Killer workflow 2.0

Faceform Wrap, formerly known as R3DS Wrap recently released a major update of their amazing topology transfer software. The introduction of support for 32-bit depth images and EXR format in the 2023.06.4 version is undoubtedly a game-changer for texture transfer, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the entire process of Face Wrapping/Texturing.

It's especially beneficial for the VFace maps to be transfered to your custom topology mesh. More importantly, we will look how this workflow can be applied to a mesh with multiple UVs, known as UDIMs.

Wrapping and Texture transfer can be done in literraly in a few minutes. The baker is almost real-time and the results are almost perfect straight-of-the-box!

To get started with this new functionality in Faceform Wrap, make sure you have updated to the 2023.06.4 version.

Follow these 10 steps or download the template we created, for free!

Wrapping

Load your mesh (with your topology and UVs) and the VFace mesh.

Use the wrapping node, to wrap your basemesh to the VFace mesh. It can be done in addition to the SelectPointPairs node (Please refer to this additional step to see how.) to get a more precise result. In this case, we have something really clean directly using the wrapping node only.

Texture Transfer

Now, load your texture file from the VFace pack, connect it to the VFace mesh, and create a TransferTexture node after the wrapping node.

Adjust the "resolution" of the TransferTexture node, 1k,2k,4k,8k for instance.

💡 Tip - Working with UDIMs

Type to the TransferTexture node "Python Expression Editor":
U param: frame()%10
V param: frame()//10

Now, when you move your timeline and switch frames, you'll see the other UDIMs transferred in real-time, without the need to manually type in the U or V parameter numbers. This feature is also incredibly useful when exporting images in batch, based on the start - end frame range!

The magic also happens when you see the calibrated displacement maps with preserved negative values! Notice how fast this baker operates when using a 16k 32-bit float image!

We are almost done! Now, create an ExterpoateImage node to fill the UV borders and avoid any seams that might occurs. Uncheck the Clamp option to preserve all the data.

Time to save the new maps! Simply create a SaveImage node and make sure to check all the options we set in the image below.

All you have to do now, is to switch to other maps available in the VFace pack, change the Filename in the saveImage node, and export everything you need for your project!

Optional steps

Better wrapping: You might have a mesh that is more complex to wrap, in this case, you can use the SelectPointPairs node to use corresponding points and wrap more precisely your mesh to the VFace mesh.

Fast preview: To quickly check the results, you can do a blendshape to view the original mesh and apply the newly created maps. Since Wrap does not fully support UDIMs, you can view a single UDIM at a time by moving the timeline. Still a pretty good option without having to open an external application and change on the fly the wrapping parameters if needed. It's non-destructive!

The 2023.06.4 update of Faceform Wrap is a significant step forward, streamlining the texture transfer process and delivering excellent results. Enjoy the new features and the convenience they bring to your workflow using your VFace pack!