FaceGen to VaM is a powerful but demanding bridge between photo-to-3D software and VaM’s morph system. When it works, it feels like magic – seeing a real face come to life in VR. When it fails, you’ll be scrubbing forums for cryptic error messages.
Rating: 4/5 – A genuine enabler for advanced VaM users, but too technical for the average hobbyist.
Pro Tip: Start with a neutral, well-lit front-and-side photo set. Test the morph at 50% strength first, then blend with a base VaM head shape to soften distortions.
The workflow for transferring a custom face from Virt-a-Mate (VaM) is a multi-step process that typically uses Daz Studio
as a bridge because VaM's "Person" atom is based on the Daz Genesis series (most commonly Genesis 2 or Genesis 8) Core Workflow Strategy: "The Daz Bridge"
Since VaM does not have a direct "import" button for FaceGen files, you must convert the face into a format VaM understands (like a Face Creation in FaceGen Artist/Modeller Load your source photos and use the tool to generate the 3D head. the model specifically for the
(or Genesis 2) figure. This ensures the mesh topology matches what VaM expects. Assembly in Daz Studio
Import the FaceGen-generated morph and textures into Daz Studio. Save the result as an Appearance Preset Character Preset Porting to Virt-a-Mate Automated Tool : Many creators use the VaM Toolbox
or similar community scripts to "port" Daz characters directly. These tools take the Daz files and package them into a or folder structure for VaM. Manual Texture/Morph Load : You can manually copy the skin textures from FaceGen/Daz and apply them in VaM's Skin Textures facegen to vam
tab, then use a "Morph Loader" plugin to import the custom head shape. Alternative: Direct OBJ to VaM
If you are skilled with 3D software, you can bypass Daz, though it is much harder to get the facial animations (morphs) to work correctly. Export from FaceGen Clean in Blender
: Scale and align the head precisely to a standard VaM head model. Import to VaM Custom Unity Asset Custom Morph import process. Necessary Tools & Resources
Converting a face from FaceGen to Virt-A-Mate (VaM) is a common way to bring realistic likenesses into the sim. Since VaM uses the Daz Genesis 2 (G2)
mesh as its base, the process usually involves using Daz Studio as a bridge.
//hub.virtamate.com/threads/facegen.8966/">Virt-A-Mate Hub . 1. Export from FaceGen to Daz Studio
Generate the Head: Use FaceGen Artist to create your face from photos. Export to Daz: Export the model specifically for Genesis 2 Female
(or Male). This will generate a .dsf morph file and texture files (diffuse/skin maps). FaceGen to VaM is a powerful but demanding
Locate the Files: FaceGen typically saves these in your Daz library under:.../My DAZ 3D Library/data/DAZ 3D/Genesis 2/Female/Morphs/FaceGen 2. Moving Files to VaM
VaM needs to see these files in its own directory structure to recognize them:
The Morph: Copy the exported .dsf morph file from your Daz directory to:VaM_Installation_Folder/Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/female (or male).
The Textures: Copy the FaceGen-generated skin textures (face and body) to:VaM_Installation_Folder/Custom/Atom/Person/Textures. 3. Loading in Virt-A-Mate
Hard Reset: After copying the files, open VaM and perform a Hard Reset (found in the "System" or "File" tab). This forces VaM to scan for the new morph and convert the .dsf into a VaM-compatible format. Apply the Morph: Select your Person atom.
Go to Morphs and search for the name of your FaceGen export. Turn the slider to 1.0. Apply the Skin:
Go to Skin Select. It is recommended to start with a Base Skin (like "Female 1") to ensure the FaceGen textures align correctly.
Manually load your FaceGen textures into the Face, Torso, and Limbs slots. Troubleshooting Tips When you hit export, you should get three
Texture Mismatch: If the head skin looks different from the body, ensure you are using the textures FaceGen exported specifically for that model, as they are "baked" to match.
Morph Not Showing: If the morph doesn't appear after a reset, double-check that the file extension is .dsf and it is in the correct Morphs/female folder.
Integrating FaceGen into Virt-A-Mate (VAM) is a popular workflow for creating realistic, unique characters without spending hours sculpting sliders manually. Because VAM does not have a native "FaceGen importer," the process relies on an intermediary step involving image manipulation and VAM's built-in photo-to-morph tools.
Here is a breakdown of the current methods, workflows, and limitations.
When you hit export, you should get three files:
FaceGen produces dense, messy topology around the ears and eyes. Use Meshmixer or Blender to decimate the mesh slightly, or better yet, use the head as a shrink-wrap target for a VAM base mesh. Many pros use the "VAM FaceGen Fixer" script in Blender to transfer the shape to a clean topology.
Here is the meat of the operation. We will break this down into the Export Phase (FaceGen) and the Import Phase (VaM).
Don't rely on 100% FaceGen. A 100% generated face looks "uncanny." In VaM, set the FaceGen morph to 0.85. Then layer in a "Soft Female" or "Beauty" morph from the community packs. This softens the very harsh, statistical exactness of the FaceGen data.