Custom avatars

Rig your custom avatar mesh with Mixamo, download a skinned FBX, and use it in Armorsmith with animations, modifications, and attachment points.

Use Avatar → Custom Avatar to fit costume parts around a scan or a body model created in another application. The import dialog accepts OBJ, STL, and FBX files.

A custom model is useful when the built-in body’s proportions cannot represent the shape you need. Its geometry and skeleton determine which editing and posing workflows are available.

If you upload your custom mesh to Mixamo, complete its rigging process, and download the skinned mesh as an FBX, you can use that file directly in Armorsmith’s avatar system. The imported avatar supports animations, avatar modifications, and body attachment points for your costume parts.

Before you start

Have your custom body mesh, an Adobe account for Mixamo, and Armorsmith ready. Save your current avatar setup before importing another body.

A rigged mesh has a skeleton. A skinned mesh also has weights that connect its surface to the skeleton, so the body deforms when the bones move. You need both the body mesh and its rig in the downloaded FBX.

Tutorial: add a custom avatar with Mixamo

1. Prepare your custom mesh

   Use a clean humanoid mesh in a neutral pose. Separate the arms enough to expose the torso, and center the body at the scene origin. Remove cameras, helper objects, and unrelated scene geometry before exporting.

   Check the body’s intended height and units in your modeling application. Mixamo’s automatic rigging works with humanoid characters; unusual proportions or extra limbs can prevent it from completing.

2. Upload the mesh to Mixamo

   Sign in at Mixamo and click Upload Character. Select your custom mesh. Mixamo accepts FBX, OBJ, and ZIP uploads.

   To include textures, embed them in an FBX, or upload a ZIP containing the OBJ, its MTL, and texture files.

3. Complete the rigging process

   Follow Mixamo’s prompts to place the body markers. Confirm their positions and wait for automatic rigging to finish.

   Review the rigged character in the preview. If a joint bends incorrectly, correct the marker placement or source mesh and repeat the rigging process before downloading.

4. Download the skinned FBX

   Click Download and choose FBX as the format. If the download dialog offers a skin option, choose With Skin so the file includes your custom body mesh along with its skeleton and skin weights.

   Keep this FBX and any associated textures together. A Without Skin download contains animation data without the body mesh, so use With Skin when preparing the custom avatar.

5. Load the FBX as an Armorsmith avatar

   In Armorsmith, choose Avatar → Custom Avatar, select the downloaded .fbx, and open it. Load it through this avatar command so it becomes the body you fit costume parts around.

   The skinned FBX from Mixamo can be used directly with Armorsmith’s avatar system. Armorsmith recognizes the compatible skeleton and creates body attachment points.

   Inspect the front and side views. Use the Measurement tool to check a known distance, such as height, before fitting parts.

6. Try animations and avatar modifications

   Use the Animation Selector above the Costume viewport to choose an available animation, then click Play / Pause. Pause and drag the Animation Scrubber to inspect how the custom mesh bends at its shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. See Animation controls.

   Open Avatar → Edit Avatar to make available avatar modifications. Use Avatar → Edit Pose for joint and bone adjustments. Recheck the body’s dimensions and deformation after changes. See Posing your avatar for pose editing and saving.

   Custom meshes do not automatically gain every measurement guide or local detail region of the built-in bodies. See Built-in measurements and detail sliders below.

7. Attach costume parts and save

   Import a costume part into a workspace, click Attach, and choose the appropriate body attachment point. Adjust the part’s position, rotation, and scale to fit your custom avatar. Follow Attaching parts for the full workflow.

   Change the pose or play an animation to check that the part follows its attachment point. Inspect joint clearance and neighboring pieces, and use Fit Checker to check clearance to the body.

   Save your avatar and costume project. Retain the downloaded FBX and textures with your setup so you can reuse the custom body later.

For more help preparing a mesh, see Adobe’s Mixamo rigging guide and automatic rigging requirements.

Import an existing body model

If you already have a skinned FBX with a compatible skeleton, you can go straight to Avatar → Custom Avatar. You can also import an OBJ or STL as a static fitting reference.

Prepare the model

• Use an upright body in a neutral pose with the arms separated enough to access the torso.
• Confirm the intended height and units in the source application.
• Keep texture files with the model if you want its materials to load.
• Save your current avatar setup before importing another body.

Import and inspect

1. Load the body model

   Choose Avatar → Custom Avatar, select the OBJ, STL, or FBX, and open it.

2. Verify scale and orientation

   Inspect the front and side. Use the Measurement tool to check a known distance, such as height.

   If scale or orientation is wrong, correct the source model and import it again. Check the dimensions before fitting costume parts.

3. Check skeleton and attachment points

   Test the points you intend to attach parts to. For a model with a compatible skeleton, try a pose and check that limbs and attachment points follow the intended body regions.

   For a model without a usable skeleton, use Avatar → Edit Pose to position attachment points for fitting. Treat the body mesh as a static reference.

4. Fit and save

   Attach a costume part and check its position and clearance. Save the avatar and costume project, and retain the original body model.

Rigged and unrigged models

Model	What to expect
A skinned FBX downloaded from Mixamo	Use it directly as an avatar with animations, avatar modifications, and body attachment points. Check scale and deformation before fitting.
An FBX with a different or incomplete skeleton	A skeleton alone does not guarantee compatibility. Verify the rig and attachment points.
An OBJ or STL body mesh	Use it as a static reference. These formats do not supply an articulated character skeleton.

If an FBX loads without the body mesh, download it from Mixamo again with With Skin selected. If the body appears but does not deform, check that the file includes a compatible skeleton and skin weights.

Built-in measurements and detail sliders

The built-in measurement guides and face/torso detail regions are designed for the built-in avatars. They do not automatically identify anatomy or reproduce the same adjustments on an arbitrary imported mesh.

Prepare the custom body’s dimensions and shape in the source application. For a scan, check posture and any clothing captured in the mesh before relying on its surface for clearance.

For the standard measurement workflow, use Creating your avatar. For import or fit problems, see Avatar troubleshooting.