View source for MB-Lab

{{short description|Plug-in for Blender}}
{{Infobox software
| name = ManuelbastioniLAB
| screenshot =ManuelbastioniLAB Graphical interface.png
| caption=Graphical interface of ManuelbastioniLAB, integrated in Blender.
| developer = Manuel Bastioni
| released =January 28, 2016
| latest release version = Version 1.8.0
| latest release date = March 6, 2024
| programming language =[[Python (programming language)|Python]]
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]]
| license = [[GNU Affero General Public License|AGPL]]
[[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
[[File:A_sci-fi_girl_created_with_ManuelbastioniLAB.png|thumb|3d character modelled in Blender with the plug-in ManuelbastioniLAB 1.5.0]]
'''MB-Lab''' (previously '''ManuelbastioniLAB''') is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-in]] for [[Blender (software)|Blender]] for the parametric [[3D modeling]] of [[Photorealism|photorealistic]] humanoid characters.<ref name="DE1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalproduction.com/2019/07/24/open-source-character-creation-mit-mb-lab/|title=Open Source Character Creation mit MB-LAB|date=July 24, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|website=DigitalProduction|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729140356/https://www.digitalproduction.com/2019/07/24/open-source-character-creation-mit-mb-lab/|archive-date=July 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
It was developed by the artist and programmer Manuel Bastioni,{{efn|Active in Open Source since 1999. Coauthor of "The Official Blender 2.3 guide, the open 3D creation suite" with chapter "From Blender to YafRay Using YableX". Founder of [[MakeHuman]] project, that received in 2004 the Suzanne Award for the best Python script for Blender. He left the MakeHuman project in 2016}} and was based on his over 15 year experience of 3D graphic projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cgpress.org/archives/manuel-bastioni-lab-free-human-models-creation-tool.html|title=Manuel Bastioni Lab free human models creation tool|date=February 2, 2016|website=CGPress|author=Staff|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113080223/http://cgpress.org/archives/manuel-bastioni-lab-free-human-models-creation-tool.html|archive-date=November 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bastioni withdrew support for the project but it has continued as a community project under the ''MB-Lab'' name.<ref name="DE1"/><ref name="Fork1"/><ref name="Withdraw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blendernation.com/2018/12/15/manuelbastionilab-fork-mb-lab-is-looking-for-contributors/|title=ManuelBastioniLAB fork 'MB-Lab' is looking for contributors|date=December 15, 2018|website=BlenderNation|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607030318/https://www.blendernation.com/2018/12/15/manuelbastionilab-fork-mb-lab-is-looking-for-contributors/|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=live|author=Bart}}</ref>
== Graphical interface and usability ==
The plugin is completely integrated in Blender. The [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] is designed to be self-explanatory and intuitive and when possible the features are designed to work with one click.
Over 90% of the character is defined with only three sliders that control age (from 18 to 80 y.o.), body mass and body tone. The character is finished with other lab tools for body and face details, poses, skin and eye shaders, animation, poses, proxy, etc.
== Technology ==
The software is designed as a laboratory<ref name="CGchan-201801">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cgchannel.com/2018/01/manuel-bastioni-lab-turns-blender-into-a-character-creator/|title=Create free CG characters with Manuel Bastioni Lab 1.6.1|website=CG Channel|first=Jim|last=Thacker|date=January 28, 2018|access-date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428233217/http://www.cgchannel.com/2018/01/manuel-bastioni-lab-turns-blender-into-a-character-creator/|archive-date=April 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> in constant evolution and includes both consolidated algorithms as the 3D [[Morph target animation|morphing]] and experimental technologies, as the [[fuzzy mathematics]] used to handle the relations between human parameters, the [[Nonlinear system|non-linear]] interpolation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mb-lab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/creation_tools.html|title=Meta parameters|access-date=2019-10-31|work=mb-lab.readthedocs.io}}</ref> used to define the age, mass and tone, the auto-modelling engine based on body proportions and the [[expert system]] used to recognize the bones in [[motion capture]] skeletons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mb-lab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pose.html|title=Posing the character|access-date=2019-10-31|work=mb-lab.readthedocs.io|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031092531/https://mb-lab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pose.html|archive-date=2019-10-31|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Graph_of_non-linear_functions.png|thumb|The graph of non-linear functions used in the algo of age metaparameter. The vertical axis represents the delta value to add to the average character. The horizontal axis represents the age from 18 to  80 years old.]]
The software is written in [[Python (programming language)|Python]] and works on all the platforms supported by Blender: Windows, macOS and Linux.
All the characters use the same standard skeleton, so the poses and animation can be easily moved from a character to another.
Most of the data distributed in the package is stored using the standard [[JSON|json]] syntax.
== License ==
ManuelbastioniLAB is completely open source, released under standard licenses <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/animate1978/MB-Lab/blob/master/license.txt|title=License|work=github.com|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> of the [[Free Software Foundation]].
* Code: All files written in Python are released under [[GNU General Public License|GNU General Public License 3]].
* Data: All data files released in the ManuelbastioniLAB package are released under [[GNU Affero General Public License|GNU Affero General Public License 3]].
The characters generated with ManuelbastioniLAB are released under the GNU Affero General Public License 3 (as derivative of AGPL'd data, meshes, textures etc.)
== Anatomy and mesh topology of 3D human models ==
[[File:Comparison_between_the_results_of_the_age_algorithm.png|thumb|A comparison between the results of the age algorithm. The image also shows the skin shader and the wrinkle map that is automatically created by the ManuelbastioniLAB.]]
ManuelbastionLAB provides two different base meshes for male and female models. Each model respects the fundamental requisites of a professional mesh, as defined by the author:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mb-lab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/base_char.html|title=Base characters in Manuel Bastioni Lab|work=mb-lab.readthedocs.io|access-date=2019-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031092517/https://mb-lab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/base_char.html|archive-date=2019-10-31|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Optimization for [[subdivision surface]]s.
* No triangles.
* [[Edge loop]]s designed for deformation during poses and animation.
* The topology permits to model the main features of bodies and faces.
* Minimal use of poles.
* Human readable topology.
* Sculpting-friendly topology.{{efn|Designed to be optimally sculpted with Blender, Mudbox, Zbrush, etc.}}
The base humans are modelled after accurate studies of anatomy and anthropology. The lab 1.5.0 provides about 470 morphs for each human character, designed to parametrically describe most of the anatomical range in human bodies, faces and expressions. Genitalia are not present.
== Anthropology and phenotypes ==
Concerning ManuelbastionLAB, the word [[phenotype]] is intended with the following meaning:
::''A "phenotype" defines merely the physical appearance of a class of characters, it is not related to politics, culture, language and history. It's used to describe the variations of human traits in relation to the evolution in a specific geographical area. ManuelbastioniLAB supports most of the common human phenotypes to the extent of volumetric modelling features.'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mb-lab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/creation_tools.html#phenotypes|title=Phenotypes|access-date=2019-10-31|work=mb-lab.readthedocs.io}}</ref>
The lab provides three main classes of humans: Caucasian, Asian and Afro. For each class there is a specific set of phenotypes. Each phenotype can be loaded from the library and used as base for a custom character, or mixed with another phenotype. The available phenotypes are:
* Afro phenotypes: Afromediterranean, Afroasian, Aboriginal, African.
* Asian phenotypes: Central Asian, North Asian, East Asian, South Asian, Central American, North American.
* Caucasian phenotypes: Central European, Afrocaucasian, East European, North European, Euromediterranean, Euroartic, North West European, West Asian.
== Non-human models: Anime, Elves, etc ==
While the lab is aimed to create realistic 3d human beings based on a scientific description of their parameters, the same technology can be successfully applied to non-human characters, like fantasy creatures.
The version 1.5.0 of the lab supports three variety of [[anime]] characters: classic shojo, modern shojo and "realistic style" anime. There are also male and female elves and male dwarf. Each model has a separate set of morphs to create millions of variations.
Concerning the creation of fantasy characters, the lab supports some extra parameters for humans too, like pointed ears, special teeth, etc..
== Comparisons ==
While [[MakeHuman]] has similar characteristics to MB-Lab, the former is a stand-alone application and requires export and import to [[Blender (software)|Blender]] which is not necessary with MB-Lab.<ref name="PADW">{{cite thesis|date=2018-08-10|first1=Pontus|last1=Andersson|first2=David|last2=Wessman|title=Generation of Artificial Training Data for Deep Learning|type=Master|publisher=Lund university|issn=1650-2884|id=LU-CS-EX 2018-39|url=http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8972350&fileOId=8972351|access-date=2019-10-31|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031181404/http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8972350&fileOId=8972351|archive-date=2019-10-31}}</ref><ref name="ESPE">{{cite thesis|title=Diseño y desarrollo de un sistema inmersivo de reconocimiento y control de gestos, ostensible por medio de realidad virtual como método de ayuda en la rehabilitación de la capacidad motriz de las extremidades superiores en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular|url=http://repositorio.espe.edu.ec/handle/21000/14928|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031211452/http://repositorio.espe.edu.ec/jspui/bitstream/21000/14928/1/T-ESPEL-MEC-0137.pdf|archive-date=2019-10-31|publisher=Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE|language=es|url-status=live|access-date=2019-10-31|pages=106–110|date=2018-07-13|last1=Guevara|first1=Bermeo|last2=Bryan|first2=Stefano|last3=Martínez|first3=Navarrete|last4=Azucena|first4=Wilma|trans-title=Design and development of an immersive gesture recognition and control system, ostensible through virtual reality as an aid method in the rehabilitation of the motor capacity of the upper extremities in patients with stroke}}</ref>
== Current stage of development ==
The project was discontinued abruptly by Bastioni,<ref name="CE-shutdown">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blendernation.com/2018/11/26/manuelbastionilab-character-editor-shuts-down/|title=ManuelBastioniLAB Character Editor Shuts Down|date=November 26, 2018|website=BlenderNation|access-date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607030328/https://www.blendernation.com/2018/11/26/manuelbastionilab-character-editor-shuts-down/|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> after release 1.6.1a, which was not compatible with Blender 2.80.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}  Bart Veldhhuzien indicates Bastioni attempted unsuccessfully to raise funds, and then chose to move on, quoting Bastioni as saying: "I’m sorry, I did my best, but I cannot continue the development of the lab. I will use Blender as artist, since Blender and its community are part of my life."; and "I realized that the lab community size is not enough to support a so expensive project".<ref name="CE-shutdown"/>
In December 2018, a new repository, based on Bastioni's last version (1.6.1a), aiming at Blender 2.80 compatibility, was opened on GitHub with the project name MB-Lab.<ref name="Fork1">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/animate1978/MB-Lab|title=MB-Lab GitHub clone|website=github.com|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>
New community based versions are available on GitHub supporting Blender 2.79 and 2.80.<ref name="MBLab">{{Cite web|url=https://mb-lab-community.github.io/MB-Lab.github.io/|title=MB-Lab GitHub clone|access-date=2019-10-31|work=mb-lab.readthedocs.io|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819103205/https://mb-lab-community.github.io/MB-Lab.github.io/|archive-date=2019-08-19|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CG-20190722">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cgchannel.com/2019/07/create-free-facially-rigged-cg-characters-with-mb-lab-1-7-5/|title=Create free, facially rigged CG characters with MB-Lab 1.7.5|website=CG Channel|date=July 22, 2019|access-date=October 31, 2019|first=Jim|last=Thacker}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[Blender (software)]], the underlying base 3D software
* [[MakeHuman]], a related software for creation of 3D characters
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website}}
[[Category:Free 3D graphics software]]
[[Category:3D computer graphics software for Linux]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in Python]]
[[Category:Video game development software]]
[[Category:3D modeling software for Linux]]
[[Category:Anatomical simulation]]
[[Category:Software using the GNU AGPL license]]