How to Export Blender Characters and Animations to Unreal Engine

If you are looking to transfer your Blender character and animations to Unreal Engine, it's essential to understand the process involved. Unreal Engine works with measurements in centimeters, whereas Blender uses meters. This necessitates some adjustments to ensure a smooth transition. Here's a detailed guide on how to export your characters and animations effectively:

Adjusting Scale in Blender

Scale Conversion: In Blender, navigate to the scene settings and adjust the measurements to 0.01 to match Unreal Engine's scale in centimeters.
Pre-Rigging Considerations: If you haven't started rigging, scale everything up by a hundred after selecting your mesh and rig. Apply transformations to ensure correct scaling in Unreal Engine.
Post-Rigging Challenges: If you've already rigged the character and scaling it up causes issues, consider unparenting, detaching, and re-rigging from the correct scale in Blender to avoid complications in Unreal Engine.

Exporting the Rig and Animations

Rig Export: Select all meshes and the rig, then export the rig separately in FBX format with the necessary settings, such as applying modifiers and adjusting smoothing.
Animation Export: Prepare animation sequences individually and export them by deselecting all and NLA strips options. Repeat the export process for each animation reel.

Importing to Unreal Engine

Rig Import: Utilize the content browser in Unreal Engine to import the FBX file containing the rig. Ensure to uncheck animation during import to focus solely on the rig setup.
Animation Import: Import each animation file separately, associating them with the previously uploaded rig. Set the animation mode to asset and link the animations to the rig skeleton for seamless integration.

Testing and Troubleshooting

Error Handling: If errors occur during import, particularly related to weighting issues, address them by ensuring proper weight painting of objects to bones rather than direct parenting.
Scaling Adjustments: Resize the imported assets as needed within Unreal Engine to fit the desired scale for optimal visualization and functionality.

Adding New Animations

For incorporating additional animations, export them separately and link them to the existing rig in Unreal Engine. Consistency in rig setups ensures smooth animation swapping without complications.

In conclusion, by following these guidelines, you can successfully export Blender characters and animations to Unreal Engine, allowing for a seamless integration process. Should you encounter any challenges or require further assistance, feel free to seek help within the vibrant community of creators. Have a productive day, and happy animating!

Source: Blender to Unreal Engine Export Guide

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