How to Do a Forensic Facial Reconstruction

This is a brief overview of how forensic 3-D manual craniofacial reproductions are done.  While this instructable will show the process of one case from beginning to end, it is not intended to be a proxy for teaching the knowledge and skills required to perform a credible facial reproduction; that takes years of training. Please vote for this project in the Up contest here! Thanks.

Step 1: About the Author

I am a doctor of physical and forensic anthropology. Prior to getting my PhD, I was a special effects artist in the film industry for over a decade. I have extensive training in anatomy (both medical and artistic), art and science. These facial reproductions draw on the science behind the morphology (shape) of the face as well as the knowledge of materials and skills developed from working in the effects industry.

Step 2: The Forensic Workup

Full forensic workup is performed:
Forensic anthropologists use scientific methods to determine the age, sex, stature, ancestry and any abnormalities that are detectable in the bones.
the decedent was estimated to be a white male, between  the ages of 45-55
Height: around 5’6”
Died from strangulation
Edentulous (no teeth)
Skull was brought to me for facial reconstruction

Step 3:

For this case the skull had to be copied by using slow set alginate to make a mold and cast in a gypsum (plaster-like) material. The cast was not as ideal as working on the actual skull, but it was necessary for the skull to remain in the lab for testing. For this reproduction, the cast worked fine. Due to the decedent having no teeth, you can see the lower jaw takes on a much more severe angle than normal, and the tip of the chin tilts up toward the nose.

Step 4: Setting the Eyeballs

Eyeballs are then created and set into place in their anatomically accurate position (they are usually positioned at an angle to produce a lifelike effect). Most adult human eyes are about the same size (26mm).  This is the eerie part when the skull begins to seem alive!

Step 5: Estimation of the Nose

This next step has been well studied and documented; there is less guesswork than one would assume. The nose tends to follow very clear guidelines as to the shape and angles of the nose.  There are a lot of nose shapes and there is a long list of articles dedicated to this one aspect of the face! 

Step 6: Adding the Nasal Cartilage

In this step a piece of styrene is used to form the "backbone" of the nasal cartilage. The depth markers are also in place but I will explain those in the next step.

Step 7: Finishing the Nasal Cartilage and Adding Depth Markers

Here the nasal cartilage (the stiff portion of the tip of the nose) is sculpted in and the depth markers are placed at osteometric (specific, measurable points) on the skull. Here again there is extensive literature on the depth of the soft facial tissue at these points; it is based on the age, ancestry and health of the individual. 

Step 8: Adding the Muscles of the Face

Here the individual facial muscles are sculpted in. The placement and thickness of the muscles are determined by the skull morphology (shape) and the tissue depth markers.

Step 9: Muscles Continued

Here the muscles of the upper face are almost complete

Step 10: Muscles Finished and Neck Added

Here the muscles of the face and the neck are pretty much done. also, glandular and fatty tissue are added.

Step 11: Adding the Skin and Ears

In this step the skin layer is added. All the wrinkles and pores are added according to anatomical studies and the estimated age, health and habits of the decedent (such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, and sun exposure).

Step 12: Adding Hair

At this final step any hair, accessories or clothing that were found with the body are added. Photos are taken, often in Black and White so that no information that we do not know for certain is conveyed to the public (such as eye, hair or skin color). And hopefully someone recognizes the individual so that an identification can be made. Please vote for this project in the Up contest here! Thanks.
One final note, this case did end in an identification, but I cannot add any details of the case or pictures of the individual for obvious reasons, so please don't ask.