Export Animated Clothing Object to FBX

[creative-juice]

Ultimately, I need to export a an animated object from C4d to an FBX for use in another application. I have an animated character with clothing. The clothing is a separate object which it's animation has been baked.

I'm noticing that the when I export to FBX the character animates and morphs just fine but the characters clothing is static. I understand that FBX only records position, scale and rotation. So I'm wondering how can I get the animated clothing to export to the FBX so I can place on my character?

I've added an image of the character with the clothing on and an image of just the clothing.

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi creative-juice,

To have your mesh animated for any possible app that uses FBX properly, the mesh must be in PLA (Point Level Animation) if it can't drive it via joints.
Cappuccino is an option to record PLA for you.

With this (PLA), the FBX export option Animation> Tracks> PLA should be able to write those out for you. I say it "should" be after 2023.x, as there seems to be a problem writing out the folder that contains the PLA data.
(Please contact tech support if so.)

The data needed is marked in yellow.

If you have version 2023 (or older, try to open the file there and then export it.

If you can share the file (Dropbox, Apple, Adobe, Google or Wetransfer, MS - One Drive, all works fine; anything else -- not, security reasons, sorry)
I will take a look and, if possible, return the FBX file.

All the best

[creative-juice]

Hi, I have selected PLA when exporting anFBX file from C4D but I am not seeing any additional files/data like you highlighted in yellow with my exported FBX file.
Also, I used PLA when baking the characters animated clothing which seemed to work fine for me, within C4D. (do you recommend that I still use Cappuccino?

I am using C4d 2024

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi creative-juice.

If the PLA data is stored, everything is fine for that step.

What is missing in 2024 is the extra data, the folder that contains the mc and xml files.
I tried to export with other versions of FBX, but I had the same problem.

If you have a 2023 version, try that one.

Sorry that you have to deal with this.

All the best

[creative-juice]

Thank you this is very helpful

Cheers!

[Dr. Sassi]

You're very welcome, creative-juice, thank you.

My offer stands; if you have problems getting it, I can also offer an upload link if it needs to be kept non-public.

Cheers

[creative-juice]

@Dr-Sassi Thank you. I did as you suggested and downloaded C4D 2023 and exported FBX using that and it worked properly, creating the PLA data folder as well as the FBX file.

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi creative-juice,

I'm glad that works for you.

My best wishes for your project