Does anyone know where I can find some software to convert a photo into a 3d model. I just need something for the face, but whole body is good too.

I found "FaceGen", but it's slow and doesn't do a very good job. I had a piece of software awhile ago, but I can't find it any more

My goal is to create a 3D model of Al Gore. As long as I have a decent head I can slap it on any old 3d body and it's good to go.

Danke!

I can't imagine any program that would yield very good results. Try making it yourself using an image or two (preferably mug-shot style) in your 3d software of choice.

I think that pasting the image in the background of a 3D modeler and creating the vertices over the contours would be the easiest way...

I just know the traditional way:
1. Get two photos of the head(front, and profile) as reference.
2. Place them in your 3d program.
3. Happy modeling.

Your enviroment before you begin your modeling should look like this:
{"name":"image01.jpg","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/8\/4\/849ab0aaf977a67fe82120a0c4811d1b.jpg","w":300,"h":233,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/8\/4\/849ab0aaf977a67fe82120a0c4811d1b"}

or buy a 3d scanner.

And do what? Invite Al Gore to his place?

You mean you don't own his action figure?

A few years ago I remember seeing a Web site advertised, probably during a video game review show, that would take said front/sideview photographs and send you a 3D model of the photographed person (apparently free) and compatible for use in common games. I don't remember what or where since it was so long ago, but perhaps a similar service is still available?

You could write a modeller yourself using the ideas of Teddy.

If you have the same picture from at least 2 different angles you can send them to Mova. Obviously the more angles the better the quality.

Wait... Al Gore has an action figure?! Freakin' hilarious.

I'm sure that someone, somewhere, has made the exact program you need. Unfortunately, I'm also sure that, given the way the world works, it costs about $500 more than you can afford

$200 tyvm (EDIT: Version 3 was $200, Version 6 is now $999.95 ). [url http://www.photomodeler.com/]
This program[/url] will work if you have 2 or more photos of an unmoving object (Al Gore's face doesn't quite count, so you'd need 2 angles taken at the same moment)

If your game is totally non-profit (which means non-GPL too) you can use the old free version which somebody nice is hosting here EDIT: link fixed I still think modeller should always have 2 els.

If photographing your own or a friends face for this purpose, strategically placed mirrors in the shot can provide the synchronous angles you need.

Did you try it in organic modeling? it looks like it's architecture-oriented.

Yeah it's for buildings and cars really. Organic stuff can't be automated so well as it still takes judgement to decide where the vertexes should go, especially in low-poly models.

Once you have one face modelled. you can stretch it around and add hairstyles to make it look like other people. There's no avoiding some artistic input, especially if you want to make these people fight.

Cool links Matt Smith, I really appreciate it. Sorry for the late response, it was finals week and I was working near 24/7. Ended up not using a modeled Al Gore in my game trailer, but this will be a neat project to pick up again later. I might try modeling it manually. The major issue is getting the texture lined up right. As long as that's okay everything else should be tweakable.

Thanks again.