In nuce: Epic Games has released version 1.3 of its MetaHuman Creator – initially as Early Access. This is software that can be used to create 3D human characters. This is accompanied by another release – the MetaHuman DNA Calibration Library , which includes several add-ons for the MetaHuman Creator. The library is intended to simplify the customised editing of 3D characters in tandem with the MetaHuman Creator. The library allows access to a wide range of customisable assets (such as hairstyles or clothing) that can be used to equip 3D characters and is primarily aimed at technical artists. The library is made available via binary files for Windows and Linux.

MetaHuman Creator Early Access Out Now: Meet the Team | Unreal Engine

In toto: Below are just a few of the innovations that come with the dual release. In the almost five-minute video above, Vladimir Mastilovic, Vice President of Digital Humans Technology at Epic Games, Paul Doyle, Director of Product Management at Epic Games, and James Golding, Technical Director at Epic Games, explain what Early Access entails.

• Exporting .mhb files: This facilitates collaborative work on a 3D character. Once exported as a .mhb file, other users can import it into their MetaHuman Creator to work on the design of a character. Until now, characters created using the MetaHuman Creator were linked to the respective artist’s Epic Games account.
• The MetaHuman DNA Calibration Library is divided into DNACalib and DNAViewer. DNACalib can be used, for example, to rename character meshes, remove joints, facial blendshapes or LODs. DNACalib is a C library with Python bindings. DNAViewer, on the other hand, reads DNA files into Maya, creating a 3D head equipped with operable rigs. The rigged 3D head can be exported from Maya in FBX format.

Click further: All further information can be found in the official announcement on unrealengine.com . Interested parties can access MetaHuman via unrealengine.com/en/metahuman.

Sources: cgchannel.com ( message from Jim Thacker), unrealengine.com ( blog entry from Epic Games)

The post MetaHuman Creator 1.3 and DNA Calibration Library ! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Adobe releases its Character Animator in version 22.5. The Character Animator is a real-time tool for motion capturing and character animation. We last reported on the Character Animator on 9 November 2021 , when it was released in version 22.0.

New functions: At the heart of the new features is the Starter Mode, which is available to all users free of charge. Starter Mode primarily offers functionalities relating to the presentation, recording and exporting of characters. However, the free version of Starter Mode is limited in its range of functions compared to the paid version. Nevertheless, the following functions are also available to users of the free Starter Mode.

• Contains sample puppets: It is also possible to import puppets.
• The settings for the behaviour of your characters: Simply drag and drop from the behaviour panel, which you can find at the top right of the user interface.
• You can customise the backgrounds using the background button.
• Adjust aspect ratios: So that your character fits into the film image.
• Triggerable poses, emotions and backgrounds: Can now also be displayed in the preview.
• Quick export function: Export animations directly as an H264 file.

Click further: You can get an overview of the features in Character Animator 22.5 at helpx.adobe.com. The following video uses application examples to illustrate the advantages of Starter Mode.

FREE Adobe Character Animator: Starter Mode

The post Adobe releases Character Animator 22.5! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.