Using technology to artificially age an image - of a criminal, a missing child, or an actor - is nothing new. But Industrial Light & Magic faced a distinct challenge when Veuve Clicquot, the great champagne house, made a related request. A woman of the 19th century, Veuve founder Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin left behind only two images, both portraits made while the grande dame was in her 70s. But the company wanted a picture of Clicquot at 27, when her husband died and she took over, transforming their champagne business. Susan Davis, manager of ILM's art department, told Veuve Clicquot, "If you want a scientific regression, we're not the ones. But we can get you close in a creative sense through research." So ILM found two teenagers with facial features and ethnic backgrounds similar to the widow's and, using Macs, morphed portions of 20 photos of one model and five of the other with the original painting. The results can be seen at www.clicquot.com/.
- Chris Rubin
ELECTRIC WORD
Digital Face Lift
