Grooming Masterclass: How to Paint and Export Fur from Ornatrix to Unreal Engine. Episode 1

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In today's fast-paced production environment, the ability to seamlessly transition assets between DCC tools and real-time engines is a vital skill. One common challenge is preserving the artistic look of a groom when moving from a modeling environment into Unreal Engine 5.

This guide breaks down the most efficient workflow for painting fur color in Ornatrix Maya and ensuring it exports correctly to UE5.

Step 1: Preparing the Modifier Stack

To begin painting, you need to add flexibility to your existing groom stack.

1. Select your fur object.

2. In the modifier stack, create an Edit Guides modifier.

3. Place it directly on top of the HairFromGuides modifier and select it.

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Step 2: Tool Configuration and Channel Naming

The secret to a successful export lies in how you name your data channels. Unreal Engine 5 looks for specific attributes to recognize hair color automatically.

1. Select the Paint tool from the Ornatrix shelf.

2. In the Tool Settings panel, enable the option: Create Channel if one doesn't exist.

3. In the Target Channel Name field, type exactly: groom_Color. Press Enter.

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Step 3: Painting and Texture Projection

Ornatrix provides powerful ways to apply color, whether through direct brush strokes or texture projection.

• Direct Painting: Select any color and start painting directly on the fur surface.

• Texture Projection: You can project logos or complex patterns from the Ornatrix library or your own files.

• Hotkeys for Manipulation: Use D to move the texture, G to scale it, and A to rotate it. For the best results, it is recommended to perform projection in the Top view.

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Step 4: Exporting for Unreal Engine 5

The final step ensures that all your hard work is readable by the game engine.

1. Select the very top modifier in your stack.

2. Go to File -> Export Selection.

3. Set the file type to Ornatrix Alembic.

4. In the Export Selection Options window, crucially, activate the Unreal Engine Export checkbox.

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Conclusion

By using the groom_Color naming convention and the specialized export settings, you ensure a "one-click" transition from your DCC to Unreal Engine 5. This workflow not only saves time but also maintains the artistic integrity of your character's groom across the pipeline.

Video tutorial:

Thank you and happy grooming

Best regards

Andrew Krivulya Charly