Exporting Motions for 3DS Max CAT Rig
3DS Max provide convenient CAT templates for quickly
building biped human bone structures. By characterizing CAT characters,
iClone standard motions can be transferred to 3DS Max
for the characters with CAT bones.
Before starting this pipeline, you need to
prepare a CAT Base Human bone structure
in 3ds Max.
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The CAT bone structure.
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Step 1: Loading and Characterizing CAT Bone
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Load the prepared CAT bone (in FBX format) into 3DXChange.
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Characterize the character into an iClone non-standard character.
Please make sure that you map the bones to the bone nodes instead of the mesh nodes in 3DXchange.
Step 2: Adding Desired Motions to Perform Editor
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Scroll the Modify panel to the Animation section.
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Manually drag and drop standard character motion files into the Motion Library; select one of the
motions and click the play button to preview.
Please refer to the Using Motion Library section for more information.
Note:
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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\
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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.
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Add desired motions into the Perform Editor. Only the
motions 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 FBX Format
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Execute the File >> Export to Other 3D Format >> Export
FBX... command.
Alternatively, you can click the Export FBX... button on the tool bar.
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In the Export FBX panel, use the Target Tool Preset drop-down list to auto-load the settings
for 3DS Max.
Please refer to The Settings for Exporting an FBX File section for more information
about the details of the settings.
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Click the OK button to export the model along with its
motions in FBX format.
Step 4: Loading the FBX Motions to 3DS Max Character
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Go back to 3DS Max.
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Execute the File >> Import command and
select one desired FBX motion file.
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When the FBX Import panel shows, you MUST choose Add from the
File content drop-down list in the Include section.
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Click the OK button to apply the selected motion. You will see white boxes (generated
from the FBX motion file) appear besides the CAT bone.
Step 5: Retargeting CAT Bones with FBX Motion
In this step, you can adjust the motion of the FBX to the CAT bone rig by
retargeting these two bone structures.
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Select the Spine1 of the CAT structure and set it as Keyframed
in the Spine Setup section in the Command Panel.
Repeat the same step with the Neck1 bone or any other bones that
are not set as Keyframed.
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Execute Animation >> Animation CAT >> Capture Animation command
to show the Capture Animation panel.
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Source Objects: Click this button and select the
pelvis (white box) from the FBX structure.
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Target Rig: Click this button and select the
pelvis (Red Block) from the CAT structure.
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The CATRig Mapping pane will list both the CAT and FBX structure.
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Drag and drop the bone from the leftmost column to the right most
column to map them.
Please note that you must map the Base HumanLFoot in the left
column to both the
Base HumanLPlatform and Base HumanLFoot, same with the Base HumanRFoot
to Base HumanRPlatform and Base HumanRFoot.
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Repeat the steps until all nodes are mapped. The CAT bone structure will be driven to move along with
the FBX motion.
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Manually adjust the Platforms on both feet and any offset issue with transform tools if necessary.
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Before adjustment.
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After adjustment.
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Click the Capture Animation button in the Capture Animation panel
to bake the motion from the FBX to the CAT bone.
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You may then optionally remove the FBX data from the Schematic View to
decrease the size of your project.
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Play back to view the motion result.