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FBX Export and Import — Flair to Maya Workflow

BOTH

The FBX pipeline lets you transfer camera and rig motion between Flair and Maya for previsualization, VFX integration, and CGI composite work. This guide covers the essential settings and common pitfalls.

Critical: Set Roll Up Before Import

Flair can crash if you import an FBX file without first setting Roll Up correctly.

Before importing any FBX into Flair:

  1. In Flair, go to Setups → Camera Setup.
  2. Set the Roll Up direction to match the FBX rig orientation.
  3. Then proceed with File → Import FBX.

This is the single most common cause of import crashes. The Roll Up setting tells Flair how to orient the rig model from the FBX file — wrong orientation causes an internal calculation error.

Milo Rig Types: 2-Node vs 3-Node

When importing a Milo FBX, you must match the node count to the physical rig:

Rig Configuration Node Count Description
Milo with straight arm 2-node Standard column + arm assembly
Milo with articulated (double-jointed) arm 3-node Extra joint in the arm for extended reach

Select the correct rig type at the FBX Import dialog. Importing a 3-node move onto a 2-node rig (or vice versa) will produce incorrect axis values.

Flair → Maya (Export)

  1. In Flair, set up the move with all kinematics correct.
  2. File → Export → FBX
  3. In Maya, import the FBX. The camera and rig hierarchy comes in as Maya transform nodes.
  4. Bind any VFX elements to the camera node.

Maya → Flair (Import)

  1. Export from Maya as FBX (standard Maya FBX export).
  2. In Flair: File → Import → FBX (not CGI Import — that's for Simul8).
  3. Set Roll Up and rig type before importing (see above).
  4. Flair converts the Maya transforms to real robot axis values.

Tutorial Video Series

MRMC's Flair Training series covers the full FBX/Maya pipeline:

# Tutorial Link
23 From Flair to Maya (Part 1) Watch
24 From Flair to Maya (Part 2) Watch
26 FBX Import to Bolt Pedestal Watch
27 FBX Import to Bolt on Track (Part 1) Watch
28 FBX Import to Bolt on Track (Part 2) Watch
29 Exporting FBX with Reference Points from Flair to Maya Watch

NY Summit: Simul8 + FBX in Feature Film Production

Case Studies: Feature Film Projects — Justin Dombrowski and Colin Quinn — MRMC NY Summit 2023 (28:23) Covers FBX and Simul8 workflows used on Spider-Man, Black Panther 2. Includes Q&A on bringing impossible-looking moves from Maya into Flair. Watch on MRMC VHX

VHX account required ($79 lifetime / $49 rental).

Source

  • Forum discussion, "FBX Interface Flair↔Maya" — talk.mrmoco.com/t/108