EP01 — Installation and DCC Connection

1. Download

1-1. Get a subscription license

1. Go to the OtakuSolutions website → SkinLayer Studio product page.
2. Use Buy or Start Trial to obtain a subscription license.

1-2. Open My Subscription

1. Sign in, then open the account (profile) menu at the top right.
2. Go to My Subscription.

1-3. Download from SkinLayer Studio

When your subscription license is issued, SkinLayer Studio appears under My Subscriptions.

1. Open the item’s Manage menu.
2. Click Download.

1-4. Download the installer

On the download page, get the latest Windows 64-bit EXE installer.

1. Choose a Download method.
2. Click Download Installer for Windows (64-bit EXE).

Example filename: SkinLayerStudio-x64-1_4_4-setup.exe

Download methods

In China, Nutstore may be more reliable than Direct / Google Drive depending on the network. If the Nutstore card appears on the download page, use 打开坚果云文件夹 to get the latest package.

1-5. Supported Environments

2. Installation (Inno Setup)

1. Run the downloaded Setup.exe.
2. Select your installation language (KO / EN / JA / ZH, etc.).
3. Review and accept the license agreement.
4. Specify the installation path (default is fine).
5. If a previous installation exists, confirm reinstall → Yes.
6. Choose whether to create Start Menu and desktop shortcuts.
7. Click Install → then Finish when complete.

Example installation root:

{install path}/
├── SkinLayerStudio.exe
└── os_skinLayer_studio_connector/

3. First Launch — License Activation

When you first run the app, it will be in an unlicensed state.
- The viewport will be covered by a License Lock overlay.
- Click Open License Manager to proceed.

Activation Steps

1. Click Open License Manager.
2. Enter your license key.
3. Click Update License / Register.
4. Confirm machine registration succeeded.
5. Once activated, the 3D viewport becomes available.

Standalone: If activation fails, the app stays open — retry from the overlay.

4. Installing the DCC Connector

1. Menu: Tools → Install Connector... (to check status only: Options → Connectors tab).
2. Select your DCC (e.g., 3ds Max 2025) → Install.
3. Fully close your DCC, then restart it.

The connector is a communication script that runs inside your DCC. SLS does not directly launch the DCC — it only sends commands to a running DCC, so your DCC must be open for Pick/Push to work.

If Max connector install fails with a write permission error, see FAQ.1 — Write permission guide.

5. DCC Connection · Pick · Apply to Skin

1. Launch your DCC — confirm the connector loaded.
2. In SLS, select your DCC from the DCC combo.
3. Confirm the green indicator (connected).
4. Pick — imports the skin mesh selected in your DCC.

After Pick:
- The mesh, bones, and weights appear in the viewport.
- A slot is registered in the Skin Desk / Skin Archive.
- Save with File → Save to create a .sls project.

Edit weights with layers and brushes, then use > Apply to Skin in the toolbar to Push back to the DCC.

On the first Push: Game engines (Unity, Unreal, etc.) typically limit influences per vertex to 4–8. SLS automatically clamps to 8 when Pushing. Clean up unnecessary bones in the Influence panel (Used filter) beforehand for better quality.

Auto mode: The Auto checkbox in the toolbar is OFF by default. After your first successful manual Push, a dialog may ask if you want to enable it. When ON, SLS auto-Pushes after 10 seconds of idle time (adjustable to 3–30s in Options).

6. Troubleshooting