Master the Art of Character Creation with Character Creator 4

Master the Art of Character Creation with Character Creator 4

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Getting Started
3. Creating a Neutral Character
4. Adjusting Body and Facial Morphs
5. Customizing Skin Color
6. Applying Hair Color
7. Dressing Your Character
8. Testing Character Movements
9. Scene Setup and Lighting
10. Saving and Exporting Your Character
11. Rendering Your Character
12. Conclusion

Introduction

Character Creator 4 is a powerful tool that enables you to generate and customize high-quality custom characters quickly and easily. In this tutorial, we will explore the basics of Character Creator 4 and learn how to create a neutral character, adjust body and facial morphs, customize skin color, apply hair color, dress your character, test character movements, set up scenes and lighting, save and export your character, and render your character. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, this tutorial will help you make the most out of this character creation tool.

Getting Started

Character Creator 4 has a simple layout, with a 3D viewport in the middle, work panels on the left and right, and an Animation Player at the bottom. The Content Manager panel contains a Free Resource category where you can find various embedded characters to use as base models. Start by choosing a neutral character and exploring the different tools and options available.

Creating a Neutral Character

To create a neutral character, you can use the Load Neutral Base option from the Attributes tab of the Modify panel. This will import an androgynous base model that you can start customizing. Activate the Morph gizmo to adjust the body and facial morphs of your character. You can simply click and drag on specific areas to modify them and use the Morph tab for more detailed adjustments.

Adjusting Body and Facial Morphs

The Morph tab in the Modify panel contains a wide range of sliders that allow you to adjust the body and facial morphs of your character in detail. The sliders are categorized according to their respective areas of the head or body. You can manually adjust the values by using the sliders, and if needed, you can reset them to their default values. Take your time to customize your character's proportions and create a unique look.

Customizing Skin Color

Character Creator 4 provides basic skin color presets that can be adjusted in the Material tab of the Modify panel. By activating the Color Adjustment box under Shader Settings and Skin Color, you can modify various parameters to create natural-looking skin colors. Additionally, you can use the Skin & Makeup pack in the Free Resource section to quickly apply different skin color and makeup templates to your character.

Applying Hair Color

The Stylings pack in the Free Resources section contains a variety of embedded hair styles, including beard and eyebrow templates. To apply a hairstyle and adjust the hair color of your character, select the hair material and navigate to the Materials tab. Expand the Strand Color section to modify the Root and End colors. Experiment with different hair styles and colors to find the perfect look for your character.

Dressing Your Character

In the Stylings section, you'll find different categories of clothing and accessories. To dress your character, simply double-click or drag the desired items onto your character. The clothing will automatically be placed on the correct body areas, and layering will be assigned accordingly. Character Creator 4 makes it easy to give your character a unique style with a wide range of clothing options available.

Testing Character Movements

The Animation Player in Character Creator 4 allows you to test your character's movements. In the Motion menu, you can apply both acting and calibration motions to your character. The Free Resources section provides a comprehensive list of animations for the body and face. Experiment with different motions to bring your character to life and see how they react to different actions.

Scene Setup and Lighting

Before exporting or rendering your character, you can use scene setup templates to preview how your character looks in various lighting scenarios. The Scene and Effects pack in the Free Resources section offers a variety of lighting presets to choose from. Select a preset that suits the environment you envision for your character and see how they appear under different lighting conditions.

Saving and Exporting Your Character

Character Creator 4 allows you to save your character model as a custom iAvatar to use in iClone or export it to FBX format for use in other external CG and game engine software. In the Custom tab of the Content Manager, select your character and press the Save button to save it as a character. You can also use the Send to iClone button to send your character directly to iClone. For FBX export, go to the File menu and choose Clothed Character FBX export.

Rendering Your Character

You can render your character directly from Character Creator 4. Click the Render icon in the toolbar to access render options. Choose between video or still image and select the desired output size. Setting Anti-aliasing to 2x2 will improve the quality of the render, but may increase the render time. Define the export range and render your character to capture the final look.

Conclusion

Character Creator 4 provides a user-friendly and powerful platform for creating high-quality custom characters. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, this tutorial has covered the basics of using this character creation tool. From creating a neutral character to customizing body and facial morphs, adjusting skin and hair color, dressing your character, testing movements, setting up scenes, saving and exporting, and rendering, you have learned how to bring your characters to life. Explore the vast possibilities of Character Creator 4 and create unique characters for your projects.

Highlights:

• Introduction to Character Creator 4 and its features
• Creating a neutral character and adjusting body and facial morphs
• Customizing skin color and hair color
• Dressing your character with a wide range of clothing options
• Testing character movements with the Animation Player
• Setting up scenes and lighting for different environments
• Saving and exporting your character for use in iClone and other software
• Rendering your character to capture the final look

FAQ:

• Q: Can I create my own morphs for Character Creator 4?
  • A: Yes, Character Creator 4 allows you to create your own morphs to customize your characters even further.
• Q: Are there additional resources available for Character Creator 4?
  • A: Yes, the Free Resources section provides additional templates, animations, and presets that you can use to enhance your characters and scenes.
• Q: Can I import my customized characters into other software?
  • A: Yes, you can export your characters as FBX files for use in other external CG and game engine software.
• Q: Can I adjust the lighting and environment for my characters in Character Creator 4?
  • A: Yes, Character Creator 4 provides scene setup templates and lighting presets that allow you to preview your characters in different lighting scenarios.