Trying to decide whether it makes sense to upgrade to 6 for my use case. I have a number of assets I have built in 5, and it is unclear (at best) how much rework moving to 6 would involve. Similarly, it looks like many of the "improvements" for 6 are that it allows you to use more powerful (and separate) plugins rather than in the main engine itself.

Is there something in 6 (Pro version) that isn't in 5 (Pro version) that should make me want to migrate? Is the conversion fairly easy for sets and custom characters?

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration!

Not much .. but the development of the characteristics of clothing
Note: There is no direct link with 3DXchange program

To me there are 2 major reasons to migrate to iClone6:
- Infinite Lights Count.
- Tessellation.

The last one includes realtime mesh smoothing and displacement mapping.

Also, G6 characters are very nice with full body morphs, soft cloths, etc.. but they are not yet finished in iClone6 so we are waiting for the actual 'final'/'fully working' version of G6 characters to really appreciate the improvements.

Other reasons to migrate to iClone6, at least from my pov:
- New Interface
- Timeline/Dopesheet improvements

While it seems some peoples don't like the new interface - perhaps because there are still things missing or incomplete from the previous version - I believe the new one is far better and will prove its improvement in the long terms. For instance you no longer need to switch to body parts tabs to get access to their materials, you have those all in a single place.

Aside from those, having Substance compatibility is a must although you need to buy an external software in order to create those. But it is an option, and while you are not obliged to use Substance textures, having the possibility to use a procedural texture engine (and simply the best that currently exist) inside iClone is a must. It can save you a lot of time and work from texture images (and disk space and GPU memory, albeit on this point I'm not sure how and if iClone internally handle procedural generation on a needed basis).

There is also that transition from Bullet to PhysX, for the best I think as PhysX covers a lot more aspects of simulation in general than Bullet, even if all those aspects are not yet implemented in iClone.

One thing clear though is that iClone6 is still in kind of "beta" state and we are waiting for the next official patch to have a version closer to a "release" one.

Nonetheless, personally, I think iClone6 is a very valuable upgrade going in the right direction.

Last, I would add: in the right direction, except for IndigoRT. Or at least not as advertised by Reallusion. IndigoRT is optional so that's fine anyway. But claiming it is a "plug & play" replacement for the iClone renderer is misleading, as IndigoRT is not a realtime renderer not even an interactive one. If you start using IndigoRT you enter a different world.

What could have been much more interesting to have, I believe, is a lightmapping tool/renderer plugin instead - and unfortunately IndigoRT is not even capable to bake lightmap textures.

--
guy rabiller | GOETZIWOOD STUDIOS
"N.O.E." (Nations Of Earth) Sci-Fi TV Show, Showrunner.

Be sure to check your computer against the requirements, especially the graphics card.

If you are in doubt, test-drive the trial version of iClone 6.

If you can run it, I encourage the upgrade.

There are several threads regarding "content migration," but I think people have had good success overall.  Some have required more effort than others, but at least the pain is short-lived.

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iClone 7... Character Creator... Substance Designer/Painter... Blender... Audacity...
Desktop (homebuilt) - Windows 10, Ryzen 9 3900x CPU, GTX 1080 GPU (8GB), 32GB RAM, Asus X570 Pro motherboard, 2TB SSD, terabytes of disk space, dual  monitors.
Laptop - Windows 10, MSI GS63VR STEALTH-252, 16GB RAM, GTX 1060 (6GB), 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD

Docking windows and timeline improvements are other 2 good reasons.
I found them really useful.

Then, my optimistic nature makes me thinking that we will see additional improvements brought in with future patches, but obviously this is just speculation and not a fact that can make up your mind :)


My PC:
OS: Windows 10 Pro English 64-bit / CPU: Intel i7-9700 3.6GHz / MB: ASUS ROG Strix Z390  RAM: 32GB DDR4 2.6GHz / HD: 2TB+3TB  /  SSD: 2x512GB Samsung 860 EVO + 1x2TB Samsung
VB: Palit GTX2080 TI GamingPro 11GB / AB: embedded in the MB and VB (audio from the MOTU M4 I/F) / DirectX: 12

sw00000p (1/26/2015) ...//... You WANT ic 6 because the workflow and tools are enhanced. 1. Timeline and UI (Customizable) 2. Nvidia Physics (Soft-Cloth) 3. Dynamic Textures 4. Game Ready Characters! :w00t: I've waited 4 years for this! :Wow: ...//... 3. This is the most important thing for me. Being able to power-load the visuals for added intrigue. Tessellation. Something iClone v.5. badly lacked and now that it's here, if you use it in ways you weren't supposed to (whether that law suite exists or not) you're in for an absolute treat. Physics. If you're into physics on set then this is where you need to be; v.6. Soft Cloth. If you're into Fashion, clothing and attire design and swishing lace, you're on the right train. BUT...... LIGHTING... If you power-out on set design and enjoy stunning lighting technique and have the know-how for illuminating a tricky arena; a pinch of mist and haze, a touch of glow, a dusting of particles, a whisper of backlighting, a tinted keylight, some self illuminated foliage, and a golden rim-light....  then I cannot praise iClone v.6 enough or recommend it more with the degree of lighting and style available.  You have to create an extreme set to enjoy how the lighting capabilities, now,  really come into their own now. For me, as an x-studio photographer from decades back, lighting control over a stunning set is everything and makes....... or breaks.... everything else. That's my tuppence. Armstrong.

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I just got iClone 6 and I am extremely glad I did. iClone 6 crashed on me. I was very upset. When I calmed down and restarted the program it told me there was unsaved data and asked me if I want to restore it. It recovered everything. I lost nothing. The second time my computer froze. I had to shut it down and restart the whole thing. Again, iClone 6 told me there was unsaved data. I lost nothing. This feature alone is amazing and makes the program worth buying.



Doug

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I just made the switch a few weeks ago.
If your computer will handle iClone6 then try the trial and see how you like it. I had to get a new computer to use it.
There are many features in the program I don't know how to use and am still learning. I had the same thing with iClone5 so it really doesn't matter for me.
You can always keep both. Why switch when you can have them both on your computer at the same time. I have both and only use IC6 now.
The props you have in 5 will load into 6 but you have to go to your purchases and download them. This will take some time but I used 3dXchange5 to do that. The program will ask you if you want them in 5 or 6 so you can have both.
Somewhere on one of the other threads is instructions for how to move the other props. I do know that some things don't work quite right but I am certain the guys will straighten that out in the future. The program is still new and I am looking for several more updates before things work smooth as butter.
|Those are my thoughts on the subject. Download a trial and see how you like it. It's free.
Ken:)

Depends what you want to do now, if you have iC5 projects you are still in the middle of, or you have been holding off projects waiting for iC6.
I haven't tried iC6 yet, so my opinion isn't overly informed
I'm fairly sure my machine will handle iClone 6, but at this stage I'm going to hold off. I've had iClone since version 3 (I bought V2 just before 3 came out so I could get the free upgrade). Each time a new version comes out, I rush out and buy it. Only to find I end up going backwards trying to work around all the teething problems of the new version. Also there is a learning curve with each new release. I just start getting my head around the previous version, then then new one comes out. I end up playing around with all the new features, and once again never really finish anything.

This time I'm determined to finish a complete movie (albeit only a 5 minute short movie!). So I don't want any distractions of new features or trying to work around bugs. I'm only now starting to use and get somewhat comfortable with some of the iC5 features.

Once I finish this movie, then I will look at iC6. Hopefully by then most of the teething issues will be sorted an it will be a easy transition.

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That is an exceedingly rational approach.  :)

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iClone 7... Character Creator... Substance Designer/Painter... Blender... Audacity...
Desktop (homebuilt) - Windows 10, Ryzen 9 3900x CPU, GTX 1080 GPU (8GB), 32GB RAM, Asus X570 Pro motherboard, 2TB SSD, terabytes of disk space, dual  monitors.
Laptop - Windows 10, MSI GS63VR STEALTH-252, 16GB RAM, GTX 1060 (6GB), 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD