Portrait Likeness and Digital Doubles - From Any Photo Reference

3D scanning isn't always feasible, and AI tools are not yet effective enough to achieve a perfect 3D likeness. However, an accurate resemblance can also be achieved manually.

I learned to achieve maximum likeness long before the advent of photogrammetry and AI tools; I recreate recognizable 3D images using any available materials—from detailed photographs to old, low-resolution images or incomplete shots.

From photographs to 3D likeness

Facial proportions, anatomy, characteristic features and subtle asymmetries are reconstructed to achieve likeness beyond simply matching a photograph.

This approach is especially valuable when the person is unavailable for scanning or when no scan exists. The same approach can be used to recreate people from historical photographs, archival material or limited visual references.

Applications:
3D holograms · Digital doubles · Film & cinematics · VFX · Virtual replicas · Games · Digital heritage

Human Likeness for Realistic Physical Replication 

Creating highly realistic digital human models for physical reproduction — from silicone figures and museum displays to animatronic characters and emerging humanoid robotics.

The digital sculpture becomes the foundation for physical production, combining accurate likeness, anatomy, proportions and fine facial detail with the technical requirements of the final application.

Applications:
· Silicone figures & lifelike replicas
· Museums & exhibitions
· Animatronics & special effects
· Humanoid robotics
· Physical digital doubles
· 3D printing, molding & casting

Digital likeness → production-ready 3D model → physical reproduction

From Scan to Digital Likeness

After years achiving likenes manualy I also have many years of experience working with photogrammetry and 3D scanning, from both single-camera capture and multi-camera scanning systems.

I can work with raw, unprocessed or cleaned scan data, as well as scans supplied by the client. The process can include photographic preparation for photogrammetry, scan cleanup and reconstruction, high-poly refinement in ZBrush, wrapping or retopology, and texture processing.

The goal is not simply to clean a scan, but to turn the captured data into a clean, production-ready digital likeness while preserving the distinctive anatomy, proportions and facial character of the subject.

For facial work, separately captured wrinkle and expression data can be processed and integrated with a neutral base model. When expression scans are unavailable, additional facial detail can be sculpted based on extensive experience working with scanned heads and facial anatomy.

Photogrammetry · 3D Scanning · Scan Cleanup · Digital Likeness · Facial Reconstruction · Wrinkle Detail · ZBrush

FAQ 

Can you create a likeness from photographs only?
Yes. I work from photographs when scanning is not possible, including historical or unavailable subjects.

Can you work with an existing scan?
Yes. Scanned data can be cleaned, reconstructed and refined for games, cinematics, advertising or physical reproduction.

Need a face that truly looks like someone?

Whether working from scans, photographs or limited references, I reconstruct likeness with attention to anatomy, expression and the details that make a person recognizable.

Have a difficult likeness? Let’s talk.

📨 info@koreyba.art

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