Exporting and transferring animated models from iClone or Character Creator to 3ds Max

Follow the steps below to export an animated model from iClone or Character Creator to 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 search for applicable motions, navigate to Content > Template > Item > Animation > Motion.
   
2. After applying the animation to your character, it is advisable 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 save 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 JSON file is in the same folder as the FBX, the Browse the Character’s JSON File section will auto-select it. Otherwise, click the Browse JSON button and select the associated JSON file.
   
10. Once everything is completed, click the Import button to initiate the process.
    

The character will appear in the 3ds Max scene.


11. Click the play button in the timeline toolbar to preview the character animation.