For fast custom character creation I model in zBrush, upload to the AutoRigger in Mixamo (sometimes use their 3D Max script to change from bones to BIP) then into 3D Max to add a jawbone or facial rig. If I'm just using a simple jawbone... I convert to BIP and use one of the ponytail bones for the jaw. I've hardly ever use blendshapes but thats just because I facial rig with bones since that's the way I know best. Vertex rigging is hard to beat for smooth movement at least for me but it's slow.

With this method I can create several characters in an extremely short time... particularly for use in previz. Nothing complex though. Those still take me a day to two just to sculpt and a day to vertex rig manually in 3D Max if they have to have facial (20+ bones), toes and fingers... and sometimes a multi-segmented tail.

zBrush->Mixamo->3D Max->3DXchange->iClone is my prevalent pipeline for work or play.

I'm not married to any piece of software but Studio Max is the prevalent application for most of the shops I work for so it's what I use most often. Blender could be an easy substitute from what I've seen. Mixamo AutoRigger is the only real expense in the equation and I use it for work so I have the annual access plan which is the only reason it's feasible for me.

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I LIVE to anymate, irritate and machinamate. Not necessarily in that order.

If blender is not an option there's two proven 3d software that are used in tv and film that are a lot cheaper than what Autodesk offers. The renderers built in are extremely versatile should you decide to render outside of Iclone.

Lightwave 3D - cheapest professional 3d software with beautiful renderer and genoma rigging makes it easy to rig stuff for Iclone.
https://www.lightwave3d.com/

https://www.lightwave3d.com/community/gallery/?page=30


Modo Indie - the only limitation here is the 100000 poly limit per model and locked to one user per license. No sharing of files. Rigging has to be done manually from scratch. Beautiful renderer.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/321540

http://community.thefoundry.co.uk/gallery/

I am retired and living on a pension. Don't really have that kind of money to throw around.
i will find a way if it means using only the things that come with iclone.
thanks anyway.
Ken:)

@KenCoon. A bit late but...do you know about the more affordable solution with an Autodesk monthly subscription? For $290 monthly you get a choice of 3ds Max or Maya. For $340 monthly you get both. They throw in MotionBuilder and Mud on both plans. I think you get a cloud service and a few more things too.

Here's the link
http://www.autodesk.com/suites/entertainment-creation-suite/buy

- Mo' Millis  

Official Mo' Millis | Music & Animation

American rock musician and award winning songwriter.
3D photorealistic album art, posters, and tee shirt prints for independent artists.
Founder and composer of Scene Music. Certified animation content DEVeloper.

I'm an "extreme hobbyist" modeller. Marked around with clunkysaurus 3dsMax and easy Sketchup, settled on odd-ball Zbrush as my primary modelling tool.

I don't believe in more expensive tool = better product. But it is wise to shop around before committing time and energy. Main point is what you want to create? Buildings/ static objects, people/ animals? Are you more visual or more "math/programmer" mindset or in-between? Patience level? Speed important?

If you like 3Dcoat you probably learn towards visual. Most iCloners tend to be, I think...

3D veterans classify modelling apps into hard and soft (and tend to dismiss sculpting tools as a sub-category) but today the lines have been blurred. Some context...

Most "standard" or old school modelling tools like 3dsmax Maya Lightwave etc tend to be hard-surface oriented. Programmer mindset friendly too. Of the hard modellers, newcomers like Sketchup and Modo, both under $1000.

Zbrush ($700-ish) began in the same modelling tool category as Mudbox and 3Dcoat, with focus on sculpting and soft surface modelling, suitable for shaping organic things. Zbrush is now a Pixar grade industry standard. And with its next upgrade capable of fast hard-surface modelling like Sketchup, even Modo diehards are tempted to go Zbrush.

So basically if you want a visually-oriented artist tool capable of both soft and hard surface modelling, with sufficient texturing power, for the long-haul, Zbrush is the right one to get into now. The only caveat: if you come from Max-style modelling world you must persevere non-stop from at least 3 months before locking yourself into Zbrush's odd-ball language. Heard many times - one will start very very slow, complain and give up a lot, and pass a tipping point, become very fast. Way faster than those $2000 tools for the same outcome.


  >>> Indie Generalist modeler-rigger-animator <<< Hardware: AlienWare i7-HK 32G GTX1080 2T-SSDs BenqSW320 Wacom-Intuous 3Dconnexion ||| Software: IC6 Pipeline - CTA3 Pipeline - ATK2 - Indigo ||| Zbrush4R8. Blender 2.79. DazStudio 4.9. Carrara. Poser. Octane.

Animagic, that is correct. If you have one of the big products, you get full access. I scored a student license to Max a while back, and I get all the options.

They still don't have eyelashes, though!:P

Count yourself very lucky! :cool:

I only have crowd and low-res and no facial expressions...:crying:

The predecessor did have facial expressions. I have a few characters from that time. I wished I had created more.:Whistling:

I thought actually that anybody who uses paid Autodesk products has automatic access. I don't know...:unsure: I'm not a customer. Well, I have a very old student version of 3DS Max (2.5)...:hehe:

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This what I have:



The small blue disk is credit but I don't know why I have infinite credits....

Hello ,

I have subscribe since the beta and same as animagic

CGTRADER

Very strange , I subscribed very long time ago to character generator but before I subscribe to there free applications (123 catch) may be that's why I have acces to the blendshape.
I fill a autodesk survey to explain the case , hope having an answer. but may you can ask them
if there is a free way to benefits to this.