Master VRChat Avatar Upload in 5 Simple Steps!

Master VRChat Avatar Upload in 5 Simple Steps!

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Getting Started with VR Chat
3. Installing Unity and Unity Hub
4. Finding the Supported Unity Version
5. Creating a New Unity Project
6. Downloading the VR Chat SDK3 Package
7. Importing the SDK3 Package and Avatar Model
8. Unpacking the Avatar Prefab and Removing Missing Scripts
9. Adding the VRC Avatar Descriptor and Setting Parameters
10. Importing the Poyomi Shader
11. Importing and Applying the Poyomi Shader to Avatar Materials
12. Setting Up the Basic Avatar Controls
13. Customizing the Playable Layers and Expressions
14. Creating Expression Parameters and Expression Menu
15. Setting Up the FX Controller
16. Finalizing the Avatar for Upload
17. Uploading the Avatar to VR Chat
18. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to this tutorial on uploading your own content to VR Chat! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, this video will guide you through the process of uploading your very own avatar in a quick and simple fashion. In this tutorial, we will cover the necessary steps to install Unity, download the VR Chat SDK3 package, import an avatar model, customize the playable layers and expressions, and finalize the avatar for upload. So let's get started!

Getting Started with VR Chat

Before You can upload your own content to VR Chat, you need to ensure that you have a new user rank. Visitor or nuisance ranks do not have the ability to upload any content. If you are not a new user rank, you can easily upgrade by purchasing VRC Plus. Once you have confirmed your new user rank, you can proceed with the next steps.

Installing Unity and Unity Hub

The first step in uploading your avatar is to install Unity and Unity Hub. Unity Hub is an official tool from Unity that helps you manage and install different versions of the Unity editor. To install Unity Hub, go to the Unity Store and download the Unity Hub file. Once downloaded, open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. During the installation, you will be asked to provide a file path and other necessary details. After the installation is completed, Unity Hub will appear on your desktop.

Finding the Supported Unity Version

To Create VR Chat avatars, you need to find the currently supported Unity version. In this case, the supported version is Unity 2019.4.31. To install this version, open Unity Hub and click on "Installs". Here, you will see a list of installed Unity versions. Since the current supported version is not listed, we need to click on "Archive". This will open a new table with different Unity installs. Scroll down until you find Unity 2019.4.31 and click on "Unity Hub" for a quick installation. Once the Unity version is installed, it will appear in your installs list.

Creating a New Unity Project

Now that you have the required Unity version installed, you can create a new Unity project for your avatar. Open Unity Hub and go to "Projects". Click on "New" to create a new project. You can choose between a 2D, 3D, or 3D with extra template. For avatar creation, select a 3D project. Enter a name for your project and proceed to create it.

Downloading the VR Chat SDK3 Package

To proceed with avatar creation in VR Chat, you need to download the SDK3 package. Open your web browser and go to your VR Chat profile. Log in and navigate to the "Download" section on the left side of the page. Expand the "Manual SDK Installation" section and you will see the options to download the World SDK and Avatars SDK. Since We Are focusing on avatar creation, download the Avatars SDK package.

Importing the SDK3 Package and Avatar Model

Once the SDK3 package is downloaded, you need to import it into your Unity project. In Unity, go to your project's assets folder and right-click to create a VRChat folder. Drag the downloaded SDK3 package into this folder. When the import window pops up, make sure to select all the items included in the package and click on "Import".

Now, find the avatar model you want to use and import it into your Unity project. Open the VR Chat robot folder and locate the prefab folder. Inside the prefab folder, you will find the robot prefab. Drag this prefab into your project's hierarchy on the left side. Make sure to delete any existing objects such as the default cube.

Remove any missing scripts by right-clicking on them in the inspector and selecting "Remove component". Finally, add a VRC Avatar Descriptor component to your robot avatar by clicking on "Add component" in the inspector and searching for "VRC Avatar Descriptor".

Unpacking the Avatar Prefab and Removing Missing Scripts

To make further modifications to your avatar, you need to unpack the avatar prefab. Right-click on the robot prefab in the hierarchy and select "Unpack prefab completely". This will expand the robot avatar and allow you to make changes as needed.

Next, check for any missing scripts in the inspector. If you see any missing scripts, right-click on them and select "Remove component" to clean up the avatar.

Adding the VRC Avatar Descriptor and Setting Parameters

In the inspector, locate the VRC Avatar Descriptor component and set the necessary parameters. One important parameter is the view position, which determines where the avatar's eyes will be positioned. Adjust the Y value of the view position to Align with the eyes of your avatar.

Additionally, set up the lip sync by clicking on "Auto detect". This will configure the lip sync settings for your avatar. The lip sync feature enables the avatar's mouth to move when you speak in VR Chat.

Importing the Poyomi Shader

The Poyomi shader is a popular shader used to enhance the materials on VR Chat avatars. To import the Poyomi shader, go to its folder and download the Poyomi tune unity package. Import this package into your Unity project by dragging it into the assets folder. The Poyomi shader allows you to improve the quality and appearance of your avatar's materials.

Importing and Applying the Poyomi Shader to Avatar Materials

After importing the Poyomi shader, go to the VR Chat robot folder in your project, then navigate to the Assets -> Material folder. Select the materials you want to Apply the Poyomi shader to, and change their shader from "Standard" to "Poyomi" in the inspector. This will enhance the visual quality of the materials and make your avatar look better.

Setting Up the Basic Avatar Controls

To control your avatar in VR Chat, you need to set up the basic avatar controls. This involves customizing the playable layers and expressions. Create a new VR Chat avatars folder by right-clicking in the assets folder and selecting "Create -> VR Chat Avatars". Inside this folder, create an expression parameters controller and an expression menu controller.

Drag the expression parameters controller and expression menu controller into the respective slots under the expressions tab in the VRC Avatar Descriptor component of your avatar. This will enable you to control the avatar's expressions and menu options during gameplay.

Customizing the Playable Layers and Expressions

In the VR Chat robot folder, open the assets folder and locate the materials folder. Here, you can find the materials associated with your avatar. Select the materials and change their shader to "Poyomi" for improved visual quality.

Next, customize the visible and audible layers of your avatar by adding different animations and audio clips. This will give your avatar more dynamic expressions and actions during interactions in VR Chat.

Creating Expression Parameters and Expression Menu

To further customize the expressions of your avatar, create expression parameters and an expression menu. These parameters will define how your avatar reacts to different inputs and interactions. By dragging and dropping the expression parameters and expression menu controllers you created earlier, you can link them to your avatar's expressions and menu options.

Setting Up the FX Controller

The FX controller allows you to perform gestures easily in VR Chat. To set up the FX controller, create a new animator controller by right-clicking in the assets folder and selecting "Create -> Animator Controller". Name the animator controller "FX" or any preferred name. Drag the FX controller into the default.transform slot under the playable layers in the VRC Avatar Descriptor component.

Finalizing the Avatar for Upload

At this point, your avatar is almost ready for upload. Ensure that all the necessary setup steps are completed, including setting the view position, lip sync, playable layers, expressions, and FX controller. Make any final adjustments or modifications to the avatar before proceeding to the upload stage.

Uploading the Avatar to VR Chat

To upload your avatar to VR Chat, click on "VRChat SDK" at the top of Unity and select "Show Control Panel". In the control panel, enter your VR Chat username or email and password. This will grant you access to your content manager, where you can manage and upload avatars. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload your avatar to VR Chat and make it available for use by other players.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to upload your own avatar to VR Chat. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can create and customize your avatar using Unity, import the necessary SDK3 packages, set up the playable layers and expressions, and finalize the avatar for upload. Remember to use high-quality shaders like Poyomi to enhance the visual appearance of your avatar. Explore and enjoy the VR Chat community with your unique avatar creation.