System and method for augmented reality using conditional cycle-consistent generative image-to-image translation models

Abstract

Systems and methods relate to a network model to apply an effect to an image such as an augmented reality effect (e.g. makeup, hair, nail, etc.). The network model uses a conditional cycle-consistent generative image-to-image translation model to translate images from a first domain space where the effect is not applied and to a second continuous domain space where the effect is applied. In order to render arbitrary effects (e.g. lipsticks) not seen at training time, the effect's space is represented as a continuous domain (e.g. a conditional variable vector) learned by encoding simple swatch images of the effect, such as are available as product swatches, as well as a null effect. The model is trained end-to-end in an unsupervised fashion. To condition a generator of the model, convolutional conditional batch normalization (CCBN) is used to apply the vector encoding the reference swatch images that represent the makeup properties.