The MetaHuman Character Export Tool extracts data from MetaHuman Creator into formats suitable for external workflows, including digital content creation (DCC) applications such as Maya and Houdini.
Overview
The Export Tool provides a single, guided workflow for extracting MetaHuman character data. You can export geometry, DNA, materials, and textures as individual components, or as a combined DCC export that packages these elements together in a format ready for import into a supported DCC application. For more information about DNA, see MetaHuman DNA Rig Definition and Rig Operation.
The Export Tool supports a round-trip workflow between MetaHuman Creator and a DCC tool. You can export character data, make precise adjustments to geometry, materials, and textures in your DCC tool, and then bring the modified resources back into MetaHuman Creator to continue iterating. For more information about importing modified assets back into MetaHuman Creator, see Import.
To access the Export Tool, click Export in the palette. The following export options are available:
| Export Option | Description |
|---|---|
DCC Export | Exports head DNA, body DNA, and texture files as a package for use in a DCC application. |
Geometry Export | Exports the character's geometry as Skeletal Mesh assets. |
DNA Export | Exports the character's DNA as .dna files. |
Materials Export | Exports copies of the character's Material Instances for customization. |
DCC Export
The DCC Export option exports head DNA, body DNA, and texture files as a zip archive containing .dna, .png, and .json files, for use in a DCC application such as Maya or Houdini. This option is required when using MetaHuman for Maya or MetaHuman for Houdini.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
External Path | Folder where the exported files are placed. |
Bake Makeup | Bakes makeup into the base color textures. |
Compress in Zip File | Packages the exported files into a .zip file. |
If you intend to use your character with MetaHuman for Maya and MetaHuman for Houdini you must either export a folder, or extract the contents of the zip archive to a folder after export.
Geometry Export
The Geometry Export option exports the character's geometry as Skeletal Mesh assets in your project. You can use these assets to inspect the character's geometry or as standalone elements — for example, as preview meshes in a Control Rig or Animation Sequence.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
Project Path | Path in the project where the Skeletal Mesh assets are created. |
Head Skeletal Mesh | Exports the head mesh. |
Body Skeletal Mesh | Exports the body mesh. |
Full Body Skeletal Mesh | Exports the combined head and body mesh. |
DNA Export
The DNA Export option exports the character's DNA as .dna files. You can use these files with other Skeletal Meshes that require RigLogic animation, or in external workflows.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
External Path | Location where the exported .dna files are saved. |
Head DNA | Exports the head DNA as a .dna file. |
Body DNA | Exports the body DNA as a .dna file. |
Materials Export
The Materials Export option exports copies of the Material Instances in use by the character, along with the textures they reference. The textures are included because Material Instances reference them directly and cannot display correctly without them. You can modify these copies and apply them as material overrides to customize the character's appearance.
If the character has texture overrides applied, the exported Material Instances reference those overridden textures rather than the default character textures.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
Project Path | Path in the project where the Material Instances are created. |
Apply as Overrides | Applies the exported Material Instances as overrides on the character. For more information, see Material Overrides. |
Overwrite Existing Assets | Overwrites existing materials and textures in the target Project Path when enabled. |
