Image Metrics Inc, a Santa Monica developer of facial animation technology, said it has acquired Big Stage, an avatar-creation software developer. The price was not disclosed.

Big Stage, a USC technology spinoff once known as Clone, has software that enables users to upload several photos of themselves to an Internet site that automatically combines and converts them into a realistic-looking avatar for use in virtual worlds, video clips, video games and social networking sites.

Image Metrics said late Thursday that it would merge Big Stage’s avatar creation platform into its existing, real-time video animation technology so it can offer a new product suite by the third quarter of this year.

Big Stage’s “advanced yet easy-to-use avatar creation technology is the perfect platform to package with our facial animation technology for a complete life-like digital solution for both consumers and developers alike,” Chief Executive Robert Gehorsam said in a statement.

Backers of Big Stage include Mission Ventures, Selby Ventures and the Tech Coast Angels.

Image Metrics shares were unchanged at 80 cents in midday Friday trading on the Pink Sheets.