Master the Roundtrip Character Workflow in Blender

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is Character Creator?
3. The Blender Integration
4. Generating a Character in Character Creator 3
5. Exporting the Character to Blender
6. Customizing the Character in Blender
   • Improving Material Compilation
   • Sculpting and Modeling
   • Hair and Clothing Customization
   • Texture Painting
7. Importing the Customized Character Back to Character Creator
8. Fixing Materials with the CC3 Python Plugin
9. Adjusting Bones for Accurate Skin Weights
10. Finalizing the Character in Character Creator
11. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will explore how you can enhance your 3D characters by utilizing Character Creator, an incredible software developed by the team at Re-Illusion. We will specifically focus on how to integrate Character Creator with Blender, creating a seamless workflow between the two programs. Whether you are a game developer or an animator, this workflow will allow you to quickly and effortlessly create and customize your own unique characters. We will guide you through the process step by step, highlighting useful tips and techniques along the way. So, let's dive into the world of Character Creator and Blender and discover the unlimited possibilities they offer.

What is Character Creator?

Character Creator is a powerful program that enables artists and developers to create and customize realistic or stylized 3D characters. Developed by Re-Illusion, Character Creator offers a wide range of features that allow you to create characters of all shapes and sizes. With its built-in content panels, you can add hair, clothing, and accessories to bring your characters to life. Moreover, Character Creator provides access to a marketplace where you can purchase additional content to expand your character library.

The Blender Integration

Re-Illusion has taken significant steps to establish a strong connection with the Blender community. They have developed various plugin supports, such as the Blender Auto Setup add-on and the CC3 Python plugin, to enhance the integration between Character Creator and Blender. Additionally, Re-Illusion has recently become a corporate silver partner of the Blender Development Fund, demonstrating their commitment to expanding the Blender character pipeline. With this integration, you can easily transfer characters between Character Creator and Blender, unleashing the full potential of both programs.

Generating a Character in Character Creator 3

To begin our workflow, let's explore how to generate a character in Character Creator 3 (CC3). When you open CC3, you will be greeted with a default character. However, you have the freedom to create your own unique character by customizing various options available in the program. You can modify the size, shape, and rotation of body parts using the morph sliders on the right side of the screen. Additionally, you can add hair, clothing, and accessories using the content panels on the left side. CC3 provides a wide range of presets and customization options, allowing you to unleash your creativity and bring your character to life.

Exporting the Character to Blender

Once you have created your character in CC3, you can export it to Blender for further customization. Exporting is straightforward and can be done using an FBX file. Simply go to the File menu, select Export, and choose the "FBX Clothed Character" option. In the export settings, make sure to select the Blender preset and change the menu to "Mesh" to exclude animations and poses. It is crucial to untick the "Embed Textures" and "Baking" options, as embedding textures can cause compatibility issues when re-importing the FBX file into CC3. After specifying the export location, click Export to save the FBX file.

Customizing the Character in Blender

With our character exported to Blender, we can now take advantage of Blender's sculpting, modeling, and texturing functionality to further customize the character's shape and appearance. However, you may notice that some materials don't load correctly due to the way Blender interprets certain CC3 texture files. To address this issue, Re-Illusion has partnered with programmer Victor Souza to create a special add-on called Blender Auto Setup. This add-on improves the material compilation in Blender and provides a better result when importing CC3 characters. You can download and install the add-on from Victor's GitHub page, enhancing the visual quality of your character in Blender.

To access the Blender Auto Setup add-on, go to the side toolbar in the 3D viewport by pressing the "N" key. In the side toolbar, you will find a tab called "CC3." Open this tab and click the "Import Character" button. Select the previously exported FBX file, and the character will be imported into Blender, this time with improved material compilation. You will notice a significant improvement in the appearance of the hair and clothing materials. The Blender Auto Setup add-on allows you to adjust material parameters, such as color, roughness, ambient occlusion, and normals, for each object. This feature gives you greater control over the customization process, ensuring that your character matches your artistic vision.

Continued in the next response...