The FaceControls object defines a set of properties for controlling the facial expressions of a Dynamic Head.

The FaceControls object defines a set of properties for controlling the facial expressions of a character head capable of animation.

The FaceControls properties are based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a comprehensive system for describing all visually discernible facial movement based on anatomy. FaceControls properties can only be set between 0 and 1. Different combinations of the FaceControls property values create different facial expressions. Recording multiple facial expressions over time creates facial animation.

What is an Animatable Head?

An animatable head is a MeshPart that implements a facial rig and is capable of playing facial animations and triggering facial expressions. A FaceControls object that is a child of a head MeshPart can change the facial expressions of the head.

A head consists of the following three components:

• Skinned MeshPart instance for the head geometry with an internal rig that deforms this skinned MeshPart
• FaceControls instance that drives the internal rig when properties such as FaceControls.JawDrop are changed.
• Cage WrapTarget instance for tight fitting facial accessories

In a third-party modeling tool, such as Blender or Maya, an artist can create a joint-driven facial rig, pose the joints to match each of the individual FACS controls, and save as an FBX. When a head .FBX is imported in Studio, a facs-to-joint mapping is created. This mapping deforms the mesh geometry when FaceControls properties are changed. The mapping and the facial rig (including Bone instances) are not exposed to developers and can only be accessed through the FaceControls instance. The MeshPart for a Dynamic Head looks and behaves the same as a regular MeshPart except when a FaceControls instance is a child of the MeshPart. Editing the properties of the FaceControls deforms the MeshPart's geometry. These properties are available to animate in the Animation Editor.

See Facial Animation for more information on usage and creation of an animatable head.

Animatable Heads in the Marketplace

If you are publishing your head to the Marketplace, your head asset must include a minimum subset of face controls. Roblox's publishing validation rejects assets without the following required poses:

• EyesLookDown
• EyesLookLeft
• EyesLookRight
• EyesLookUp
• JawDrop
• LeftEyeClosed
• LeftLipCornerPuller
• LeftLipStretcher
• LeftLowerLipDepressor
• LeftUpperLipRaiser
• LipsTogether
• Pucker
• RightEyeClosed
• RightLipCornerPuller
• RightLipStretcher
• RightLowerLipDepressor
• RightUpperLipRaiser

See FACS pose reference for more information on usage and creation of an animatable head.