I am a user of Cartoon Animator. I am interested in the world of 3D animation.  I am wondering if iClone will allow me to create and animate my own characters and props to use in CreateStudio. I will purchase iClone 7 and then upgrade to iClone 8 since there is a promotion. Even if I can't directly import characters, would I be able to save the files as .mov so the characters have a transparent background?

There are a lot of plugins and packs to get started. A few additional questions I have:

1. What packs and plugins will I need to get started to create cartoon characters similar to Pixar characters?
2. Do I need to purchase additional programs and which ones should I purchase?
3. How long does it take to create and animate a character?

Hi Debbie

iClone on its own doesn't create characters, so you will need to use Character Creator 3 to create them. A basic version of Character Creator 3 comes free with iClone 7, but for more advanced features such as exporting to external tools then you will need Character Creator 3 Pipeline.

I'm personally not familiar with Create Studio but if it allows import of 3D characters then Character Creator 3 Pipeline will allow you to export in the industry standard FBX format. You can also export in video formats from iClone, but sadly .MOV format with transparent background is not currently supported. You can however export in Sequence Image PNG with a transparent background. Sequence Image formats can be opended in most video editors where you can compile to the video format you wish to use.

As already mentioned, you will need iClone 7 + Character Creator 3 Pipeline to get started. In addition, you may want to add some toon packs to your library. These packs come with a variety of toon morphs which can you can mix and match to create your own custom characters. A good starting point is the pack below (other toon packs are available).

https://www.reallusion.com/ContentStore/Character-Creator/Pack/3D-Cartoon-Character-Designer/default.html

No other plug-ins or add-ons are really required for the creation process if you plan to work exclusively with "toon" type characters. Popular plug-ins like Headshot and SkinGen are really only required if you plan to work with realistic human characters.

How long it will take to create a character will vary. For example, you could use one of the base toon characters in the pack above, make a few adjustments, and have a character ready in minutes. However, if you want a specific look, you could spend many hours tweaking every setting and morph slider to get just what you are looking for. 



                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

Thanks for your reply. It seems the characters don't come with clothes. How many clothing items does Character Creator come with? Am I able to edit these clothing items? Do I create the clothing items in iClone? Do I need to purchase the 3DXchange plugin? Do I need the Curve Editor Plugin? Am I missing anything? I am trying to spend enough to get the free promotion.

This is what my current cart looks like:



I am looking to make videos like this:  

I see you have started another thread with these questions so I have answered you there. 

https://forum.reallusion.com/500996/Are-You-Happy-With-the-Support-Times

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com