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How to Create Custom Hair Models in Roblox Studio

Roblox Studio allows developers to create all kinds of custom models, including hair models that players can equip on their avatars. Making custom hair can take your Roblox games to the next level by allowing enhanced avatar customization.

Introduction to Creating Hair Models

Creating hair models for Roblox requires some 3D modeling knowledge. You will need to use vertex manipulation to sculpt shapes that resemble different hair styles and textures. The hair mesh can then be imported into Roblox Studio as a custom accessory that attaches to avatar heads.

Some key things to consider when modeling Roblox hair include:

  • Geometry – The vertex count should be low to ensure good performance but high enough to achieve the desired style. Good topology is also important.
  • Deformation – The hair should deform well when attached to different sized/shaped avatar heads. Weight painting is used to control this.
  • Textures – Creating multiple color and texture variations will allow more customization.

Software Needed

While Roblox Studio has basic modeling capabilities, most developers create hair models using external 3D software first. Some good options are:

  • Blender – Free open-source 3D creation suite. Provides the full modeling and texturing toolset needed for hair.
  • Maya – Industry standard 3D animation software with advanced tools. 30 day free trial available.
  • 3ds Max – Another top-tier 3D package by Autodesk. 30 day free trial available.

Other sculpting programs like ZBrush can also be used in the workflow.

Modeling the Base Hair Shape

  1. Begin by setting up reference images for the desired hairstyle. Concept art or real photos both work.
  2. Model the base shape using basic shapes or sculpting. Focus only on defining the main hair form.
  • Planar shapes like planes and cubes can quick-block-in areas
  • Sculpt tools are great for organic clumps of hair
  1. Use edge loops and poles to add proper edge flow for deformation. Areas that bend should have more loops.
  2. Keep the vertex counts low at this stage, around 1-3k vertices. Complexity can be added later.

Detailed Sculpting

  1. Increase mesh resolution and begin sculpting finer hair detail. Use various brushes to define strands, clumps, kinks and waves.
  • Clay and inflate brushes build up shapes quickly
  • Pinch and snake hook brushes create indented strands
  1. Refer closely to reference photos or concept art to capture distinctive silhouettes from all angles.
  2. Create customized alpha maps to sculpt clump and strand patterns. This adds realism and consistency.
  3. Carefully watch polygon count as you detail. 10k vertices is a good max target.

UV Unwrapping

  1. UV unwrapping defines how textures are mapped to the 3D model surface.
  2. Since hair topology flows all over, manual unwrapping is required for low distortion.
  3. Pack the UV islands efficiently so all hair sections fit within a 0-1 UV space.
  4. Leave room in the UV map for defining multiple color regions later.

Weight Painting

  1. Weight painting assigns vertex influences to bone joints. This allows meshes to deform when attached to posed skeletons.
  2. Paint head bone influence values across the whole hair model. Areas that should move more when the head turns should have higher influence values.
  3. Paint 0.0 influence areas where you want the hair to stay rigid as the head moves. This prevents odd deformation.
  4. Test and tweak the weight painting by posing the head bone until you achieve a natural look.

Texturing and Materials

The textures and shader are what give the hair realism and variety.

  1. Create multiple hair color variations by painting the UV mapped model.
  2. Use alpha maps to paint fine strand details over top of base colors.
  3. Make the roots darker and tips lighter to simulate real color falloff.
  4. Design multiple textures for more variety – smooth, wavy, frizzy, etc.
  5. Use specular and roughness maps to enhance sheen and shine.

The shader should use a transparent surface with alpha blending to give soft, anti-aliased edges. IOR controls shininess.

Rigging to the Avatar

Rigging attaches the hair model to the avatar skeleton for animation.

  1. Import the hair model into Roblox Studio and position it on an avatar head.
  2. Create Rig Attachment joints at the scalp and nape of the neck. Parent the hair object to these.
  3. Constrain the attachments to follow the avatar head bone.
  4. Parent hair textures to the attachments to follow along.

Conclusion

And that covers the overall workflow for creating custom hair models for Roblox games! The main steps are modeling the base shape, sculpting details, unwrapping UVs, weight painting for deformation, texturing for variety, and rigging to the avatar. With practice and attention to detail, you can make hair that brings your Roblox characters to life.

References

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