Creating Character Rigs for UDK using CAT (Character Animation Toolkit) in 3dsMax2011

[SwizzleFish]

Hi all!

Update: (1/30/2012) All the videos are done, ready for your consumption!

I've just completed a set of tutorials covering the creation of a character rig using CAT (Character Animation Toolkit) for use as a SkeletalMesh in UDK.

This set of videos takes you thru the entire workflow of creating a rig for a custom character, skinning, animating, and getting it into UDK as a functioning skeletal mesh. Its broken into 5 parts:

1-Creating a character rig in 3dsMax2011 using the CAT toolset
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT706MRgDNg
2-Skinning the character in Max
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRbjzXfNTw
3-Making a walkCycle animation using CATMotion
PartA:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8agd..._order&list=UL
PartB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o__xL..._order&list=UL
4-Exporting the Character and Animations to the Unreal3 Game Engine (UDK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moFg0JiufE4
4B-Creating a Skeletal Mesh in the Unreal3 Game Engine (UDK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yroGJ...eature=related

the final video is DONE and READY for YOU!!!
5-Creating an Animtree from scratch, and pulling all the assets together to make a playable character in UDK Mobile (UDK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP-em...eature=related



They can be viewed either at my site:
www.fritzstudio.com

or at youtube directly:
www.youtube.com/user/fritzstudio

Enjoy!

[dirten93]

do a maya vesion please! No one does anything for maya! lol

[gausswerks]

Art pipeline stuff has been a major blank spot in my UDK project--this is really too generous. Going to watch some of it now, will report back later.

dirten93: maybe a comment about what the tutorial is, rather than what you wish it was?

[FlynT]

Wow thank you man!

[ikifenix]

Looks good, added to favorites. I'll try to follow later. Would be nice to share the character so people can follow it step by step.

[Dn2]

Excellent timing. I was looking for some rigging tutorials just a few days ago! Not specifically for the UDK but this will do!

Much thanks!

[dirten93]

Art pipeline stuff has been a major blank spot in my UDK project--this is really too generous. Going to watch some of it now, will report back later.

dirten93: maybe a comment about what the tutorial is, rather than what you wish it was?

Did i hurt anything? was stating an opinion.

[Saishy]

Good tutorial!

Excellent work xD

[Whitenorthstar]

Thank U SwizzleFish, I'm looking forward to having time to play with this.

[ikifenix]

I want more, I want more, I want more, I want more. I feel like an addict, first dose is free and later...

Rated with 5 stars.

PD: You have super relaxing voice.
PD2: I laughed with the tripod moment and with the teapot hat.

[Mr. Sunabouzu]

Chiming in to say thank you so much for this! I've been kind of intimidated by the rigging/animating process but these videos helped me so much.

[sidshekar]

Hi... thanks a ton for this... I was eagerly waiting for a tutorial to explain in detail how to make custom charater in max bringing it into UDk and playing it...

Ine question tho... would this process also work for importing custom playable character in UDK game instead of MobileGame?

[NikSha]

This is awesome. Swizzle, please do one for Weapon imports as well (it's a mystery how these tutorials aren't present in detail on UDN).

[SwizzleFish]

would this process also work for importing custom playable character in UDK game instead of MobileGame?

Yes, it isnt until the very last step (where we make/modify a MobilePlaceablePawn) that i do anything specific to the Mobile Build. Everything is standard Unreal Skeletal Mesh creation and will work with both builds.

This is awesome. Swizzle, please do one for Weapon imports as well (it's a mystery how these tutorials aren't present in detail on UDN).

thanks for the compliment! I'm open for suggestions: What specifically about importing a weapon do you want to learn about? Getting the art asset into the engine? Making it playable? Attachments and Muzzle fire!?

Those topics have more than likely been covered in several tutorials, but i can definitely see the value of pulling it into one cohesive easy to understand video if there isnt one out there already.. but it feels like there is one, or two, out there already

I have a ton of Matinee experience, and was thinking that was next on this list to make a tutorial video for: custom animations, camera animation, using paths exported from Max/Maya, and more Matinee tricky tips! What would you like to see?

Thanks again to everybody for all the positive feedback!

[sidshekar]

could u pls show how to it for udkgame also??... pls

like u said there are tutorials... but they are all over the place.. unlike the tornadotwins tutorial for unity.. where they show how to make a level, input your character, enemies and make them interact... there is mjcdreamart tutorial on youtube ...and they are good... but it doesnt create a whole level....if you could make this.... it would be just supa sweet..

[BenNadler]

I have a ton of Matinee experience, and was thinking that was next on this list to make a tutorial video for: custom animations, camera animation, using paths exported from Max/Maya, and more Matinee tricky tips! What would you like to see?

Thanks again to everybody for all the positive feedback!

That would be very helpful. I'd love to see camera animation, especially tips for blending and switching between cameras. Custom animations and paths from Max/Maya would be really great. Please please please?

[samuraiwu]

Thanks！It's helpful！

[Joseph Ferano]

Is CAT worth it? What are the advantages to using the application compared to Maya animation?

[NikSha]

What specifically about importing a weapon do you want to learn about? Getting the art asset into the engine? Making it playable? Attachments and Muzzle fire!?

Yes, yes and yes.

There are few (and with "few' I mean "three tutorials I have seen so far) tutorials her and there but usually either with Maya, or a low quality video where you have no idea what is going on.

I have previously imported custom weapons in Doom3 and it was pretty easy since there were a gazillion tutorials for modders back then. A tutorial where you create and import a simple weapon with working muzzle flash and maybe attached particle effects (like link gun?) using primary AND secondary fire modes.

Maybe if you can, go and throw in ways to add various attachments to models (sockets I guess) like scopes and silencer. But that's just extra. Basic making and importing a model for UDK from scratch, that will be great.

As far as matinee is concerned, there are a LOT of tutorials explaining its ins and outs. Other tricks can be learned by users and you can of course make one if you want but my recommendations is to go for weapon creation and import video, someone almost everyone has ignored (search on YouTube, you will find like.. one).

Anyways, thanks and keep us posted. Going to subscribe to your channel.

[SwizzleFish]

Niksha,

Have you taken a look at GeoDav's tutorials. He has several that cover the topics you mentioned.

http://sites.google.com/site/ut40kmo.../udk-tutorials

http://sites.google.com/site/ut40kmo...ideo-tutorials

Fileplanet was giving me a hard time trying to download these (wants to install some java/activeX downloader thingee) so i didnt get a chance to review them myself, but they look right up your alley!

[Doorstop]

Swizzle, Is their an ETA on when the new videos will make their way to your youtube acct?

[Joseph Ferano]

Is this an ideal animation environment for someone that doesn't have motion capture data? I know motion builder is mostly geared for that, I was wondering (since I am learning a 3D package now) whether this is better than the Maya animation tools.

[SwizzleFish]

Swizzle, Is their an ETA on when the new videos will make their way to your youtube acct?

I'll be releasing a new video every Friday!

Is this an ideal animation environment for someone that doesn't have motion capture data? I know motion builder is mostly geared for that, I was wondering (since I am learning a 3D package now) whether this is better than the Maya animation tools.

This really depends on what your goals are. The animation tools are great in both Max and Maya.

If you KNOW you want to work at game company X, and you KNOW they use Maya.. then learn Maya for sure Maya has great tools, I like their curve editor and several other things over max.

That being said, its really a matter of preference, as the 3d tools have all come such a long way in the past decade. The apps are more alike than different when you get to a certain level of knowledge. You can do both Keyframed and Mo-Cap animation in both.

My advice would be to pick one (Max or Maya) and stick with it until you get comfortable enough doing the things that you want to do.. Then if you get time, or are around other artists, sit down and compare the apps and workflows and see which is best for your purposes.

I see a lot more Max tutorials for getting things into UDK, so that might be a good reason to pick Max. Plus, I prefer Max and have a long history with "her"... so theres that.

And to make my response even more confusing: I've done very well knowing both Max and Maya. I have my preferences, but knowing both allows me to adapt to many production situations.

[BorisK]

YESSSSSSSS dude. niiiiiiiiiiiice one
will you do animset tutorials as well??

will you also talk about making sure weapons are upright and stuff??

dude i love you for this. i HATED modelling a character based on the unreal rig lol. yesss

[Doorstop]

I'll be releasing a new video every Friday!

Thank you for answering my question.. I'll look forward to Fridays now more so than I normally do.

[Joseph Ferano]

This really depends on what your goals are. The animation tools are great in both Max and Maya.

If you KNOW you want to work at game company X, and you KNOW they use Maya.. then learn Maya for sure Maya has great tools, I like their curve editor and several other things over max.

That being said, its really a matter of preference, as the 3d tools have all come such a long way in the past decade. The apps are more alike than different when you get to a certain level of knowledge. You can do both Keyframed and Mo-Cap animation in both.

My advice would be to pick one (Max or Maya) and stick with it until you get comfortable enough doing the things that you want to do.. Then if you get time, or are around other artists, sit down and compare the apps and workflows and see which is best for your purposes.

I see a lot more Max tutorials for getting things into UDK, so that might be a good reason to pick Max. Plus, I prefer Max and have a long history with "her"... so theres that.

And to make my response even more confusing: I've done very well knowing both Max and Maya. I have my preferences, but knowing both allows me to adapt to many production situations.

Yeah, that's precisely what I want to do. Right now I am doing Maya but I didn't know about CAT. For the moment, the pipeline I am trying to use is ZBrush > Maya/Max > UDK, I only need Maya/Max for polygon modeling and animation, which from what I have heard, Max is better at least at polygon modeling. Now, I don't have mocap, but if you can assure me that both Maya animation and CAT are equally good, just different, then I'll just continue learning Maya. However, given that I want to make a fighter game, a la Tekken or whatever, then I would like to learn the app that has the best character animation tools available. That is why CAT caught my eye, as it is advertised as being better for character animation.

Thanks for your input, if you can add anything else, I would appreciate it.

[TheFallen1]

where do you get CAT, and is there a version for 3ds max 2010?

[Doorstop]

cat is part of max 2011.. or you'll have to purchase the plugin from CAT for other versions of max

[barri allen]

What a fine community this one is!
Always good to find people willing to share.
Hope I can contribute soon.

[Reality4]

Thanks, can't wait for the rest!

[TheFallen1]

cat is part of max 2011.. or you'll have to purchase the plugin from CAT for other versions of max

I already knew that it was part of 2011 because I already have watched some of his tut videos.

What I meant was where can I find it for max 2010?

[NikSha]

Niksha,

Have you taken a look at GeoDav's tutorials. He has several that cover the topics you mentioned.

http://sites.google.com/site/ut40kmo.../udk-tutorials

http://sites.google.com/site/ut40kmo...ideo-tutorials

Fileplanet was giving me a hard time trying to download these (wants to install some java/activeX downloader thingee) so i didnt get a chance to review them myself, but they look right up your alley!

I have actually, but I was hoping for a better ones (and different perpective) since the audio is messed up in Geo's videos for me (runs at low volume with a lot of noise.. ). But anyways, mostly it would be good if you tried putting one tutorial with whole import and setup of weapon in one video instead of broken up UDK/UT3 videos by Geo.

[Lost Haven]

Great little introductory video , about time somebody covers this .

[Doorstop]

I already knew that it was part of 2011 because I already have watched some of his tut videos.

What I meant was where can I find it for max 2010?

well if your have a autodesk subscription for your 3dsmax 2010 then a download for CAT 2010 was posted for that.

[ikifenix]

I'll be releasing a new video every Friday!

Now is Friday! I want my dose! I need my dose!!!!

Well, just to remember. I am waiting next awesome video. Very good work.

[SwizzleFish]

Now is Friday! I want my dose! I need my dose!!!!

Well, just to remember. I am waiting next awesome video. Very good work.

Haha, right on New vid is up and ready.

This one is not specific to a CAT rig, as it covers the Skin modifier, which can be used with any rig in 3DSMax. I skin a character from scratch to completion. If you are using Physique, i suggest you take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRbjzXfNTw

[ikifenix]

Haha, right on New vid is up and ready.

This one is not specific to a CAT rig, as it covers the Skin modifier, which can be used with any rig in 3DSMax. I skin a character from scratch to completion. If you are using Physique, i suggest you take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRbjzXfNTw

I goooo for it right now! Thanks for your work teaching us.

[Doorstop]

its my favorite day of the week.. Wonder what new goodies Swizzle has for us

[SwizzleFish]

Part 3: CATmotion : Animating characters using CATMotion in 3dsmax 2011 is now up!
PartA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8agd..._order&list=UL
PartB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o__xL..._order&list=UL

happy animating!! Enjoy

[Doorstop]

thank ya kindly sir.. and once again thank you from all of us