MB-Lab

MB-Lab is an open-source character creation and animation tool for Blender, a popular 3D modeling and animation software. MB-Lab is designed to facilitate the creation of detailed and realistic human characters that can be used in various 3D projects, including video games, animations, and simulations. It is an evolution of the earlier ManuelBastioniLAB project, which was discontinued in 2018. MB-Lab provides users with a comprehensive set of tools and presets for creating male and female characters of various ages and ethnicities, with a high degree of customization available for physical features, skin textures, and expressions.

Overview

MB-Lab integrates seamlessly with Blender, offering a user-friendly interface that allows even those with limited 3D modeling experience to create professional-quality characters. It utilizes a series of algorithms and morphing techniques to generate anatomically correct human figures, which can then be further customized to meet the specific needs of a project. The software includes features for simulating realistic skin, including sub-surface scattering, which mimics the way light penetrates human skin, adding to the realism of the characters created.

Features

• Character Customization: MB-Lab includes a wide range of parameters for customizing the physical appearance of characters, including body shape, facial features, skin color, and age. Users can also select from various ethnicities, allowing for the creation of diverse character populations.
• Facial Expressions: The software provides a set of tools for creating and animating facial expressions, enabling characters to convey a wide range of emotions.
• Realistic Skin Simulation: Advanced texturing and shading options simulate realistic skin, including effects like sweat, tears, and sub-surface scattering.
• Pose and Animation: While MB-Lab focuses primarily on character creation, it also includes basic tools for posing and animating characters, making it possible to create simple animations directly within the tool.

Usage

MB-Lab is widely used in the indie game development community, as well as by hobbyists and educators in the fields of animation and digital arts. Its integration with Blender, a free and open-source 3D creation suite, makes it an accessible option for individuals and small studios looking to produce high-quality character models without the need for expensive software licenses.

Development and Community

The development of MB-Lab is community-driven, with contributions from a global team of developers and artists. The project is hosted on GitHub, where users can report bugs, request features, and contribute to the codebase. The community around MB-Lab is active, with forums and social media groups where users can share tips, tutorials, and their creations.

Future Directions

The future development of MB-Lab is expected to focus on improving the realism and versatility of the characters it can produce, with enhancements to skin simulation, facial expressions, and integration with the latest versions of Blender. There is also a growing interest in using MB-Lab for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications, where the demand for realistic human characters is high.