Daz To Unreal Character Transfer, Setup, and Fixes

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on exporting and importing Daz Studio characters into Unreal Engine, specifically for versions 5.5 and Genesis 9. You'll learn about the necessary setup, export options, and fixes to ensure your characters look their best in Unreal Engine.

Step 1: Prepare Your Character in Daz Studio

• Morph Master Controls: Ensure your character is ready for export by adjusting morph controls. This allows for fine-tuning of facial features and body shapes.
• Check Character Settings: Confirm that all materials and textures are properly assigned. This is crucial for a successful import into Unreal Engine.

Step 2: Export Options

• Select Export Format: Choose FBX as your export format. This is the most compatible format for Unreal Engine.
• Export Settings:
  • Navigate to the export options in Daz Studio.
  • Ensure to select the appropriate options for your character, including:
    • Exporting with textures
    • Including morphs if necessary
• Automatic vs. Manual Exports: Decide whether to use the automatic export feature or manually configure your export settings based on your project requirements.

Step 3: Setup Unreal Engine Plugin

• Install Unreal Plugin: Make sure you have the Daz to Unreal plugin installed in your Unreal Engine. This plugin facilitates the import process.
• Configure Plugin Options: Access the plugin settings and adjust them according to your needs, focusing on compatibility with the Daz character features.

Step 4: Import Character into Unreal Engine

• FBX Import Options Dialog:
  • Open the FBX import dialog in Unreal Engine.
  • Set the following options:
    • Import Mesh: Ensure this is checked.
    • Import Materials: Check this to bring in your character's textures.
    • Adjust any additional settings based on your project requirements.

Step 5: Fix Common Issues

• Near Clip Adjustment: Ensure that the near clipping plane is appropriately set in Unreal Engine to avoid clipping issues with your character.
• Normal Map Fix:
  • If you notice shading issues, flip the green channel of your normal maps to correct them.
  • This can usually be done in the material editor of Unreal.

Step 6: Improve Character Details

• Eyelash and Eyebrow Improvements: Make adjustments to the eyelashes and eyebrows for better realism. This can involve tweaking the material settings or using additional meshes for enhancement.
• Subsurface Scattering Fixes: Enable and adjust subsurface scattering settings to improve the skin's appearance, giving it a more lifelike quality.

Step 7: Optimize Character Skinning

• Dual Quaternion Skinning Deformer:
  • Enable Dual Quaternion skinning for smoother deformation of your character's mesh.
  • This setting is beneficial for animations and will help prevent issues with skin stretching.

Conclusion

After following these steps, your Daz Studio character should be successfully exported to Unreal Engine with optimized settings and fixes applied. For best results, experiment with various material settings and character adjustments to achieve the desired look in your game or project. Happy developing!