Convert XAF to BVH

Understanding the xaf and bvh file formats

XAF (eXtensible Animation File) is a proprietary animation file format used by Autodesk 3ds Max. It stores animation data for objects, bones, or characters, capturing keyframes and motion information. BVH (Biovision Hierarchy) is a widely used motion capture format that contains both skeleton hierarchy and motion data, making it popular for character animation in 3D applications and game engines.

Why convert xaf to bvh?

Converting XAF to BVH is essential when you need to transfer animation data from 3ds Max to other 3D software or game engines that support BVH, such as Blender, Unity, or MotionBuilder. BVH is a more universal format for motion capture and character animation workflows.

How to convert xaf to bvh

There is no direct one-click converter for XAF to BVH, but you can achieve the conversion using 3ds Max and an intermediate export process:

1. Open your animated scene in Autodesk 3ds Max.
2. Apply the XAF animation to your character or skeleton.
3. With the animated skeleton selected, go to File → Export → Export Selected.
4. Choose FBX as the export format and save the file.
5. Import the FBX file into Blender (free and open-source).
6. In Blender, select the armature and go to File → Export → Motion Capture (.bvh).
7. Configure export settings as needed and save the BVH file.

This workflow uses FBX as an intermediate format, as both 3ds Max and Blender support it, and Blender can export to BVH.

Best software for xaf to bvh conversion

• Autodesk 3ds Max: For working with XAF files and exporting to FBX.
• Blender: For importing FBX and exporting to BVH. Blender is free and supports a wide range of formats.

There are no dedicated online converters for XAF to BVH due to the proprietary nature of XAF, so using 3ds Max and Blender is the most reliable method.

Summary

To convert XAF to BVH, use 3ds Max to export your animation as FBX, then use Blender to convert FBX to BVH. This process ensures your animation data is preserved and compatible with a wide range of 3D applications.