How to make the round trip from DAZ to iclone back to DAZ

How to make the round trip from DAZ to iclone back to DAZ

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https://forum.reallusion.com/Topic203705.aspx

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By ckalan1 - 12 Years Ago

Has anyone succeeded in exporting from DAZ into iclone and then back to DAZ?

I asked Reallusion technical support and they could not come up with a solution and they suggested I ask the forum members.

Just to give you a point of reference for my attempts to round trip from daz to iclone back to daz.

1. Created character in DAZ
2. Applied the DAZ to 3dxchange iCloneFaceKey
3. Exported the DAZ Genesis as an fbx
4. Opened it in 3dxchange
5. Exported it to iclone.
6. Animated the Genesis character in iclone
7. Opened it with the performance in 3dxchange
8. Exported in every possible preset fbx format plus a few custom ones.
9. Import into DAZ and I get various error messages depending on which template I chose in step 8 above.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Craig

By vidi - 12 Years Ago

not possible to import fbx in DAZ from another resource .

The DAZ fbx importer is mess

DAZ says

FBX import supports DAZ Studio weight mapping and animation, but not other types right now !

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

If you have to use the ICLONE animation ( not facial), you could export BVH from ICLONE and use that with your DAZ character in DAZ.

Why the Round trip ?

Am I missing anything ?

By Cricky - 12 Years Ago

ckalan1 (11/9/2014)

You already have the character in DAZ, and all motions done in iClone can be transferred to DAZ, with the exception of the facial.

I did a tutorial 2 years ago on this, and it is a long one, but the exporting back to DAZ starts here http://youtu.be/HA-WCPoEY0k?t=12m2s at 12 minutes

I have refined the process since, but the basics still apply.

Below is the entire process... Once again more refined procedures have been achieved since this time, and it was intended for beginners, so be patient.

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

sw00000p (11/9/2014)

prabhatM (11/9/2014)

If you have to use the ICLONE animation ( not facial), you could export BVH from ICLONE and use that with your DAZ character in DAZ.

Why the Round trip ?

Am I missing anything ?

No, you're not missing anything. You are NOT remembering... Everything!
The OP Stated....

2. Applied the DAZ to 3dxchange iCloneFaceKey

~ With THIS in mind, I offered ONE WAY that works. ~

You want to leave out the (Facial).... Lost revenue on YOUR part!
"I'm used to giving the client.... Exactly What They Want!" :cool:
...not change their mind and have them settle for less!

I like getting paid, so I invest in High-End Pro tools that makes this EZ.
It has paid for itself3 fold! ;)

I did this tutorial over a year ago. Daz, Quidam, RocketBox and MotionBuilder characters...
All doing the SAME animation. Step-By-Step instruction, too.

Total Time to assemble: 10 minutes tops, with a lifetime of animation transfer.
Do this ONE TIME: Import ALL Animation to Daz! :w00t:

No feedback.... Delete!

You gave a solution to export the facial animation from ICLONE to DAZ?

That's interesting !!!

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

Somebody wanted an Animation interface between DAZ and ICLONE...

We need to help him with the best possible way within the limitations of these softwares.

We must not confuse him further.

Brevity is absolute essential while dealing with the guys who seek help.

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

sw00000p (11/9/2014)

prabhatM (11/9/2014)

Somebody wanted an Animation interface between DAZ and ICLONE...

We need to help him the best possible way within the limitations if these softwares.

We must not confuse him further.

Brevity is absolute essential while dealing with the guys who seek help.

There is NO confusion.
Today, either you have the tools and knowledge to do it or you don't.

Maybe iClone 7 :)

The guy is asking for help.
Tell him how to do it ( part or full solution ) with the existing versions of DAZ and ICLONE.
If not, then simply say "it's not doable now."
He must not feel bad investing in ICLONE 5.5 and not waiting for ICLONE7.

================
Had you told him to select the "hip bone" instead of the root bone during export of BVH motion from 3dxchange for DAZ, then also it would have helped him a lot.
================

BTW BIGBOSS is not a regular user. He is a professional developer.

BREVITY.

By Cricky - 12 Years Ago

prabhatM (11/9/2014)

sw00000p (11/9/2014)

prabhatM (11/9/2014)

If you have to use the ICLONE animation ( not facial), you could export BVH from ICLONE and use that with your DAZ character in DAZ.

Why the Round trip ?

Am I missing anything ?

No, you're not missing anything. You are NOT remembering... Everything!
The OP Stated....

2. Applied the DAZ to 3dxchange iCloneFaceKey

You gave a solution to export the facial animation from ICLONE to DAZ?

That's interesting !!!

I was only addressing the export to DAZ. They stated they were receiving errors. Perhaps this will help them overcome that obstacle of import errors. DAZ is extremely funny about FBX. I believe Vidi already explained that it is an issue.. and it remains an issue two years later.

DAZ does have options for Facial animation in it's own right, so animation for the face can be edited using other tools specifically built for DAZ.

I have used Mimic pro successfully in the past inside DAZ. I have not used Mimic in some time, but I can check to see if it still works, if I need to.

My point is: The iClone FACEKEY is for users who want the character to have a ready made Viseme setting for characters exported from DAZ towards iClone use, not the other way around. That is why it is a *.duf file for use in DAZ as a preset to pipeline out of DAZ to iClone.

So I gave them a BVH reversed pipeline option which hopefully helped. The facial animation is a secondary stumbling block which I'm sure can be overcome with yours and my efforts, plus others who are attempting a solution.

Discussion, isn't it fun? :)

EDIT:
For Genesis figures, this is currently the Facial Software according to DAZ.

http://www.daz3d.com/mimic-live Mimic Live

Mimic LITE will not work on Genesis, but will work on other characters. Each user has to research what they need and buy what they consider necessary for individual efforts.

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

Tutoring is a noble process. It must be done with great restraint and purpose.

When we extend our hand to a man who is asking for help, we must extend it to "hold his hand" not to show the "power of our own grip".

Seniors have extra responsibility.

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

sw00000p (11/9/2014)

prabhatM (11/9/2014)

The OP asked a question. Nobody satisfied the facial part.

1. I shared what I've learn.
2. The OP has my opinion.

You don't like it... sorry! I'm not perfect and like to help others understand iClone.
I am blown away by Cricky's ...mimic response... and pulling together to... :D

I won't subject to your type of teaching. I speak my mind. If others don't like my opinion, so be it.

MIMIC is almost as old as DAZ. Actually older.

Now that we are discussing few points, I have a simple suggestion.

When somebody asks for help. Focus on his problem. Don't focus on things what RL did or didn't do.

Then see the magic.

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

sw00000p (11/9/2014)

prabhatM (11/9/2014)

[quote]MIMIC is almost as old as DAZ. Actually older.

Now that we are discussing few points, I have a simple suggestion.

When somebody asks for help. Focus on his problem. Don't focus on things what RL did or didn't do.

Then see the magic.

Look! Don't get you panties in a bunch.

A question was asked.. I shared my opinion.
You don't like what or How I say it... Sorry!

Nothing you say or do will change my opinion.
...at the end of the day, "I sincerely hope I've helped the OP!"

See the reality!

BREVITY.

By planetstardragon - 12 Years Ago

swooop, you have bad grammar and are clueless about daz.

shutting up, may be a professional approach for you in this specific scenario.

By planetstardragon - 12 Years Ago

right, momma makes a burger better than mcdonalds roflmao! :Whistling:

you may want to save those words for a thread named "How to glorify swoop"

unfortunately, that wasn't the name of this topic. :crying:

By planetstardragon - 12 Years Ago

you said you are clueless about daz. everything after that was self glorifying fluff. you would have been more helpful by explaining how to create carbon dioxide.

By planetstardragon - 12 Years Ago

try this, let's read the title of the thread.....

By ckalan1 - 12 Years Ago

sw00000p thanks for your answer. That is what I suspected. I think the problem is with the DAZ fbx importer. And thank you to all the others who shared their opinion.

I wanted to see if anyone had success doing this process and it appears that no one has.

The reason I wanted to do this was to get the facial expressions back into DAZ. I have found that lipsync for my purpose is very quick in iclone and I can make it look believable. Plus the animation tools are very simple to use.

DAZ has a fairly good render engine and DAZ is free.

I like the Furryball renderer but it cost a lot. But, if I can't figure out how to get iclone facial expressions back into DAZ I will export it to 3ds max and buy Furryball.

Buy the way, I just bought iclone to get iclone 6 for previz work. It looks like it might work nicely. I haven't used iclone for several years but it looks like I might start using it again on a regular basis.

If I find a solution I will post it for all the enthusiastic forum members. And thanks again to everyone who want to help. I really appreciate all the input.

Craig

By Cricky - 12 Years Ago

sw00000p (11/9/2014)

@Cricky,
Can one import animation to the Mimic tool?

As far as I know, Mimic Live uses LIVE only input.. I never bought it because of that. It doesn't appear to do more than record live audio and then translate it. So you can't make mistakes unless you want to keep doing takes, which can be edited or removed within the process. Seems to be a backward process from Mimic3, but is the only viable alternative to facial animation for the current Genesis (beyond 4), and there in lies the rub.

Mimic3 did (and still does) use external WAV recordings for input, or live recording. The Character requires a *.cr2 profile for it to work. I don't believe there is a CR2 profile for the Current Genesis models and that's why RL came up with the *.duf profile for iClone users.

With Mimic Live I'm not sure what files it references for the translation of facial input.

By animagic - 12 Years Ago

I hope that it is clear from these four pages that the limitation is not iClone, but the DAZ FBX importer.

vidi was able to point that out in one sentence...:P

Always listen to vidi... :w00t:

By animagic - 12 Years Ago

I usually check my FBX export using Autodesk's FBX viewer, which I find a very useful tool. If it doesn't look correct in there then I assume that something is wrong.

By woodcarver2 - 12 Years Ago

Hi all
I.m new to Iclone and was looking for a place to maybe get help. but after reading this thread. i have second thoughts about asking any thing. at the risk of having a fight brake out. I don't know what it is in Forums but seems that everyone is the same some newcomer comes in and just want's to get help and learn the way around a new program and ask a question and all of a sudden we of the question asked and telling everyone they are no good and it goes on and on.
I have just got Iclone 5 and am waiting for the new Iclone 6 I wanted to be able to get some of my Daz content in to Iclone so I could use it there. I have 3dexchange 5.5 and tried to export and get it in to Iclone and no luck but I don't want to start a fight on this. Yes it probley has been ask here some place and I really need to take a look around the forums here and see. but after reading this thread I'm not sure about it

just me looking and seeing what the forums are about

Woody2

A real new guy trying to learn Iclone

By prabhatM - 12 Years Ago

But what was the question ?

By Rampa - 12 Years Ago

Here you go woodcarver2! Welcome!:)

By Dream Cutter - 12 Years Ago

Since the title is Round Trip and includes techniques (all great recommendations BTW) I just wanted to share that you _can_ do retargeting and reUV Multi-Layer merges, Morph injections Material, reGrouping, and axial shifts and adjustments in animation keys using text editors and/or simple tools like Ultimate Unwrap 3D which do not cost thousands. You just need to examine the structure. Knowing that text to binary converters exist like https://github.com/libgdx/fbx-conv and helps. I mention this because many new people coming into animation and 3d are may have programming and/or scripting experience and may have an easier time data mapping & editing in text rather than procuring learning a complex new UI.
Ref: http://download.autodesk.com/us/fbx/FBX_SDK_Help/files/fbxsdkprog/WS1a9193826455f5ff-150b16da11960d83164-6b83.htm
http://code.blender.org/index.php/2013/08/fbx-binary-file-format-specification/