Modular Head Rig

The Modular Head Rig is a flexible setup designed for customizing head shapes and facial features in character models. It includes a layered head rig and a facial customization GUI, enabling easy skinning and efficient adjustments. Users start by scaling and positioning the character with the Root Controller, then fine-tune facial expressions and proportions using the facial GUI and rig controls. After approval, the rig should be cleaned by deleting history and freezing transformations on both the mesh and blendshape targets. To prepare for export—especially to Unreal—only skin weights and blendshapes should remain in the final mesh to keep the file lightweight, while Maya users can retain the full rig for further work. The setup supports quick iteration and pipeline integration, particularly for blendshape baking and animation workflows.

Facial adjustments are controlled through the gui_rig_cntrl, which manages visibility toggles and blendshape attributes. Key tools include Face Pose Controls for non-destructive edits, the Custom Head Shape sculpt for additive adjustments, and preset Head Shape attributes for standard variations like gender blending. Users can switch between original Valve blendshapes and a cleaned-up custom set for more refined expressions. The rig allows for eye aim switching, texture layering via the Custom Skin attribute, and transfer shapes for corrective sculpts. Once final edits are made, users should delete history and freeze transformations to bake changes into the mesh, ensuring all geometry aligns properly for export or further development.

Here is another example of the level of control.  I also created a simple mirroring script to make it easier to flip changes.

Here’s a demonstration of the blend transfer, which can be baked onto the main mesh for easier iteration and finalization within a game engine.