Free tool: Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max
Reallusion has released Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max, a free plugin that streamlines the process of setting up characters from its software for use in 3ds Max.
It works with characters exported from character-generation tool Character Creator and animation tool iClone, and stock characters from its ActorCore online library.
The add-on converts Reallusion’s Digital Human Shader into Arnold and V-Ray materials, and makes it possible to set up rigs for imported CC3+ characters.
Converts Reallusion’s Digital Human Shader to Arnold or V-Ray materials
One of the key functions of Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max is to convert the Digital Human Shader used in CC3+ characters exported from Character Creator or iClone into Arnold and V-Ray materials for rendering inside 3ds Max.
Users can adjust the settings for the texture maps generated separately for the character’s skin, hair, eyes, teeth, tongue and tearline.
For look development, it is possible to preview imported characters using 10 preset lighting set-ups and five HDRI environments, with the option to display chrome and gray ball references and a Macbeth color chart.
The product website also mentions multi-pass rendering, although you have to set up the AOVs inside 3ds Max in the usual way: the plugin doesn’t streamline the process.
Simplifies the process of rigging and posing exported characters
Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max also simplifies the process of rigging and posing imported characters inside 3ds Max.
The plugin’s Body Rig tab automatically creates full-body Biped or CAT rigs.
The Face Rig tab makes it possible to create facial expressions for a character.
Potential uses for architectural visualization as well as VFX and animation
As well as visual effects, animation and motion graphics, the add-on should streamline workflows on architectural visualization projects.
The latter has been more of a focus for Reallusion recently, with the company recently releasing a building-generator plugin for iClone.
The latest DCC application to get an Auto Setup plugin
The release makes 3ds Max the latest application to get an Auto Setup plugin, joining the free tools already available for Unity and Unreal Engine.
On its blog, Reallusion says that it is now working on a version for Maya.
System requirements
Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max is compatible with Character Creator 4.42+, iClone 8.42+ and 3ds Max 2023+. It supports Arnold 5.6.31+ and V-Ray 6+.
The plugin itself is a free download. Character Creator has a MSRP of $299; iClone usually costs $599.
Read more about Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max on Reallusion’s website
Download Reallusion’s free plugin Character Creator Auto Setup for 3ds Max
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