---
title: "Create subjects"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/Shogun17/13536696/Create%20subjects"
format: markdown
---
After you have calibrated your Vicon cameras, you are ready to create and calibrate subjects and any props that you need.
To create and calibrate subjects, complete the following procedures listed in this page.
> Macro (scroll-only)
>
> > Macro (toc)
In addition to the following information, see also the Vicon video [6 - Shogun Live - Subject Calibration](https://youtu.be/HjuwTANfJxo), which demonstrates how to place markers on a performer and how to calibrate a subject using a T-pose and ROM. (Note that the latest version of Shogun uses an A-pose for subject calibration, and includes a cluster-picker to help with subject booting when using the high-density finger marker sets.)
> Macro (scroll-ignore)
>
> > Macro (widget)
> Macro (excerpt)
>
> #### Load subjects and props via .mcp file
>
> For an easy way to quickly load subjects and props from an existing scene, you can load an .*mcp* file directly into Shogun Live.
>
>
> **To quickly load subjects and props from an .mcp:**
>
>
> 1. At the top of the **Tracking** panel, click the **Load tracking configuration** button > Macro (inline-media-image)
>
> .
> 2. From the Load Tracking Configuration dialog box, select or browse to the required .*mcp* file.
> The subjects and props are displayed in the Tracking panel as normal.
## Choose a marker set
Choose a marker set, depending on your requirements. Templates (labeling and solving) for the following marker sets are supplied with the latest release of Shogun:
> Macro (scroll-tablelayout)
| **Marker set** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| **FrontWaist** | Standard 53-marker set |
| FrontWaist10Fingers | Standard marker set plus 10 finger-markers |
| FrontWaist3Fingers | Standard marker set plus three finger-markers |
| FrontWaist5Fingers | Standard marker set plus five finger-markers |
| **Production** | Production marker set, which helps with marker occlusion and includes extra markers for the back and top of the shoulders to help with gap-filling and solving |
| Production10Fingers | Production marker set plus 10 finger-markers |
| Production3Fingers | Production marker set plus three finger-markers |
| Production5Fingers | Production marker set plus five finger-markers |
| **SideWaist** | Alternative standard marker set, which avoids front waist marker occlusion (useful if, for example, the front waist marker is likely to be occluded due to a performer's hands obstructing it or the performer bending forwards) |
| SideWaist10Fingers | Standard marker set with side waist markers plus 10 finger-markers |
| SideWaist3Fingers | Standard marker set with side waist markers plus three finger-markers |
| SideWaist5Fingers | Standard marker set with side waist markers plus five finger-markers |
For the most realistic finger animation, the 10 finger-marker set is recommended.
It is assumed that you are using one of Shogun’s default labeling templates. If you are using a different template, please contact [Vicon Support](mailto:support@vicon.com).
> Macro (anchor)
##
Add labeling clusters to the datastore (optional step)
> Macro (scroll-tablelayout)
| | |
| --- | --- |
|  | To help Shogun Live in booting the labeling setup and to uniquely identify performers, you can use labeling clusters. Labeling clusters are particularly useful in scenes with multiple performers. |
Place one or more labeling clusters on each performer, with each cluster containing five or more markers. Ensure labeling clusters are unique by varying the position of the markers in each cluster.
Before you can use the labeling clusters for motion capture, you must add them to the Shogun Live datastore, to enable Shogun Live to recognize them.
**To create labeling clusters:**
1. To save clusters, you can either use the default folder (*C:\Users\Public\Documents\Vicon\Clusters*), or to change the default location, in the **Preferences** dialog box (Shift+P), on the **User** tab, go to the **Folders** section and on the **Labeling Clusters** line, enter or browse to the required folder.
2. Place the labeling cluster(s) in the volume and ensure all the markers are visible to the cameras.
3. In the **3D Scene**, ALT+drag to select a minimum of five markers for the new cluster.
4. In the **Tracking** panel, ensure the **Setup** tab is selected and in the **Labeling Cluster** field, enter a name for the new cluster and then click the adjacent **Create** button.
A labeling cluster is created from the selected markers and a .*vsk* file (with the same name as the labeling cluster) is created in the folder specified in Step 1.
:check_mark: **Tip:** To help you to identify a labeling cluster, in the tree at the top of the **Tracking** panel, hover the mouse pointer over the cluster's icon. An enlarged view of the cluster is displayed.
5. If you need to rename, detach, delete, or export a cluster, at the top of the **Tracking** panel, right-click the cluster and from the menu, select the required option. To rename you can also double-click the required cluster and then enter the new name.
> Macro (anchor)
## Place markers on a performer
**To place markers on a performer:**
1. Place your chosen marker set on the performer(s).
The following images show the standard Vicon FrontWaist 53-marker set, and also show the placement of a cluster.> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
These images show the placement of markers for the Production marker set (with 10 finger-markers):> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
If you're using side waist markers, place the waist marker(s) at the sides of the performer's waist:> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
2. Ensure that the foot markers are placed so that the toe marker is as far forward as possible on the foot while still facing upward. Also ensure that the three other markers (the heel marker and the two markers on either side of the front of the foot) are in the same plane, and are as low (ie near to the floor), as possible.
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
3. > Macro (anchor)
If you're using finger markers, place them on the hands.
Follow these guidelines to ensure that the finger markers produce an accurate solve:
- **Wrists**: The wrist marker placement is important because the foundation of a good finger solve is a correctly solved wrist. Place the wrist markers on either side of the wrist so that both markers are the same distance down the arm and as close to the joint center as possible.
- **Hands**: Place the hand markers just before the knuckle of the index and pinky finger.
- **Fingers**: For 3 finger-marker setups, place a marker just before the first joint of the index, pinky, and thumb, so that it is not affected by rotation of the second joint (see the photo of the [3 finger marker set](#3Finger)).
For 5 finger-marker setups, place the markers at the end of each of the five fingers (see the photo of the [5 finger-marker set](#5Finger)).
For 10 finger-marker setups, place the markers at the end of each finger, and mid markers on the second phalange apart from the mid (see the photo of the [10 finger-marker set](#10Finger)).
- **Upper arms and legs**: To help with calibration, place offset markers on the upper arms and legs.
> Macro (anchor)
These images show placement of the wrist, hand, and finger markers in a three-finger setup:
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (anchor)
This image shows placement of the wrist, hand, and finger markers in a 5 finger-marker set:
> Macro (anchor)
This image shows placement of the wrist, hand, and finger markers in a 10 finger-marker set:
> Macro (inline-media-image)
Placement for all the finger marker sets, as displayed in Shogun, is shown below:
See [Finger marker set table](#table-1)
:check_mark: **Tip: ** For a successful calibration, choose the correct size of markers for the hands, fingers and wrists:
- **Hand markers**. Marker size is critical for the wrist rotation in the A-pose. If you use large markers, this can cause an upward rotation of the the wrist and downward rotation of the knuckles. For the best results, we recommend that the markers' centers are about 10 mm from the joint axis.
- **Finger markers**. Marker size is also important for calibration. For the best results, we recommend that the markers' centers are about 5 mm from the joint axis.
- **Wrist markers**. Marker size does not affect calibration, so you can use normal body-size markers or finger-size markers.
4. If you're using clusters (see [Add clusters to the Shogun Live datastore](#CreateClusters)), if you haven't already done so, place them on the performer(s). Normally, a good location for the cluster is on the torso, but not too close to other markers. This can be on the front, as shown in the following image, or on the back, as shown in the illustrations in Step 1.
> Macro (anchor)
##
Create and calibrate a subject
Calibrating a subject involves having a performer wearing the required marker set stand in an A-pose and then perform a Range of Motion (ROM) in the capture volume. During the ROM, ensure that the performer goes through a full range of movement for every limb and joint that is to be captured.
Before you begin, t o give the clearest view of the subject, at the top of the **3D Scene** view, ensure **View Filters** is selected, then under the **Volume** options, clear **Cameras**. In the **Subjects** section, select **Solve** and in the options matrix, in the **S** column, ensure **Skin** is selected (in addition to any other options that you may want to use).
> ℹ️ **Note**
> ℹ️ Live occlusion-fixing occurs by default. This ensures the skeleton continues to behave correctly while markers are occluded. To ensure occlusion fixing is displayed, display the **View Filters**, and in the **Data** section, ensure **Missing Markers** is selected. In the **Subjects** section, select **Solve**, and in the options matrix, in the **S** column, ensure **Skin** is selected. Occlusion fixing is indicated by the red color and is also visible when **X-Ray** is selected.
> ℹ️ To turn off occlusion fixing, at the top of the **Processing** panel, click **Show Advanced** and in the **General** section, clear **Occlusion Fixing**.
If you want to set aside a part of your volume for subject calibration, to avoid having to clear the volume each time you have to calibrate or re-calibrate a subject, see [Create a subject calibration hotspot](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Shogun17/pages/13537357) in *Getting more from Vicon Shogun*.
> Macro (scroll-pagebreak)
**High fidelity fingers marker sets**
If you're using a marker set that includes markers for high fidelity fingers, note that labeling also makes use of this feature. To help the calibration, ensure you have placed offset markers on the upper arms and legs.
> ⚠️ **Note**
> ⚠️ Because the high-density marker set results in a greater demands on processing, you may experience dropped frames, especially when using more than one actor. Ideally, test first with a single actor on a high-spec, multi-core machine.
> ⚠️ To improve processing, you can run reconstruction, labeling, solving and/or retargeting over multiple machines. For information, see [Run Shogun processing on multiple machines](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Shogun17/pages/13537336) in *Getting more from Vicon Shogun*.
**To perform live subject calibration:**
1. In the **Tracking** panel, on the **Setup** tab, in the Template field, choose the appropriate template for your subject.
If you're using side waist markers and/or finger markers, make sure you choose the templates that include side waist markers and/or fingers (indicated by their names).
2. To choose a mesh, ensure the Advanced properties are displayed (if they aren't, click **Show Advanced** at the top right of the **Setup** tab) and from the **Skin** list, select the mesh that is to be used for the solving skeleton.
3. To select a labeling cluster, for example, for a subject who is wearing a high density marker set (ie finger markers or any other high density set), ensure the Advanced properties are displayed and in the **Labeling Cluster Selection** field, make the required selection:
- **All** Any currently unattached labeling cluster will be attached to the subject.
- **Selected **Only the cluster(s) selected at the start of calibration will be attached to the subject.
- **None** No labeling clusters are used for calibration.
4. In the **Subject** field, enter a name for the new subject and click **Create**.
5. Have the performer wearing the correct marker set (see [Place markers on a performer](#PlaceMarkers)) enter the volume and stand in an A-pose, with the hands flat.
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
> Macro (inline-media-image)
If you're using a template that includes fingers, also ensure that:
- The wrists are straight, not bent to either side or up or down.
- The fingers are straight, with a natural spread, and no bend.
- The thumb is held tight against the index finger. Ensure that the thumb and the fingers all point in the same direction.
6. On the menu bar, above the workspace,** Subject Calibration Active** and a flashing red circle is displayed.
In the **3D Scene** view, the markers are labeled, and the labeling and solving skeleton is displayed.Look for feedback in top right of view pane, which shows the number of markers found and the number of markers required, as well as other calibration feedback.
7. Visually check that all the markers have been labeled and everything looks OK.
:check_mark: **Tip:** To quickly check that all the required markers have been placed on the performer, ensure the subject is selected and check the Marker Selection counter (bottom right of the view pane). For more information, see [Check the marker count on the current selection](#CheckMarkerCount).
8. After waiting until you’re happy with the position of the joints, on the **Setup** tab below the **Subject** field, click **Accept A-Pose**.
:check_mark: **Tip:** If, despite using offset and left and right markers (see the [guidance on marker placement](#PlaceFingerMarkers) for finger marker sets), you still experience problems with subject booting, in the **Tracking** panel, ensure the **Setup** tab is selected with Advanced options displayed, and in the **Capture** section, select **Capture Canceled Calibrations**. (This enables Support to troubleshoot your issue.)
9. Get the performer to perform a ROM (Range Of Motion) that includes all the required movement. If you're using one of the high-fidelity fingers templates, include some finger movements as part of this process. Include bending and spreading the fingers as well as poses of the hand that will be useful for checking the accuracy of the labeling.
Include the following in your ROM:
- Fists
- Wiggle the fingers
- Touch the tip of the thumb against the tip of each digit of the same hand:
- Thumb to index finger
- Thumb to middle finger
- Thumb to ring finger
- Thumb to pinkie
10. When the ROM is complete, click **Stop Calibrating**.
In the **3D Scene**, you can see the mesh and solving skeleton of the subject (if you need to change the display, at the top left of the workspace, click **View Filters **and choose the required options).
At the top of the **Tracking** panel, a subject with the name you supplied in Step 1 above is displayed, together with a node representing its labeling cluster (if any).
The subject is now fully calibrated and can be used in captures as required (for example, if you're using it for retargeting, see [Load retargeting setup](#LoadRetarget)).
If you have difficulty with calibrating your subject satisfactorily, see [Troubleshoot subject calibration](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Shogun17/pages/13536694).
> ℹ️ **An alternative to live solving subject calibration**
> ℹ️ In Shogun 1.6 and later, if you find that after Live calibration the solve requires much tweaking, for a post-processed alternative, try Auto-Skeleton in Shogun Post. For information, see [Use Auto-Skeleton](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Shogun17/pages/13537305) in *Getting more from Vicon Shogun*.
> Macro (anchor)
### Check the marker count of the current selection
The **Marker Selection** counter enables you to easily check the number of markers currently selected. This is useful during subject calibration, if you need to check that the required number of markers have all been placed on a subject, or within a particular set of markers (for example, facial markers).
**To display the number of selected markers:**
1. In the 3D Scene view, ensure **View Filters** is selected and in the **Overlays** section, select the **Selected Marker Count** option.
2. At the bottom right of the view pane, the **Marker Selection** count is displayed. If no markers are currently selected, a zero is displayed.
3. As you select markers in the view pane, the Marker Selection counter changes to display the number of selected markers.
> Macro (anchor)
## Load a retargeting setup
If you're retargeting your fully calibrated subject onto a target FBX, you can now load the retargeting setup file (VSR) and link it to your subject.
1. Ensure the retargeting setup files (.*vsr*) and skins (.*fbx*) that you want to use are located in the relevant folders:
- VSR: *C:\Users\Public\Documents\Vicon\Retargets*
- FBX: *C:\Users\Public\Documents\Vicon\Skins*
2. To turn on retargeting in Shogun Live, in the **Processing** pane, go to the **General** section and set the **Processing Output** **Level** to **Retarget**.
3. In the **Tracking** panel, ensure the relevant subject is selected and then click on the **Properties** tab.
4. In **Retarget** field, select the required VSR file(s) and then click **Reload**.
Your character is now retargeted in the 3D workspace.
5. To select or change a skin for the retargeting, click the **Retarget Skin** field and select the required skin.
6. If you notice discrepancies between the retargeted character and the performer driving it, you will need to modify the retargeting.
For information on creating and modifying retargets, see [Retarget with Shogun Post](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Shogun17/pages/13536719).
> Macro (anchor)
### Finger marker set table
> Macro (scroll-tablelayout)
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **10 finger-marker set**
 | **3 finger-marker set**
 | **5 finger-marker set**
> Macro (scroll-pagebreak) |