html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Reallusion has unveiled Character Creator 5, the next version of the 3D character creation tool.The update, due in July, and currently available via a pre-release offer, introduces HD character bases, support for cavity maps in the skin shader, and an updated facial animation system. It will be accompanied with new Auto Setup plugins streamlining export of characters to Maya and look development software Marmoset Toolbag. A powerful, intuitive commercial 3D character creator for games, animation and VFX Originally released in 2015, Character Creator is a 3D character creation tool for game development, animation, motion graphics, previs, VFX and visualization work.Users can quickly create characters – primarily humanoids – by customizing a readymade base mesh with intuitive slider controls, or by importing and converting an existing model. The software includes a detail human skin shader, and toolsets for creating hair and clothing, augmented by paid asset packs from Reallusion’s online content store. Characters have a full-body skeletal rig and blendshape-based facial rig, and can be exported in FBX or OBJ format, or transferred directly to iClone, Reallusion’s animation software. There are also an increasing number of official plugins to streamline export to other DCC applications and game engines, including 3ds Max, Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine and ZBrush. Character Creator 5: new HD character bases The biggest update to the software since Character Creator 4 in 2022, Character Creator 5 features updates to the base characters, shaders and facial animation toolset.Its new HD character bases come with two more subdivision levels than those in Character Creator 4, and “offer up to 16 times more mesh detail” for close-up renders or 3D printing. The base characters’ eye structure has also been reworked, with attachable eyelashes and high-resolution tear ducts. Characters can be customized with an “all-new HD Morph system”, although Reallusion’s blog post announcing the update doesn’t go into detail. Updates to the skin shader and facial animation toolset In addition, the skin shader now has “full support” for displacement maps, for big surface details, plus cavity maps for fine pore and wrinkle details.For facial animation, the revamped HD Expression Profile has each expression driving a greater number of facial morphs, and a new Constraint System limits expressions to anatomically plausible ranges. The update also introduces non-linear facial animation capabilities through “advanced curve-based motions and mesh elasticity”. Alongside the core app, Reallusion is introducing new Auto Setup plugins for Marmoset Toolbag and Maya, and there will be updates to the existing Blender, Unreal Engine and ZBrush add-ons. According to the online FAQs, Character Creator 5 will be backwards-compatible with Character Creator 4 content and plugins, and with iClone 8. Price and system requirements Character Creator 5.0 is due for release in July 2025. The software will be free to anyone spending over $399 in a single order on Reallusion’s online stores between now and the eventual release. Read the offer FAQs here. The current stable release, Character Creator 4.52, is compatible with Windows 7+. New perpetual licences cost $299. Read an overview of the new features in Character Creator 5 on Reallusion’s blog Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.