an Image" and "How to Align Key Dots on a Face".

10. Where can I find suitable images for creating add-on effects?

You can use any images you like for background. Using grayscale bitmap images for Mask and Light is recommended. For Foreground, you should use 32-bit with alpha images. See more at "How to Use Add-on Effects".
There are so many sources for such images on the web. You can also download some free stuffs from our site.