Converting Motions to Shade

iClone has a motion library that stores large amount of standard character motions. By converting these motions with 3DXchange, you are able to apply the motions to custom biped characters in Shade 13.

Before start this pipeline, you need to prepare a biped character in FBX format from Shade 13.

Step 1: Loading and Characterizing DAZ Character

  1. Load the prepared DAZ character (in FBX format) into 3DXChange.
  2. Characterize the character into an iClone non-standard character.

Step 2: Adding Desired Motions to Perform Editor

  1. Scroll the Modify panel to Animation section.
  2. Manually drag and drop standard character motion files into the Motion Library; select one of the motion and click the play button to preview. Please refer to the Using Motion Library section for more information.

    Note:

    • Click the Explore button to browse to the default folder for storing the iClone standard characters motion files.
      Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Reallusion\Template\iClone 5 Template\iClone Template\Motion
      Windows 7 or above: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Reallusion\Template\iClone 5 Template\Motion\
    • IMPORTANT: If you drag and drop motion files in FBX or BVH format to the Motion Library, then you MUST characterize the character again so that these motions will be automatically converted into iClone compatible standard motions.
  3. Add desired motions into the Perform Editor. Only the motion added into the Perform Editor are the candidates for being included for exporting FBX. Please refer to the Using Perform Editor section for more information.

Step 3: Exporting Motions in BVH Format

  1. Execute the File >> Export to Other 3D Format >> Export BVH... command. Alternatively, you can click the Export BVH... button on the tool bar.
  2. Adjust the settings in the Export BVH panel and click the OK button to export all motions listed in the Perform Editor into individual motion files (*.BVH).

    Note:

    • You must click the button to designate one bone as the motion root in the Scene Tree panel. Basically, you need to select the bone that is mapped to the Hips node of the dummy in the characterization mode.

Step 4: Loading the BVH Motion to DAZ Character

  1. Go back to DAZ, click the Scene tab and select the Genesis node.
  2. Execute the File >> Import command and select one desired motion file from the exported BVH motion files.
  3. When the BVH Importer Options panel shows, choose the Adjust scene to match the file radio button.
  4. Click the Accept button to apply the selected motion.
  5. Click the play button to view the motion result in DAZ.

Forcing Motions to be Identical

Because in DAZ, each joint of a character is constrained to a limit rotation angle, therefore, when the rotation of one or more joints are too extreme, DAZ locks up the joints for having the most reasonable pose of the character.

The motion in 3DXchange.

The motion result in DAZ.

If you want the motion to be completely identical to what you have in 3DXchange, then please follow the steps below:

  1. Select all bones of the character in the Scene tab.
  2. Make sure the Genesis node in the Scene is selected. You will see an icon of a small man shows up.
  3. Click on the icon and then select the Limits Off (Rotation) command from the pop-up menu.
  4. Re-import the motion again.
  5. Play back and the motion will be totally the same as the one you see in 3DXChange.