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Refinement Process Step 5: Advanced Lip Sync Controls

Use the Advanced lip sync controls when viseme adjustments are insufficient.

Table of Contents

When to Use the Advanced Controls
M/B/P
F/V
W/Oo
S/Z/T/D
Th
Ch/Sh/Dge/J
R
N/L
Ah
Ee

When to Use the Advanced Controls

The Advanced Controls should only be used in cases where viseme refinement does not achieve the desired result.

Use visemes when:

  • Adjusting dialogue clarity or sync
  • Polishing speech performance
  • Making quick, readable changes

Use advanced controls when:

  • The viseme controls have not achieved the desired result
  • Making very specific facial adjustments
  • Correcting edge cases
  • Layering subtle refinements on top of a viseme

If you cannot achieve the correct timing and shape with Visemes, only then proceed to using the Advanced Controls.

Before starting, make sure you know how to operate the Viseme controls and Advanced Controls.

M/B/P (e.g. “mat”, “tube”, “cap”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the lips are not closed when they should be for an M, B or P, then close them with the following overrides:
  • Jaw - Open (negative value)
    • Close the jaw to bring the bottom lip up to meet the top lip. Use in tandem with ‘Mouth Shrug - Upper’ so that the lips come together in unison.
  • Mouth Shrug - Upper (negative value)
    • Lower the top lip to bring it down to meet the bottom lip. Use in tandem with ‘Jaw - Open’ so that the lips are coming together in unison.
  • Optional: Mouth - Funnel (negative value)
    • Pull the lips inwards and press slightly together with a gentle negative value.

  • If the lips are closed in your vub when they are meant to be releasing, then use the reverse of the actions above i.e. to open the lips use:
    • Jaw - Open (positive value)
    • Mouth Shrug - Upper (positive value)
    • Optional: Mouth - Funnel (positive value)

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'M/B/P' mouth shapes.

 

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F/V (e.g. “fate”, “turf”, “velcro”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the bottom lip is not making contact with the top teeth on the desired frames, then achieve this with the following overrides:
  • Jaw - Open (negative value)
    • Close the jaw with a negative value so that the bottom lip covers at least some of the top teeth.
  • Mouth Shrug – Upper (positive value)
    • Once the jaw has been adjusted such that the bottom lip is in contact with the top teeth, ensure that the lips are now not sealed by raising the top lip if necessary.
  • Optional: Mouth Roll – Lower (positive value)
    • This brings the lower lip inward and can help give the impression that the lower lip is pressing against the bottom teeth. Fs in particular can be formed using different parts of the bottom lip making contact with the teeth, so use your judgement of how the actor would form an F.
  • Optional: Mouth – Funnel (positive value)
    • Mouths can purse together when saying F or V. This can help create this slightly rounded shape.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'F/V' mouth shapes.

 

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W/Oo (e.g. “however”, “when”, “cool”, “move”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the W/Oo shape is not sufficiently formed, then achieve this with the following overrides:

  • Jaw - Open (positive or negative value)
    • The jaw typically opens a little in the forming of a W/Oo, so ensure that this is happening – but only a little.
  • Mouth – Pucker (positive value)
    • To create a more rounded shape
  • Mouth Shrug - Upper (negative value)
    • Slightly lower the top lip to bring it closer to the bottom lip and reduce/eliminate the visibility of the top teeth.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'W/Oo' mouth shapes.

 

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S/Z/T/D (e.g. “sausages”, “hazy”, “potatoes”, “fades”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the mouth is too open for a S/Z/T/D to be formed, use the following controls:

  • Jaw - Open (negative value)
    • Adjust the jaw so there is little to no gap between the teeth.
  • Mouth Shrug – Upper (positive value)
    • After setting the jaw correctly, ensure the lips do not seal by raising the top lip, if needed.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'S/Z/T/D' mouth shapes.

 

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Th (e.g. “thick”, “path”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the Th shape is not sufficiently formed, then achieve this with the following overrides:

  • Jaw - Open (positive or negative value)
    • Adjust the jaw so there is a slight gap between the teeth (note that you don’t actually have to see the teeth, just to set the jaw to the right opening.
  • Mouth Shrug – Upper (positive value)
    • After adjusting the jaw, raise the top lip if necessary to ensure the lips are not sealed. 
  • Optional: Mouth - Funnel (negative value)
    • Th shapes can involve a widening of the mouth corners. If desired, add a gentle negative value to ‘Mouth - Funnel’ to achieve this. 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'Th' mouth shapes.

 

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Ch/Sh/Dge/J (e.g. “channel”, “match”, “clash”, “fudge”, “ajar”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the Ch/Sh/Dge/J shape is not sufficiently formed, then achieve this with the following overrides:

  • Jaw - Open (negative value)
    • Close the jaw until you have nearly-touching teeth.
  • Mouth – Funnel (positive value)
    • Add some curling outwards of the lips if needed.
  • Optional: Mouth Shrug – Upper (positive or negative value)
    • These mouth shapes sometimes show the top row of teeth, so lift the top lip if needed. Conversely, if ‘Mouth - Funnel’ has overexposed the top teeth, you can lower the top lip if needed.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'Ch/Sh/Dge/J' mouth shapes.

 

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R (e.g. “crash”, “erode”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

  • Mouth – Funnel (positive value)
  • To round the mouth and curl the lips outwards.
  • Jaw – Open (positive or negative value)
  • If the jaw looks too open, slightly close it; however, it should never be fully closed. 
  • Mouth Shrug – Upper (positive value)
  • If the adjustment to the jaw has resulted in sealed lips, slightly raise the top lip to part them. 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'R' mouth shape.

 

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N/L (e.g. “panic”, “new”, “milk”, “ballast”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

If the N/L shape is not sufficiently formed, then achieve this with the following overrides:
  • Jaw - Open (negative value)
    • If there is no visible gap between the teeth, open the jaw a little.
  • Optional: Mouth Shrug – Upper (positive value)
    • Once the jaw is adjusted then, if the lips are still sealed, raise the top lip a little to help part them.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'N/L' mouth shape.

 

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Ah (e.g. “mat”, “flap”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

  • Jaw - Open (positive value)
    • Open the jaw enough to match the audio performance size.
  • Optional: Mouth - Pucker (negative value)
    • If there is any rounding of the mouth, reduce or eliminate this.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'Ah' mouth shape.

 

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Ee (e.g. “heed”, “happily”)

To use the advanced controls you must understand the correct timing and shape for this viseme.

CONTROLS TO USE

  • Jaw – Open (positive value)
    • Ensure the jaw has a light opening. 
  • Mouth Smile - Left & Mouth Smile – Right (positive value)
    • Add ‘Mouth Smile - Left’ and ‘Mouth Smile - Right’, typically in equal proportions, to emphasize an Ee shape.
  • Optional: Mouth - Funnel (negative value)
    • Using a small negative value of ‘Mouth - Funnel’ can create the look of the lips pressing against the teeth that can occur when with an Ee sound. 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch this short video demonstrating how to create the 'Ee' mouth shape.

 

Download the complete Mouth Shapes Pass Guide:
Mouth Shapes Pass Guide [PDF / Light Design]
Mouth Shapes Pass Guide [PDF / Dark Design]

More downloadable guides on Refinement are available here.

Read Next: Refinement Troubleshooting & FAQs

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