# Copy Skin Weight?
**URL:** https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060
**Category:** Maya
**Tags:** rigging-character
**Created:** [May 6, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060 "2007-05-06T16:33:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fayetasy](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/fayetasy)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/1 "2007-05-06T16:33:08Z")
i have made 2 exact same character, and i've painted the skin weight on one. how can i copy the exact skin weight to the other one? i've tried to use the copy skin weights function, but i have no idea what option i should choose! can anyone help?
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### Author:  [@malacay](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/malacay)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2007, 12:32pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/2 "2007-05-15T12:32:10Z")
hi fayetasy
if you have exactly the same characters with the same topology and the same deform sekleton use the "closest point on surface" option with "one to one".
if the skeletons aren't exactly the same then i suggest to use the "closest joint" option.
greets
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### Author:  [@joojaa](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/joojaa)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/3 "2007-05-16T13:24:21Z")
if they are EXACTLY the same theres a even faster way (exact same not only means same look but also same point order):
Replace the skin cluster of unpainted object with the copy of the painted skin cluster, this is especially fast in maya 8.5 because they actually buit a command for swapping nodes eith connections intact, well not a big deal to script one tough
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### Author:  [@khanfarr](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/khanfarr)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/4 "2007-05-24T13:29:11Z")
I am a bit new to this rigging business so forgive me and correct me if i'm wrong
but
couldn't you export the skin weights map and import it into the new (same) character?
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### Author:  [@underearth](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/underearth)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/5 "2007-06-01T13:35:50Z")
comet save weights....
but copy skin weights will be far more easier... if topology is ....same ...
else you can use Michael comet's script.. to transfer skin weights...
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### Author:  [@kinitex](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/kinitex)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2007, 5:53am UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/6 "2007-06-10T05:53:38Z")
Can I export the weight map from one character, and import that weight map to the exact same character but with a different rig? Any special settings I should choose?
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### Author:  [@solbester](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/solbester)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2007, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/7 "2007-06-25T12:53:10Z")
If the amount of vertices is the same you could export and import the weights, but the joints need to be the same in naming but not placement. As long as the naming is the same maya will know where to place the weights. Comets script when you save weights save them as mov. files
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### Author:  [@shinyprem](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/shinyprem)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2007, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/copy-skin-weight/48060/8 "2007-06-26T04:49:27Z")
Hi !
If the skeleton is same , Then copying will work try this code..
CODE
//---------CopySkinWt frm a diff mesh-----------------------------
//---------Sel the skinned mesh 1st then the mesh to wrap---------
string $sel[] = `ls -sl`;
string $cluster = `findRelatedSkinCluster $sel[0]`;
string $joints[] = `listConnections -s 1 -d 0 ($cluster + ".matrix")`;
select -r $sel[1];
select -add $joints;
SmoothBindSkin -tsb -ta;
string $newCluster = `findRelatedSkinCluster $sel[1]`;
copySkinWeights -ss $cluster -ds $newCluster -nm;
rgds,