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Prepare Mesh for the Auto Rig tool

The Auto Rig tool requires a Static Mesh facing +X, +Y, -X, or -Y. Preparing the mesh with the correct orientation ensures that it is exported properly and helps produce the best possible Auto Rig results.

Skeletal Mesh​

Prepare Skeletal Mesh for Autorig

  1. Open the character in the Skeletal Mesh Editor.

  2. Check that the character faces +X, +Y, -X, or -Y. If it is not aligned with one of these axes, select the root bone and rotate it around the Z axis until the character faces a supported direction (press E to activate the Rotate tool, then drag the rotation gizmo in the viewport).

  3. Select Make Static Mesh from the toolbar and save the generated Static Mesh. The new Static Mesh preserves the root rotation applied in the Skeletal Mesh Editor.

  4. In the Auto Rig tab, set Forward Axis to the direction in which the prepared Static Mesh now faces. For example, if the character faces -Y, select “-Y”. StudioTwin uses this setting to orient the mesh correctly when exporting it for auto-rigging.

Static Mesh​

Prepare Static Mesh for Autorig

  1. Open the Static Mesh in the Static Mesh Editor.

  2. If the character already faces +X, +Y, -X, or -Y, continue to the last step.

  3. If it does not, duplicate the Static Mesh in the Content Browser to preserve the original asset, then drag the duplicate into the Level.

    a. Rotate the Static Mesh Actor around the Z axis until the character faces one of the supported directions.

    b. With the actor selected, open Modeling Mode by pressing Shift+5 and select XForm > Bake Transform. Use the following settings:

    • Bake Rotation: true
    • Bake Scale: Do Not Bake Scale
    • Recenter Pivot: false

    Select Accept to apply the actor's rotation to the Static Mesh asset.

  4. In the Auto Rig tab, set Forward Axis to the direction in which the prepared Static Mesh now faces. For example, if the character faces -Y, select “-Y”. StudioTwin uses this setting to orient the mesh correctly when exporting it for auto-rigging.

tip

For more information about Modeling Mode and Bake Transform, see Epic Games' Modeling Tools documentation.