Search Unity

  1. Welcome to the Unity Forums! Please take the time to read our Code of Conduct to familiarize yourself with the forum rules and how to post constructively.
  2. We have updated the language to the Editor Terms based on feedback from our employees and community. Learn more.
    Dismiss Notice
New Forum User Notice Update to the Unity Editor Software Terms

Question Is it possible to do skeletal animation with the skinning editor if you don't have PSB files?

Discussion in '2D' started by flappydevs, Feb 14, 2023.

  1. flappydevs

    flappydevs

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2019
    Posts:
    2
    I don't have Adobe so I cannot produce psb files. I have my assets as SVG files which ... I cannot import
    by default with the 2D standard packages. I have not searched for 3rd party packages.
    I said, fine. I will export a sprite map from the SVG file and use png map to assemble the parts in the
    sprite editor. But, after importing the png sprite and slicing up the parts it seems that there is no way
    to move the parts and assemble the overlapping final composition before applying the bones.
    Am I doing something wrong?
    What am I missing? It's hard for me to believe that all the skeletal animation was built around the PSB file
    format and nothing else.
    Please suggest workaround if there is any.
    Thank you!
     
    flappydevs, Feb 14, 2023
    #1

  2. Unrighteouss

    Unrighteouss

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2018
    Posts:
    599
    As far as I know, there isn't any way to assemble the character in the sprite editor before making bones/meshes/weights. With this workflow, you would have to rig the character, and then assemble it in the game hierarchy afterwards. Of course, this has some limitations; you can't create weights between different body parts, as this would create issues when assembling the character.

    This may be hard to believe, but it's true haha.

    However, all hope is not lost if you lack an adobe subscription. I use Clip Studio Paint, and it can export PSB files. Most 2D software can at least export PSD files; I've never done it, but apparently you can just rename the file extension to PSB and it'll work.

    What software are you using to export SVG's? It likely also exports PSD files.
     
    Unrighteouss, Feb 14, 2023
    #2

  3. flappydevs

    flappydevs

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2019
    Posts:
    2
    Well ... I'm lost for words. I use Linux as OS and Inkscape for SVG assets. It does not export PSB. I created the SVG with all the parts in their own layer as you do when using PSB and tried an online converter tool but it did worst than poor. I'll look for another converter see if that will solve this block for me.
    Thank you for the answer.
     
    flappydevs, Feb 14, 2023
    #3

  4. Unrighteouss

    Unrighteouss

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2018
    Posts:
    599
    After googling it, it looks like Inkscape users generally use Photopea to convert their files to PSD.

    https://www.photopea.com/
     
    Unrighteouss, Feb 14, 2023
    #4

  5. Ted_Wikman

    Ted_Wikman

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2019
    Posts:
    883
    Also note that from Unity 2022.2, PSD Importer can import .psd files as well as .psb files, without any additional scripts added. If you are working in Unity 2021.3, you can make use of this PSD Importer override script, to enable this functionality.

    The reason we picked psd/psb files is because it is the most used image file format with layer support. After looking at how game developers tend to work, we noticed that the majority of developers are using a DCC tool which supports working in layers, when creating 2D characters/actors. Bringing these layered assets into Unity and hooking it up with our animation system allows for the most streamlined approach, where you can more easily iterate on your art.

    If your workflow differs from this setup, we are always curious to hear how you work, and how your optimal pipeline would look like.
     
    Ted_Wikman, Feb 15, 2023
    #5
    Unrighteouss likes this.