Finalize

This is the step to “bake” your MB-Lab character.

The finalization is a process to clean all the custom properties, select the rest pose, add a set of standard shape keys for expressions and transform the lab character in a normal character for Blender, not linked to MB-Lab, that can be handled as any other normal model in Blender.

Pre-Finalized Character

The pre-finalized character in MB-Lab must not be edited in “normal” ways. You must use the tools provided in the addon.

There are certain rules that have to be followed.

  • It’s name must be not be changed

  • It can’t include shape keys

  • It can’t be customized (for example in edit mode or via sculpting)

  • It’s not possible to add or remove vertices

  • It uses directly the textures from lab data

  • It’s the ONLY MB-Lab character in the scene

IMPORTANT

Warning

The rules above MUST be followed or errors WILL occur!

Finalization “bakes” the character data, removes these limits and enables the “after-creation” tools.

Finalization effect and options

The finalized character will have the following

  • A rigged armature defined at startup

  • A set of standard shapekeys for expressions

  • A subdivision surface modifier

  • A corrective smooth modifier

  • A displacement modifier

  • Surface shaders

The finalize panel includes some important options.

_images/finalize_01.png

The finalize section includes two options.

  • Save images and backup charater. To export the textures in your custom folder and backup the character as a JSON file. The new path of the images will be stored in the shader, and it will be editable as usual in Blender node editor. The backup file will permit to restore the character in MB-Lab, using the “import character” button.

  • Remove modifiers. All modifiers (subsurface, displacement, corrective smooth, etc..) except the armature modifier will be removed from the finalized character.

To finalize the character, just press the button “Finalize”. It’s located at the bottom of the lab panel.

IMPORTANT

Warning

There is no UNDO for this operation!

The finalization process is NOT reversible and it will convert the MB-Lab model in a normal Blender model.

For this reason the option “Save images and backup charater” is very important and it’s enabled by default.

The production pipeline and finalization step :

  • The character is saved or exported as lab file in a “character archive” folder (see: Save and export the character for further details)

  • The character is converted in a normal Blender model (finalized).

  • The character now can be customized in edit mode and used as any other normal character. It can be exported in any format supported by Blender or appended in another Blender scene for final production.