I made a character with the AnimToTexture Plugin inkl. bone attachments

Development Character & Animation
1

Hi Unreal Engine Devs,
I solved how to make a vertex animated character with the AnimToTexture Plugin.
But did you know that you can attach other meshes like tools or weapons to bones with the plugin?
I would like to show you, so you can do it for your own projects…
It´s very easy if you know how…

  1. Step:
    Watch this video on YT and create your first VAT Character like I did.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyB2KlWXTf8

Your DA_BoneAnimation File should now look something like this.

image
image769×1755 126 KB

  1. Step:
    Now you need to change the pivot of your tool you want to attach.
    You can do this in Unreal Engine. I recommend to copy the mesh because it will change the pivot permanent.
    Add the original skeleton mesh and the tool you want to attach in your map.
    Set T_Pose for the skeleton mesh.
    Set location and rotation for the tool so it fits perfect into the right hand.
    Click on the tool and change from selection mode to modelling mode in the map editor.
    Go to XForm->Edit Pivot.
    Now change the pivot until it is between the feets of your skeleton and click accept.
    To make sure your positioning is right, delete the tool and add it again. But this time set the location to the same as the skeleton. This is between the feets of the skeleton.
    It should still fit perfect in the right hand. If not your pivot is wrong.

  2. Step:
    Now create another Empty BoneWeight Texture for your tool and add it to the DA_BoneAnimation.
    Add your tool/weapon mesh to DA_BoneAnimation.
    Set AttachToSocket in DA_BoneAnimation to hand_r to bind the tool to this bone.
    Create new Material Instance and add it to BP_AnimToTexture.

Your DA File should now look something like this.

image
image750×1742 129 KB

  1. Step:
    Run BP_AnimToTexture.
    Set Material Instance to your tool/weapon.
    It is now fully animated.

Create a Socket at your VAT Character.
Add your VAT Tool/Weapon.

PS:
Your tool needs the same animations like your character.
You have to set the same animation for your tool and your character.

You can do this with any bone and attachment.
If you want a helmet for example just place it on your skeleton head and change pivot of the helmet.
Also set AttachToSocket to “head” in DA_BoneAnimation.
You can also attach multiple things like sword, shield and helmet.

If you have questions feel free to ask.
The AnimToTexture Plugin in Vertex Animation in general is very complicated if you don´t know how it works. But it is amazing when you understand it.
You can render thousands of animated characters.
And with bone attachments you can also have modular and flexible VAT Characters.

I have tried many things out…
If you have more than 500-1000 Skeletons I recommend using Vertex Animation and Niagara to simulate large crowds or armys.

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