Portrait Image Warping and Inpainting for Identity-Preserving Animation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portrait animation techniques using machine learning models often result in blurry animations with undesired artifacts, reduced sharpness, and fail to preserve the identity of the individual or accurately follow the motion in the driving video.

Innovation Solution

Integrate a residual inpainting module into the machine learning model architecture to preserve original information from the source image, use a local facial region loss during training to enhance facial motion details, and employ a cross-driven training strategy to mitigate appearance leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If existing portrait animation techniques are used, then the animation generation process is simple, but the output quality is poor with blurriness and artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanimation qualityVSAvoidmodel architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image generation process into multiple stages: feature extraction from source and driving images, motion estimation, and residual inpainting. The residual inpainting module specifically processes only the regions requiring modification, segmenting the complex task into manageable parts that improve quality without overwhelming complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary residual inpainting module between the motion estimation and final image generation. This intermediary component processes the difference between source and driving images, acting as a mediator that refines the animation quality by addressing specific regions needing improvement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If existing portrait animation techniques are used, then the processing speed is fast, but the facial motion details are lost and identity is not preserved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefacial motion detail preservationVSAvoidanimation generation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality enhancement by focusing the residual inpainting module on specific facial regions that require improvement. The local facial region loss function specifically targets facial areas to preserve motion details and identity, applying enhanced processing only where needed rather than uniformly across the entire image

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by processing only the residual differences between source and driving images through the residual inpainting module, rather than regenerating the entire image. This partial processing approach preserves computational efficiency while enhancing the specific details that matter for facial animation quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If existing portrait animation techniques are used, then the model training is straightforward, but appearance leakage occurs and identity is not preserved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentity preservationVSAvoidtraining strategy complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the local facial region loss function and cross-driven training strategy. These feedback loops continuously monitor and adjust the generation process to ensure identity preservation and prevent appearance leakage, providing guidance that improves reliability through iterative refinement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes training parameters and strategies by introducing the local facial region loss function and cross-driven training approach. These parameter modifications in the training process enable the model to better preserve identity and avoid appearance leakage, transforming the training dynamics to achieve more reliable results

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260030725A1Generating images using a machine learning model
Publication Date: 2026.01.29 LEMON INC(GB)
  • US20260030725A1 patent drawing
  • US20260030725A1 patent drawing
  • US20260030725A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure describes techniques for generating images using a machine learning model. Features are extracted from a source image by a machine learning model. The source image comprises a portrait of a subject. A warp grid is generated based on the source image and a driving image by the machine learning model. The driving image depicts a pose or a visage. The warp grid indicates differences between the source image and the driving image. A warped source image is generated by applying the warp grid to the source image. A mask and a decoded image are generated based on the warp grid and the extracted features. An output image is generated based on the warped source image, the mask, and the decoded image. The output image depicts the subject having the pose or the visage.