12 Photo-Real Computer Generated People

Posted in Articles - 4th Aug, 08 at 3:53 am - 52 Comments

There is an unbelievable amount of talent hidden away in the 3D and computer visualization industries. I have been stunned recently by the amazing level of realism that talented 3D artists are achieving in their own spare time.
For a bit of Inspiration I have collected together here are some stunning human portraits created solely in 3D design programs such as 3D Max, Maya and Zbrush. These are not commercial projects, they have not been developed by teams of Visual Effects artists. They have all been created by individuals with a bit too much free time on their hands...

Check out the following collection to see the 3D projects developed by the same people behind your favorite blockbuster movies.
Check out their portfolios as well. You may well come across shots from the latest Transformers or Pirates of the Caribbean movies just to name a few.

49 Comments + Feedback

imLOST : 4th Aug, 2008

Wow.

*is jealous of their skills*
Geo : 4th Aug, 2008

It's the eyes. These all look great, but the eyes are all lacking something. The John Locke, and the last one seem the most realistic of the group, but even they are missing something in the eyes.
GB : 4th Aug, 2008

See, to me, it isn't the eyes... it's the skin. Something about it looks wrong... maybe even clay like. I would say that if i didn't know any better, the last one would fool me though.
Reznor : 4th Aug, 2008

Virtual Russel Crowe looks even more like a douche than the real one.
PURE_STANK : 4th Aug, 2008

the eyes for the most part look fine. it is the skin. the textures are wrong. the best one is the 2nd to last one and the 2 before that
fried calamari : 4th Aug, 2008

Its all in the lighting I think on some of those they just need to tweak the lights to get that photo-real look.
Tamiya : 4th Aug, 2008

very nice photos but nowhere near reality
joshoimo : 4th Aug, 2008

the ears give it away
Fred Garvin : 4th Aug, 2008

Still haven't crossed Uncanny Valley.
Chetan Saghani : 4th Aug, 2008

I think the CGlaurie looks spectactular and the Leonidas just looks ver detailed
Doo Wop : 4th Aug, 2008

@Chetan. There is no picture of Leonidas. I'm guessing you're looking at the picture of Russel Crowe and relating it to Gladiator. However, Gladiator took place in ancient Roman times while 300 was in ancient Greece. So, yeah, get your ancient history movies straight.
daretoeatapeach : 4th Aug, 2008

Whatever to your doubts---these are mighty impressive!
31337 : 4th Aug, 2008

dude some of those people i've seen in movies and tv shows!! come on!!
locoloco : 4th Aug, 2008

umm wow it seems lyke yall r going out of ure way to find something wrong with the photos. personally, i agree with imLOST. yall r all just jealous of there skills. the people that made those r very talented
T : 4th Aug, 2008

The eyes give it away for me. They all have a vacant stare..almost like they have no soul.
Other than that, bloody brilliant work!
lia : 4th Aug, 2008

i could believe these were real people but only because all photos in the media these days are photoshoped to the point where they are fake....
just ok : 4th Aug, 2008

Just ok...

Some of the pics look incredibly wasted, such as the pic of what looks to be Hugh Laurie. I guess that is what they were going for. Some of the others look almost anime-ish, and some look completely real...
cloud9ine : 4th Aug, 2008

1,2, and 4 rock. 4 is really good esp with the blemishes and all.
Stephen : 4th Aug, 2008

I feel most of them crossing into the Uncanny valley.
ultimvs : 5th Aug, 2008

these artists are brilliant. I don't care whether the photo is close to real or not. I hail the talent. The software they used is amazing. The best I can do is to appreciate it because I don't have the skills that they have.
Paige : 5th Aug, 2008

They're brilliant for sure, but a few of them have no eyelashes. Lmao.
David : 6th Aug, 2008

It's a little bit harsh to say that "they have a little too much time on their hands." Who are you to judge what is a good way to spend time? The artists probably enjoy doing it, so then why is that wasted time? Rude...
Andrew Greig : 6th Aug, 2008

There are alot of mixed responses to these images.
No one can seem to pick the same thing that looks wrong to them. Everyone views them slightly differently.

But regardless, the artists who made them are unbelievably talented.

@David. Calm down its said as a joke. If they didn't love doing this these images wouldn't exist. For that I am in awe of them.
Robby : 6th Aug, 2008

FAKE!
blauereiter : 7th Aug, 2008

Amazing work all. I think no.2 can pass off as the real thing if one doesn't scrutinize it too closely.
Kara : 11th Aug, 2008

Did someone actually shout fake? um... duh, that was the point.
Min Thu : 12th Aug, 2008

Well Done! The eyes are not realistic in first photo.
calimero : 15th Aug, 2008

jack russel?
Propecia : 19th Aug, 2008

Wow, these are scary impressive!! Good stuff!
martinez : 22nd Aug, 2008

it's photoshopped!
guitarplayer94629 : 26th Aug, 2008

This is really cool! Hmm... I don't think the last one is very realistic though, look at her left arm; It's not long enough and it's really skinny compared to the other one. I think that the second to last one (Is that Ingrid Bergman? It looks like her...) is better. Hugh Laurie (Dr. House :D) is still missing something, but it looks fantastic!
freaer : 27th Aug, 2008

Photoshopped
van : 3rd Sep, 2008

thats just creepy looking
FS : 7th Sep, 2008

I honestly can not believe the amount of criticisms on these comments. You obviously are very talented. Please keep making more. Like, Could you make me one of the Predator?
shane : 14th Sep, 2008

you know these are completely amazing, being a 3d animation artist myself i can see the level of complexity and time taken to make these images. it has taken hours upon hours of work to do this. i don't understand how any of the people on here could say anything bad about this work. i am in complete aww of these masterpieces my complements to the creator and good work keep it up. I wanna see more if there is any.
Ben : 15th Sep, 2008

Obviously, some of these are better than others, but that last one, and the Ingrid Bergman one are both bloody brilliant.

I have seen Ingrid Bergman in that very same picture, as I'm sure many people have - I really couldn't tell the difference between the two.

Nice job!
Verito : 2nd Oct, 2008

The first and the 2nd one are so real!!
The other ones... well...
Joseph Becher : 10th Oct, 2008

What exactly is a fake or photoshopped CG image?

Are the commenters saying these are real photos? If so that's a pretty high complement.
seattle photographer : 24th Nov, 2008

Some of them look more real than others obviously, but photoshop is a powerful and amazing bit of software in talented hands.
MDiogo : 19th Feb, 2009

Wow, some of them look very realistic.
Max : 12th Apr, 2009

eeer these are MANIPULATED images, not 100% creations. They show the effects that computer graphics packages can do with original pics.
Michele : 21st Jun, 2009

Absolutely incredible! All show an amazing amount of artistic talent.
Ashely Adams : Sticker Printing : 24th Aug, 2009

very interesting post! all eyes have a vacant look about them, which gives them away.like their soul is missing. but nevertheless the execution and the idea , both are commendable! thanks for sharing.
mane : 9th Oct, 2009

this is shopped, you fags. too much not real
clippingimages : 10th Oct, 2009

Awesome. Unbelievable art works. Thanks for sharing this nice post.
james king : 12th Dec, 2009

The computer visualization technology is so good now. you can do anything with it now. I just love to use the software.
PeteMc : 10th Jan, 2010

Doubters should click the Ingrid bergman image
( http://student.vfs.com/~3d68max/ingridwip.html )
Ironically, they become more impressive when you seen the process and hard work that goes into them. Though software might be improving, this stuff still requires an artist in the traditional sense, ie. with a fantastic feel for proportion and light.
john doe : 13th Jan, 2010

the pixels are the only wrong thing here!!!!!!
adel : 4th Feb, 2010

great talent explore for Gods purpose