Changing a character model in XSI

This article has no  links to other VDC articles. Please help improve this article by adding links  that are relevant to the context within the existing text.
January 2024

Every time you make a change to your model in XSI, that action is saved as a modifier on the object. Before you can export your model in Source engine formats, you'll need to freeze or flatten the stack of changes to that object. This is done using the Merge/Freeze Character script.

• To freeze your model and flatten any changes to character geometry (adding, moving or deleting points, edges, polygons) while maintaining facial animations in XSI v. 4.0 or later, or the XSI Mod Tool:
  • Make sure the model is selected and then press Freeze M on the Edit panel. This freezes the geometry changes while keeping envelope and all of the facial shapekey animations and clusters intact.
• To merge geometry that has facial animations with other geometry (putting the head on a different body, for instance):
  1. Multi-select the animated model first (head, face), then the non-animated model.
  2. Run ValveSource> Shape Tools > Merge Freeze. This will create a new "frozen"and merged version of the model called "NewCharacter".
  3. Rename the new model to whatever you like.
  4. re-apply your envelope and export away.
• For changes to texture coordinates, the modifiers are listed in the corresponding Texture_Coordinates folder (beneath Polygon Mesh > Clusters). You can freeze these changes by selecting the modifiers, right clicking and choosing Freeze from the menu - no need to run the Merge/Freeze script.