Master the Art of Creating VR Avatars!

Master the Art of Creating VR Avatars!

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Installing Unity Hub and VCC
3. Creating a New Unity Project
4. Importing Avatar Files
5. Setting Up the Avatar
6. Building and Publishing the Avatar
7. Conclusion

How to Upload Your Custom Avatar to VR Chat Using VCC

Introduction

Are You ready to stand out in VR Chat with your own custom avatar? Look no further! In this guide, we will walk you through the process of uploading your very own avatar using the new VRChat Creator Companion (VCC) tool. By following these steps, you'll be able to easily update and manage your VR Chat projects and showcase your unique personality. Let's get started!

Installing Unity Hub and VCC

Before we dive into the avatar creation process, make sure you have Unity Hub and the VRChat Creator Companion installed. Head to the link provided in the description to download and install Unity Hub. Once installed, open Unity Hub and sign in with your Unity ID. With that done, proceed to the VRChat Website and sign in. Under the downloads section, select the VRChat Creator Companion and run the installer. After installation, the Creator Companion will automatically launch and guide you through the setup process. It may prompt you to install a specific version of Unity, so be sure to follow the instructions provided.

Creating a New Unity Project

With Unity and the Creator Companion all set up, it's time to start your first avatar project. Open the Creator Companion and select "Create a New Project." Choose the "Avatar" project template and give your project a name and file location. Click "Create Project" to begin. The VCC will start its magic, and once it's done, select "Open Project" to open Unity.

Importing Avatar Files

Now that Unity is open, it's time to import your avatar files. Typically, this will involve a 3D model file, such as an FBX, and its corresponding texture files. If you downloaded an avatar from a marketplace like Booth, Gumroad, or Sketchfab, it may come with a Unity Package file. Simply double click or drag the package into Unity and click "Import" when prompted. Make sure to check the avatar's description as there may be additional packages you need to import, such as shaders or other required assets.

Setting Up the Avatar

If your avatar is already set up as a prefab, you're in luck! Drag the prefab into the scene, open the VRC Control Panel, and select "Build and Publish." However, if your avatar needs some configuration, follow these steps. First, ensure that your rig is set up as humanoid. Select your avatar's model in the project window, go to the inspector, click on the "Rig" tab, and choose "Humanoid" under the animation Type dropdown. Click "Apply" to save the changes. You can configure the skeleton by clicking "Configure." Unity will display any missing bones in red. Make sure all required bones are mapped, and adjust the toe bones if necessary. Avoid mapping anything to the jaw unless the model has a bone for it. Once done, click "Apply" and then "Done" to exit configuration.

Next, add your model to the scene. If it appears as a bright pink color, you might need to select a new shader for the materials. In the inspector, search for the component "VRC Avatar Descriptor." Here, you can set the view position by adjusting the Y and Z values. Ideally, the view position should be between the avatar's eyes and halfway inside the head. Make sure the gizmos are enabled to see the positioning ball. For lip sync, select the appropriate viseme Blend shapes from the dropdown menu. Define the face mesh and let the available visemes populate automatically. If needed, manually select the appropriate blend shapes. For eye tracking, define the eye bones. The sliders for "Calm Excited" and "Shy Confidence" affect your avatar's blinking frequency and eye contact with other players, respectively. Preview the eye rotation state options. Define the eyelid behavior for blinking using blend shapes. Make sure to set up the body mesh and blinking blend shape as well. Adjust any necessary blend shapes for looking up or down. With these configurations, your avatar is now ready to be uploaded.

Building and Publishing the Avatar

To make your avatar accessible in VR Chat with lip sync and eye tracking, you need to build and publish it. Open the VRChat SDK control panel and select "Build and Publish." Give your avatar a name and make sure to check the legally binding checkbox. Finally, hit "Upload." Once the upload process is complete, your avatar will be available to use in VR Chat, fully equipped with lip sync and eye tracking capabilities.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully learned how to upload your own custom avatar to VR Chat using the VRChat Creator Companion. By following these steps, you can showcase your unique personality and stand out in the virtual world. We hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, consider joining our Discord community. Thank you for reading, and enjoy your VR Chat adventures!