Create a playable Daz Character in Unreal Engine 5.1 (Live Retargeting)

[@bperras]

One issue I came across and others might too, if you import your Daz character into Unreal and you notice when you run, or especially when you jump, it looks like your character has an extra set of knees in the middle of their thighs, when you're in Daz Studio and using the Daz to Unreal plugin, make sure to check the box "Show FBX Dialog" as this gives you move advanced options on another screen. When that one loads, check the box "Include Rotation Limits". Include Rotation Locks should be checked too, but usually is by default. What happens is that Daz characters have a joint mid-thigh that rotates the leg medially/laterally but if it's unlocked, could rotate on the other two planes, thus allowing the double-knees when the retargeter is trying to match up the animation to the character rig. It took me days to figure that one out, so hope it helps.

[@siegekeebs]

I tried this but I'm still getting kind of "expansion" of arms and legs when moving. I wonder if it's just lag from retargeting?

[@siegekeebs]

@@Ezcendant retargetting more accurately helped, but I just decided to not use DAZ models, too many issues

[@DougRayburn]

I can't find my retarget for g8 and yes, I installed the plugin the way shown in your video. in unreal it only gives me the starting content ones. So, what would be the issue is my question? Edit: Figured it out didn't have show plugin content ticked so it wasn't showing me the IK rigs learn from me people and go ahead and laugh I am now too lol.

[@hilaryalvarez4647]

Great tutorial, thanks for posting!!! I look forward to watching the rest of your videos. Btw, I'm wearing the exact same nasa shirt watching this! 😀

[@WPguru]

We're both NASA engineers 😄

[@shawnboundy3716]

Your tutorial is very clear and concise. AND, you think of all the minor details. Excellent! Subscribed. Thank you! Edit: Had issues. It was all solved by the .... (*sheepish look here*) ... not having the 'show engine content' checked in the settings =P

[@lkhjiw]

I did it, that's great. Thank you！

[@yearight1205]

Do you think that there will ever be a way to transfer Daz characters into Unreal Engine and have them be good enough to create animated films with them? I began using Unreal Engine for animation a while back. But I realized my lighting skills needed work. So I decided Daz would be a fun way to get better at lighting. Well now I have a fairly solid sized library of Daz content, and realized it'd be the perfect thing to use in Unreal. But Daz to Unreal doesn't send over anything high quality enough to film anything really all that great in. Thought I'd ask you.

[@WPguru]

It'll depend how much work you're willing to invest, but I'd say yes definitely. Define "not high quality enough". Textures are transferred as is, it doesn't get any better than that. So aside from the absence of subsurface scattering, we only have slightly too shiny default roughness, which is easy to tweak. Figure resolution is exported as base by default. Daz Studio adds a subdivision surface modifier to make it look higher res than it really is, so if you want the same effect in UE, export with SubD. Animations work fine, the only thing that needs work is expressions made with the upper facial rig. If you transfer those into morph targets, they work well too. There's just so much grunt work we have to do, it's not a one-click affair, but then nothing in 3D ever is. Take a look at what Peter Haynes does, particularly in the Talky Orks series. He uses iClone and Character Creator, but the principles in UE are the same: www.youtube.com/@EpicallyCasual

[@JeanPhilippeGauthier2013]

Hi! Amazing tutorial! Do you have work around video tutorial for the Retarget Pose from Mesh has IK Retargeter that is missing a source IK Rig asset, for G8 and G9 character?

[@WPguru]

I don't have a video, but you can create a missing IK Rig by right-clicking on the skeletal mesh, then choose Create - IK Rig. That should do the trick.

[@seanthiar]

@@WPguru There is a thing you missed by accident in the video - The bridge does not create a skeleton if you don't use a G9 character. For creating the animation blueprint you have to choose the G8 or G3 Base skeletons offered by the DAZ plugin. You get only a skeleton if you tick the 'unique skeleton' box in in DAZ in the bridge dialog, but I did not check/test if there is a difference between the base skeleton and a unique skeleton.

[@DreamImagineListen]

Hi, tell me please, can i send this Character first to Blender (For example DazTOBlender DTB plugin) then send back (somehow) and then send to Unreal engine? for adding New bones, new clothe , items props etc.

[@WPguru]

You can do, but it's too much work. You could do Daz to Blender first, then export as FBX and import into UE. None of the materials will come across though, so I don't recommend it. There's literally zero benefit in doing this, remember how very short life is and how little time we have left on this planet. Highly not recommended 😁

[@urbantwilight]

Shame DAZ doesn't have an option to export the mesh directly with a native UE5 mannequin skeleton hierarchy. There's a paid blender plugin that does that, so it can be done.

[@JOEFRAUST]

What is the name of the blender plugin?

[@Epulsenow]

Thanks for this detailed video. I have a question, i am new in UE, so it maybe a noob question. Is there any way to create and convert all UE5 animations and then use them on any Genesis 9 figure, Like same animation on Victoria 9, Genesis 9 Base, etc.

[@WPguru]

Yes you can do that with the Retargeter Asset. I'm showing how this works in the next episode in this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJiZp4ZumKaosJI In principle, you open the retargeter, make tweaks as necessary, then at the bottom select the animations you want to convert and UE will save them all out so they can be used on another character.

[@pharoahzaza]

does this method work for the SK_Mannequin as well?

[@iuliuslovin37]

any way to use geoshells too? if you have a character with one and actually work and don't look weird?

[@WPguru]

I believe geoshells are not supported at this point. The team are working on new features all the time though, I'm sure it'll get implemented at some point.

[@JOEFRAUST]

Don't you have to have convert scene unit when importing your character?. Also it asks me on FBX import options to select a characters skeleton I left it blank because I believe it creates the skeleton for you on the first character, I was just wondering if I did that correctly?

[@WPguru]

The Daz to Unreal bridge doesn't use the standard FBX importer, so there's no dialogue that pops up. The import happens automatically.

[@JOEFRAUST]

@@WPguru well for some reason it popped up for me and thankfully I figured it out

[@rinaldosteiner9125]

Hi there, I tried to follow your advise but when I import the daz figure, I get the Materials Folder, the Textures folder, The "Mira9" Asset, the "Mira9_CR" and also the "Mira9 Physics" but no Skeleton. Do you know why that is?

[@WPguru]

Skeletons behave a little weird: the first character you sent through the bridge will create a skeleton, and it’ll be named as the character was. If you send a second character based on the same generation, the bridge detects that a skeleton already exists and doesn’t create another one (unless you check “create unique skeleton”). It’s usually not necessary because the skeletons of the same generation are compatible, so if you see another G9 type skeleton in your project, you can use that. Let me know if this makes sense.

[@rinaldosteiner9125]

@@WPguru It absolutely does. Thank you for that. It works fine now, however there are multiple other issues that I came across. For example the double knees or doubled elbows that have been mentioned a few comments below. Even if I check the "include rotation limits" it makes no difference to my G8.1 Model. Do you know how to fix that?

[@siegekeebs]

@@rinaldosteiner9125 I had the same issue with the double knees and elbows with G8.1 - it works with G9 though - let me know if you find a solution

[@RayGatsu85]

Hello, the tutorial is very good, but the retarget pose from mesh node flags a warning, could you tell me how to solve it? In other projects I don't get the error but in this one in question it does and I don't understand why.

[@WPguru]

I couldn't tell you without actually knowing what the warning says. Also, if you're using Unreal Engine 5.4 or above, try this approach: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXjCqIFvdtZshcksi=-HR3xXqDO222lSK-

[@KiwiHawk-downunder-nz]

Shame the default Epic animations don't have a walk, that's mainly why I use that Humanbase, the face I like his female animation more helps

[@tummaz6718]

When I set the anim class for my imported character, it stays t-posed instead of taking on the same animations as the ThirdPersonCharacter

[@rainbowshot]

I'ts not working, I installed ue 5.2, I installed the plugin in the ue 5.2 folder it's not working. it gives this error: 1. could not find any node 2. import fail

[@sisqobmx]

Expectational tutorial.Thank you very much. Short and straight to the point.

[@chrismenza7023]

I dont think you understand how long ive been trying to figure out how to do this. Thank you so much.

[@theone8625]

Brilliant! Thank you so much!🎯💯🤙😊

[@RSProject100]

Hi, I'm new in unreal 5.3 and was not very advanced in unity hehe. So when I want to export there's two options, one for unique skeleton and one for fix twist bones; do I need to check those? I tried both ways and there is no skeleton exported to unreal.

[@SebastianDohnal]

Same problem

[@RSProject100]

@@SebastianDohnal I "solve it" by reopening the daz scene where I have my character and the unreal project. Then reexported the character. (check unique skeleton and twist bones).

[@robertwatkins6091]

Once I import my chaacter to UE5 i don't have a skeletal mesh for it, did I miss a step?

[@Perkinson2024]

have the same problem here... with a modified genesis 8 model. Lacking skeletal mesh file

[@alexchen5811]

Thank you.. if we import Daz models to Blender and resculpt them as well as retexturize, do we need to work on retopology before we can import them into Unreal and make them work?

[@WPguru]

Not necessarily, as long as you don't subdivide or add vertices to the model you can just right-click and re-import with a new file. The same goes for textures.

[@DreamImagineListen]

the only thing is not working are textures , rlly shiny, like something not correct with export, may FBX setup 2013?

[@WPguru]

Nah, it's not the FBX, it's the default material properties. Here's how you can tweak them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX7aYmaemst_rLc

[@PermacultureGame]

At 6:39 I'm getting a Retarget Pose from Mesh has IK Retargeter that is missing a source IK Rig asset, for a G9 character.

[@JOEFRAUST]

I hope I see an answer to this question as well!

[@Noutelus]

Same

[@deanocgamedev]

The current G9 retargeter doesn't set the source IK rig to IK_Manequin, do that and save and it will work as described in the video

[@AndrealVox]

@@deanocgamedev much thanks!

[@BarbaricApePro]

Hey, my friend I want to try Unreal out but the current plugin that's free with Daz doesn't support UE5 updated version I wanted to ask that they sell the plugin at the Unreal Assets store is this one better or should I wait for the updated version from the Daz store? any information would be helpful thanks :)

[@WPguru]

It's the same version, you can buy it to support the developer (David), he also gives the latest version away for free on his GitHub repo. I've just made a video about how to install it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJakgKGtpJ5qiKM If you're new to Unreal Engine, don't be afraid to use the 5.3 version though, it's very stable and integrates well with Daz Studio, and it's a breeze to install. From experience I can tell you that trouble always comes to the latest releases of Unreal Engine 😁

[@BarbaricApePro]

@WPguru oh awesome I’ll check it out thanks for the information, I am thinking of changing to unreal since Daz is good but hard for animation IMO have you ever animated in Unreal is it better or similar to Daz?

[@WPguru]

@@BarbaricApePro I have, it's very different than animating in Daz Studio or Blender. It's made for real-time games first and foremost, and animations are somewhat of a different mode, so most tutorials out there focus on aspects of UE that you'll never need for animations, while the stuff we DO need is hard to find. Here's something I've made recently using a Daz character: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIK7dYSslJWqkK8

[@DimitryArsenev]

Which model better use for games? Genesis 8 or 9?

[@WPguru]

In my opinion Genesis 9.

[@RFMllc]

I got an error that says "Ik retargeter that is missing a source Ik rig asset"

[@WPguru]

If that happens, you probably need to create a new IK rig for your figure, infer IK chains on it and then create a new retargeter with that IK rig. It sounds complicated but UE 5.4 makes this a breeze.

[@jairneni4572]

magico!!!obrigado

[@DreamImagineListen]

works perfect. But what if is used Daz To Blender, and then Export fbx from Blender to UE 5, and then try to REPEAT all of Your steps for exact same character, hmm what you think? atm i dont have to time to test it out.

[@boythee4193]

my send to unreal doesn't have the setting to pick the engine version.

[@boythee4193]

ah i got it. in install manager, i downloaded the update of daz to unreal, but it did not install, it was hanging out in ready to install. total newbie mistake. i'm leaving this comment here in case someone else has this issue

[@DeMoNDe-ViL]

I watched your video and came across a problem for me it was not having the skeleton mesh for the animation blue print, at time stamp 4:20.

[@shawnboundy3716]

Same. I'm trying with a Gen 8, not 8.1. I'm wondering if that's the issue. I'll have to experiment... or try with a different gen 8 and see if it makes a difference.

[@Noutelus]

I had the same problem untill i created a new gen9 character in DAZ

[@Touched_by_a_12_gauge]

I remember the first time I did this so long ago in unity 3D. It's been so long now I have no idea how to do anything.

[@whitesentinix]

Hey Hey! These are great, but do you happen to have a video dedicated to importing a fully rigged non-character model (like a vehicle or a building with functioning doors) from Daz to Unreal? I'd like to be able to do that through the pipeline without losing any of the rigging in things like doors or hydrolics.

[@lonhuo8715]

why me double click in to the animation blueprint(4:36) the note is empty? its not the output pose. I use the g8. please

[@scislianlongshadow]

this is not working for me I just get constant errors saying the skeleton is missing bones

[@dsfs17987]

all it needs now is JCMs transferred over to UE so joints don't look like sausages, I've seen a demo video of a working solution few months back, supposedly working at runtime, the description said they were working on releasing it as a product, don't know however if they got anywhere with that

[@JOEFRAUST]

After completing the animation blueprint I hit compile, it has a warning of retarget pose from mesh start bone and bone start bone and bone for the right and left

[@Noutelus]

Ar 6:37 it says for me: Retarget Pose From Mesh has IK Retargeter that is missing a source IK Rig asset.

[@stefanschafer6989]

Hi J .. is there a way to export a Daz-Figure as a static Mesh? I need it to apply some effects on the Body after posing in Substance painter. so i need the Posed Mesh. .. My try is to use it in UE5. but without any animation, too. So i just need the posed char as an static Mesh. Do you know a way? .. I've seen Video you were talking german ;) .. so if you want answer in German.. I'm a german ;)

[@WPguru]

You can export the character as OBJ from Daz Studio, that'll strip all the rigging and give you a static object.

[@andreymamaev3912]

G9 character works well, G8 character behaves strangely when running and jumping. Any tips on how to fix this?

[@WPguru]

Try enabling the "fix twist bones" option on export. It might give better results.

[@andreymamaev3912]

@@WPguru it worked, thanks

[@danielcardone8622]

Everything seemed to go well until I went to retarget pose from mesh. I connected the output pose to Retarget from mesh and selected the G9 Retargeter. compiled. went back to BP and selected the Character in the Anim Class and compiled agian. hit play and the character moves with the mannequin but is stuck in the A pose. it doesn't have the movement animations. not sure what I missed

[@WPguru]

Ah, in that case you've missed the final step: on the UE mesh, change the Visibility Anim Tick Options to Always Tick Bones and Refresh Mesh. I'm showing this at 07:10 in the video. Hope this works for you!

[@Iger9]

Hello friend, I did everything right, including more than once, but the animation is not functional, it stays in the initial position, what can I do?

[@WPguru]

Sounds like you may have forgotten the last step I've mentioned at 07:15: change the visibility option to "Always Tick Pose and Refresh Bones". If you don't do that, your character will remain in the A-Pose.

[@orivx.9676]

works great for me except the feet stick up

[@iuliuslovin37]

do you know why when I place the Mesh for the Skeletal Mesh my character floats above? like doesn't look like yours...

[@WPguru]

Sadly no, perhaps the mesh isn't parented to the correct node?

[@HyperGalaxyEntertainment]

hi Daz master do you know how to combine multiple materials slots into one if they use the same texture map like hairs, so we can add physics more easily

[@WPguru]

If they use the same texture and material properties, you can use the Geometry Editor (under Tools) and combine the surface zones into one. With the old ones deleted, Daz to Unreal should pick them up as a single one. If the zones are split across multiple UVs, you can use Texture Atlas to combine them to a single texture tile first. It's a bit of work, but it's available with a right-click on the Surfaces Tab.

[@HyperGalaxyEntertainment]

thanks Master for your reply I hope there would a easy way to do it like a script , or in character creator we can just consolidate materials in one click , or maybe we can do it in unreal?@@WPguru

[@MaisnerProductions]

great info

[@DitchArt]

Awesome