Reallusion releases iClone 8.1 and iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1
Originally posted on 30 September 2022 and updated to add Reallusion’s official release video.
Reallusion has released iClone 8.1, the latest version of its real-time character animation software, and iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1, the latest version of its live-link plugin for Unreal Engine.
iClone 8.1 adds a new Snap to Surface setting to the software’s Motion Director system, making it possible to animate a character moving over uneven terrain or climbing stairs using game-style controls.
iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1 adds support for timecode sync between iClone and Unreal Engine, and the option to transfer scene data from Unreal Engine back to iClone.
iClone 8.1: use Motion Director to animate characters moving over uneven terrain or climbing stairs
iClone 8.1 extends the software’s Motion Director system, introduced in iClone 8.0 earlier this year, which lets users animate characters semi-automatically using a game controller or game-style keyboard controls.
Its new Snap to Surface setting causes the character being controlled to respond automatically to changes in terrain elevation, keeping its feet planted on the ground as it moves up or down slopes.
It works with terrain generated using displacement textures as well as conventional geometry.
Snap to Surface also works with abrupt changes in elevation, making it possible for the character being controlled to climb stairs, with an option to limit the maximum distance it will climb or fall on each step.
Other parameters smooth out jitters caused by a character moving over uneven terrain, or let the character ‘anticipate’ changes in terrain elevation further in advance to minimise foot penetration.
In addition, it is now possible to use facial motion-capture data recorded using Reallusion’s Motion Live system with Motion Director.
iClone 8.1: support for character subdivision, and updates to the content manager
Other new features in the update include the option to subdivide characters without affecting their skin weights, making them more suitable for use in close-ups.
In addition, iClone’s content manager now supports searches based on animation tags, and the option to import and export tags, making it possible to rebuild a content library on a new machine.
iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1: support for timecode sync and two-way transfer of data
New features in iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1 include a new two-way Data Link system.
As well as transferring animation from iClone to Unreal Engine, users can now transfer scene data back to iClone, making it easier to animate interactions between characters and their surroundings.
You can see the workflow in the video above.
The update also introduces support for frame-rate-independent timecode sync, ensuring that the timelines of iClone and Unreal Engine remain precisely in sync during playback and editing.
It is also now possible to transfer facial morph animation data as well as full-body motion.
Both updates also include a number of smaller new features and bugfixes: you can find a complete list of changes via the links at the foot of the story.
Pricing and system requirements
iClone 8.1 is available for Windows 7+. New licences have a MSRP of $599.
iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1 is compatible with Unreal Engine 4.26+ and 5.0 on Windows 7 and 10. The plugin is free to indie users with revenues of under $100,000/year; full licences have a MSRP of $1,490.
Read a full list of new features in iClone 8.1 in the online release notes
Read a full list of new features in iClone Unreal Live Link 1.1 in the online release notes