Description
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1806024691/
Reimagining characters with Unreal Engine MetaHuman Creator: A complete workflow guide for motion capture and animation in Unreal Engine 5
by Brian Rossney (Author)
Key Features:
* Fully customizable body shapes, built directly inside Unreal Engine
* Customizable faces designed in MetaHuman Creator
* New clothing feature that automatically fits on all MetaHumans
* Maya, Blender, and Houdini integration features for experienced artists and animation studios
Book Description:
This hands-on guide shows filmmakers, hobbyists, and 3D artists how to bring photorealistic digital humans to life using Unreal Engine 5.6 and the latest MetaHuman Creator features. You'll begin by designing your custom MetaHuman using the intuitive in-editor tool, adjusting facial features, body proportions, and clothing with precision.
Next, you’ll import the character into your UE5 scene and prepare it for animation. Using motion capture tools like an iPhone, webcam, and online body motion capture solutions, you’ll capture facial expressions and body movements, then refine performance using the MetaHuman Control Rig. You'll also explore tools like Live Link and the Take Recorder and mix and retarget motion data for believable, production-ready animation.
Finally, you’ll animate and render your character using the Level Sequencer and cinematic cameras, producing high-quality results suitable for games, short films, or virtual production. With practical workflows, plugin support for Maya, Houdini, and Blender, and new capabilities like audio-driven facial animation and auto-fitting clothing, this second edition equips you with everything you need to create compelling, cinematic digital humans in real-time.
What you will learn
* Create your own bespoke character with Metahumans Creator directly in UE5
* Develop custom faces based on real people
* Utilize Blueprints to take control of digital characters
* Retarget animations using the retargeter
* Use DeepMotion and Live Link for complete body and face animation
* Use the Control Rig to refine animations with rough camera blocking
* Set up a Camera for Camera Tracking using an iPhone and a webcam using the Take Recorder
* Export and render your character animation using simple and professional settings for compositing and grading
Who this book is for:
This book is for filmmakers and hobbyists who are planning to make a film using Unreal Engine for the first time, having worked in live action or purely digital media previously, either professionally or as a hobby. A strong working understanding of an entire Metahumans motion capture workflow from body performance to facial motion capture and mixing and refining motion capture performance for a final take used in a cut scene, game play or film.