3D Textures – PBR Shader Type Maps

PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) uses consistent lighting behavior to make materials look realistic in any environment. Stick to metal-rough or spec-gloss workflows and make sure your maps are calibrated properly (e.g., roughness should be in linear space, not gamma corrected).

Each material has 9 map channels that collaborate for materials of the PBR Shader Type. Open Texture Settings section in the Modify > Material tab to see these channels.

Base Color map

• The most frequently used texture mapping method. It wraps the bitmap image onto the 3D geometry surface while displaying its original pixel color.
• Any bitmap image, such as scanned images or images captured by digital camera, can be used as diffuse map to represent photo-realistm.
• Users can also use image software to make pre-rendered texture effects such as shadow, bevel, bump, lighting or weathering effects.  This approach can effectively simulate real-world effects while greatly saving system resources and rendering time.

Bump map

• When you import an image to the Bump channel, a dialog will request for the image format. Choose the Bump option if the image you want to import is in a grayscale mode.

Normal map

A Normal map is made from a high polygon model. Its color representation will affect surfaces like a regular bump map while providing higher degrees of detail.

AO Map (Ambient Occlusion)

This texture mapping method enhance the concavity and convexity of an object by appending additional shading around the seams or overlapping edges.

Metallic Map

Metallic maps can determin the reflectivity of a surface ranging from completely insulate to metallic. White parts of the map stand for reflectivity while black parts of the map stand for diffusion.

Roughness Map

Roughness map is used to describe the coarseness from the definition of the microsurfaces. The surfaces mapped with white are relatively rough while the ones mapped with black are perfectly smooth.

The combinations of the Metallic and Roughness can thus depict almost every material in the real world.

Displacement Map

You can create monochrome image maps with popular image-editing tools such as Photoshop. By using grayscale height maps, you can push and pull the surface of a 3D model to achieve the ideal look you desire.

Using a vector-based displacement map can produce undercut details on your model. Unlike the height displacement map (monochrome) simply stretches out geometry, vector displacement produces refined curves and edges, creating an unparalleled sense of detail to your model.

Glow map

• This texture mapping technique allows users to control the glow shape, color and strength.
• Glow maps will blend with your original diffuse maps, so the lighter the diffuse color (or glow color), the stronger the glow effect.
• A bright diffuse map in combination with a bright glow map might cause overexposure.

Blend Map

You may add any kind of images as the Blend map to blend with the Diffuse map, which increases the details and subtleties of the object. iClone also provides three methods, Multiply, Addition and Overlay, for blending.

How to fix foot contact for custom imported animation

Sometimes while importing custom motion from another platform, the character in iClone viewport is placed above the ground level, it is easy to fix it, maybe try the following steps:

1. Select the character and press hotkey W, you will send the gizmo (the circle 1 in below screenshot), just drag the character down a little bit.

2. Check the ‘Foot Contact’ in Modify panel (see the circle 2). You will see now the character feet will be focused on the ground level.

3. Bonus: You may also double click the footprint in the viewport, or go to Scene Manager to select it, then press hotkey W, you can even move up or down to adjust the position of the footprint as well.

Step-by-Step Guide: Integrating NVIDIA Omniverse with iClone 8 / Character Creator 4

Step 1: Setup

• Install and launch NVIDIA Omniverse Create (including Nucleus server)
• Install the latest iClone 8 and Character Creator 4
• Install the Omniverse Live Link plugin in iClone

Step 2: Create and Share USD File

• Create a new USD scene in Omniverse Create, saving it on the Nucleus server path
• Copy the USD file’s URL/link

Step 3: Connect iClone to Omniverse

• Open your character project in iClone
• Launch Omniverse Live Link, paste the USD URL
• Enable synchronization for character, animation, and scene

Step 4: Real-time Collaboration and Editing

• Edit character animation in iClone; changes update instantly in Omniverse
• Adjust lighting and materials in Omniverse; updates reflect in iClone
• Optionally add facial capture and physics simulations for enhanced realism

Step 5: Finalize and Export

• Save and merge all changes in Omniverse
• Render high-quality animations using Omniverse Renderer
• Or export FBX/USD files for further use in game engines

Tips

• Ensure USD files are stored on the Omniverse Nucleus server
• Keep FPS settings consistent to avoid animation sync issues
• Use Omniverse Material Builder to optimize material quality

This workflow significantly boosts multi-team collaboration efficiency by enabling real-time synchronized editing of characters and scenes, ideal for game development, film production, and metaverse projects.

Recommended AI Tools for Generating 3D Motion in 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed 3D motion generation, making it more efficient, accessible, and creative for animators, game developers, and enthusiasts. In the beginning of 2025, several tools leverage AI to streamline the creation of lifelike 3D motion. Below are some of the best options, including Reallusion’s iClone with its AccuPOSE and AccuFACE features, and Character Creator with its Headshot tool, each offering unique strengths for different workflows.

1. DeepMotion Animate 3D

DeepMotion Animate 3D converts video footage into 3D animations using AI-powered motion capture. It tracks body movements from any video source and delivers smooth, realistic motion with features like face and hand tracking. Ideal for creators seeking professional results without specialized hardware, it offers a free tier and paid plans for advanced features.

2. Cascadeur

Cascadeur is a free, physics-based animation tool enhanced by AI. Its algorithms assist with keyframe posing and secondary motion, ensuring natural movements. Compatible with FBX and USD, it integrates with Blender or Unity, making it perfect for precise animation on a budget, with paid upgrades for extra functionality.

3. Rokoko Vision

Rokoko Vision provides free, AI-driven motion capture from webcam or uploaded video. Its single-camera mode suits beginners, while the dual-camera option (paid after a trial) improves accuracy. Exporting to FBX, it’s great for hobbyists or small studios exploring motion capture affordably.

4. Move AI

Move AI uses video from mobile devices to create high-quality 3D motion with real-time previews and studio-grade precision. It’s a top choice for filmmakers and game developers needing fast, accurate animations. A subscription unlocks its full potential, offering scalability for professional projects.

5. Plask Motion

Plask Motion generates studio-quality animations from a single camera, with automated lighting and cinematic effects like motion blur. Supporting exports to Unreal, Maya, and Blender, it’s ideal for polished results in games, films, or social media content.

6. Reallusion iClone (with AccuPOSE and AccuFACE)

Reallusion’s iClone is a real-time 3D animation powerhouse enhanced by AI features like AccuPOSE and AccuFACE.

• AccuPOSE: This AI-assisted posing tool uses trained models and realistic human motion data to guide users in creating natural postures. It offers real-time feedback, control point constraints, and lock presets, allowing precise character manipulation without extensive manual adjustments. AccuPOSE streamlines workflows by combining intuitive controls with AI-driven posture suggestions, making it perfect for animators refining poses efficiently.
• AccuFACE: An AI-powered facial tracker, AccuFACE captures expressions from webcams or pre-recorded video files (minimum 720p at 30fps) using NVIDIA RTX GPU acceleration. It delivers high-quality, real-time facial animation, eliminating the need for expensive hardware. Features include denoising, smoothing filters, and regional strength adjustments to refine tracking, ensuring authentic lip-sync and nuanced expressions. It’s ideal for remote collaboration or animating professional-grade facial performances from diverse video sources.
  With Motion LIVE integration, iClone supports live performance capture, while its asset library and Unreal Live Link enhance versatility. A paid license unlocks its full potential for real-time storytelling and animation.

7. Reallusion Character Creator (with Headshot)

Complementing iClone, Reallusion’s Character Creator uses AI to simplify 3D character design and rigging.

• Headshot: This AI-powered plugin rapidly generates fully rigged digital avatars from a single real-person photo. By analyzing the image, Headshot maps facial features onto a 3D model using over 1000 morphs, creating a close likeness in minutes. Users can refine the head shape with sculpting tools or morph sliders, attach it to a pre-built body, and export it for animation in iClone or game engines like Unreal. With 4K texture support (normal, roughness, SSS, etc.), Headshot delivers scan-quality digital humans, perfect for filmmakers, game developers, or creators needing quick, realistic avatars.
  Character Creator’s auto-rigging and skinning features ensure animation-readiness, making it a paid but powerful tool for custom character creation.

Why Use AI for 3D Motion?

These tools automate repetitive tasks, enhance realism, and reduce production time. From video-based motion capture to physics-driven posing and rapid avatar generation, AI empowers creators to focus on artistry over technical complexity, benefiting solo artists and large studios alike.

Conclusion

In 2025, DeepMotion Animate 3D, Cascadeur, Rokoko Vision, Move AI, Plask Motion, and Reallusion’s iClone (with AccuPOSE and AccuFACE) and Character Creator (with Headshot) lead the AI-driven 3D motion landscape. Start with free tools like Cascadeur or Rokoko Vision, or dive into iClone’s real-time animation and Character Creator’s rapid avatar creation for professional results. With AI advancing, these tools are shaping a faster, smarter, and more imaginative era of animation.