‘This is Black hair’: technological advances are making waves in animation

Afro-textured hair in animation has long been oversimplified, but new algorithms now capture its true formFor decades, afro-textured hair animation has lagged behind illustrations of straight hairstyles. Renderings of Black characters do not typically represent the plethora of Black hair styles or specific attributes of Black hair: the kink in their strands, the spring in their curls. But now, for the first time ever, researchers have developed algorithms to depict coily, Black hair in computer graphics, a massive step for the portrayal of Black characters.The findings have been published in a new study, which will be available to animators worldwide. The study is a collaboration between researchers at Yale University and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Continue reading...

Feb 7, 2025 - 15:14
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‘This is Black hair’: technological advances are making waves in animation

Afro-textured hair in animation has long been oversimplified, but new algorithms now capture its true form

For decades, afro-textured hair animation has lagged behind illustrations of straight hairstyles. Renderings of Black characters do not typically represent the plethora of Black hair styles or specific attributes of Black hair: the kink in their strands, the spring in their curls. But now, for the first time ever, researchers have developed algorithms to depict coily, Black hair in computer graphics, a massive step for the portrayal of Black characters.

The findings have been published in a new study, which will be available to animators worldwide. The study is a collaboration between researchers at Yale University and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Continue reading...