Export character bodies

When you are ready to export a character body model that meets Roblox's character body specifications, it's important to review the following prerequisite information and step-by-step instructions for the .fbx or .gltf export files so that your creation takes advantage of all of Studio's Importer features.

This is particularly important for character body models because they contain all the mesh and texture data, including the rig and influence data that's essential for characters to move and animate properly across the platform.

Prerequisites

Before you export your custom character body:

• Ensure that you are only exporting the Roblox-supported objects related to your model. If you have any modifiers to your mesh or project objects, make sure to apply or delete them before export.

• While your mesh objects must be parented within an armature object, you can also parent your outer cage objects to a single empty object to simplify your workspace.

  

• In the cage parent object, ensure you have an outer cage for each of your 15 body parts with appropriate naming affix.

  

• In the armature object, ensure that you include the all 15 mesh objects and 19 attachments with the appropriate naming affix.

  

• When exporting character bodies with animation or FACS animation, ensure that your animation timeline Start and End include the entire range of your animations.

Blender export settings

Blender allows you to export your character body as either a .fbx or .gltf file. If you are exporting it as a .fbx file, familiarize yourself with Blender's FBX scaling to ensure that you successfully import the model into Studio at the correct scale.

To export your character body in Blender as a .fbx file:

1. In the topbar, click File > Export > FBX (.fbx). The Blender File View window displays.

2. On the right-hand side, set Path Mode to Copy, then toggle the Embed Textures button.

3. In the Include section, enable Custom Properties.

4. In the Transform section, set Apply Scalings to FBX Unit Scale. If you run into scaling issues on import, see Blender FBX scaling for alternative approaches.

5. In the Armature section, uncheck Add Leaf Bones.

6. Enable and expand Animation, then:

   1. Uncheck NLA Strips, All Actions, and Force Start/End Keyframes.

      Ensure your project animation timeline has the correct Start and End range of all your keyframes.

   2. Set Simplify to 0.0.

7. Click the Export FBX button and save the .fbx to the directory of your choice.

Maya export settings

To export your character body in Maya as a .fbx file:

1. In the topbar, click File > Export All. The Export All window displays.

2. Near the bottom of the window, click the Files of type dropdown, then select FBX export.

3. On the right-hand side of the window, navigate to the Options... section.

4. In the Geometry section, enable Smooth Mesh and Referenced Asset Content.

5. In the Animation section, enable Animation. Avatar characters with dynamic heads require animation data.

6. Enable Bake Animation.

7. If you need to import textures as a .png, in the Embed Media section, enable Embed Media.

8. In the Advanced Options section,

   1. Navigate to Units, then enable Automatic.
   2. Navigate to Axis Conversion, then set the Up Axis property to Y.

9. Click the Export All button and save the .fbx to the directory of your choice.