Export and Transfer models with animation from iClone or Character Creator (CC) to 3ds Max

Follow the steps below for exporting a model with animation from iClone or CC and importing it into 3ds Max using the CC Auto Setup plugin.

1. Choose or create the motion you want to apply to your character. For this example, we will use a preexisting motion in iClone.
   To find motions to apply to your character, select the character in iClone and navigate to Content > Template > Item > Animation > Motion.
   
2. After applying the animation to your character, it is advised to fine-tune and complete the animation in iClone before sending it to 3ds Max.
   
   Character models transferred to 3ds Max lack a body rig, making posing and adjusting your character difficult. Therefore it is best to complete all posing and animation works in iClone before transferring it to 3ds Max.
   The CC Auto Setup plugin supports only rigid body physics animations; soft body physics animations are not supported.
   
   Note:

   Using the Body Rig feature in the CC Auto Setup dockable panel to create a body rig for your character will remove its animation and change the pose into an A-pose.

3. To export your character model in iClone, navigate to File > Export > Export FBX… to open the Export FBX window. For CC navigate to File > Export > FBX and select one of the export options.
   
   Export settings for iClone and Character Creator.
4. Choose the 3ds Max option in the Target Tool Preset drop-down menu. In the Export Range section, select the Range of animation frames you want for your character. Leave the remaining settings as default and click Export to export your model as an FBX.
   
   Export FBX panel for iClone and Character Creator.
5. In the Save As pop-up window, choose a folder you want to save the files and click Save.
   
   The exported files include a texture folder with all the texture maps inside, an FBX file, and a JSON file.
   
   
   Note:

   When exporting multiple models, it's best to export them all in one FBX file if possible. If you need to export multiple FBX files separately, then it is recommended that you save them in separate folders. Mixing different FBXs' texture maps in the same folder can cause errors when importing into 3ds Max.

6. In 3ds Max open the CC Auto Setup dockable panel.
7. Click the Browse FBX button to select the FBX file you want to import.
   
8. In the Browse Character FBX pop-up window select the FBX file you want and click Open to confirm.
   
9. If the FBX’s JSON file is in the same folder, the Browse the Character’s JSON File section will auto-select. If not, click the Browse JSON button and select the corresponding JSON file.
   
10. Once everything is completed, click the Import button to initiate the process.
    
11. After the process is completed, your character will appear in the 3ds Max scene.
    
12. Click the play button in the timeline toolbar to start playing your character's animation.