Software that can convert a facial image into an electronic artist sketch?

[forensic]

Does anyone know of any software that can act like an electronic police artist sketch when working from a low-resolution electronic image?

In my work I come across hundreds of fuzzy facial images that require a more positive identification. I know what a tooth, ear, and iris is shaped like. As such, a software program should be able to smooth the perimeter of the face (skin is not jagged even though the photo of the face may be), keep the skin the average color of the skin color in the image, have the ears be the same size, etc...

In a way, I guess I am searching for some sort of ultra-advanced electronic Mr. Potato Head software with, hopefully, some bit of facial feature recognition that can reconstruct a face in a fuzzy photo. I don't mind some cost but I am hoping for something more automated than tracing with PhotoShop.

I can make simplified versions as avatars in video games. Is there a program or plug-in that can do this to a high degree of detail? Or at least assist me in doing this?

Thanks

[redwudz]

You could try PhotoShop. A bit pricey, though. Or freeware, maybe Gimp: http://www.gimp.org/

For your specific application, there may be software out there, but it would likely cost more than PhotoShop.

[edDV]

For nonart, trace on a layer above.

[forensic]

I don't mind some cost (I own Photoshop) but I am hoping for something more automated than tracing with PhotoShop.

[tekkieman]

What about an automated process using command line ImageMagick? It has a -charcoal parameter that simulates a charcoal drawing. Combined with other parameters, it might produce something close to what you're looking for.

[Des]

I'm not sure I completely understand what it is you want to acheive. Is it to take a photo and make it look as if it had been painted or something more along the lines of facial recognition software? Ie., to recognize a face in an altered or fuzzy photo?

If it is the former then have you tried the brush filters or artistic filters in Photoshop (pending which version you have but I believe 6 and up offer this)? If these aren't getting you where you need to be what seems to be lacking?

If it is the latter, then I have no suggestions to offer

--dES