Optimize VRChat Avatars: Easy Blender Fixes & Quest Optimization

Optimize VRChat Avatars: Easy Blender Fixes & Quest Optimization

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Getting Started with Blender
3. Installing the Required Plugins
4. Importing Your Vroid Avatar into Blender
5. Basic Navigation in Blender
6. Fixing Model Issues with the Cats Plugin
7. Setting Up Eye Tracking
8. Creating Visemes for Mouth Movements
9. Adjusting Bones and Armature
10. Reshaping the Avatar
11. Optimizing Polygon Count
12. Deleting Dynamic Bones for Quest Avatars
13. Combining and Atlas-ing Materials
14. Exporting the Optimized Avatar
15. Conclusion

Fixing and Optimizing Your Vroid Avatar in Blender

Blender is a powerful tool that can be used to enhance and optimize your Vroid avatars for VR Chat. In this guide, I will Show you simple and easy fixes that you can do in Blender to make your Vroid avatar look even better when uploaded to VR Chat. We will cover everything from fixing model issues to optimizing polygon count, ensuring your avatar looks its best in the virtual world.

Introduction

If You're a VR Chat enthusiast, you're probably familiar with Vroid avatars. These avatars, created using the Vroid Studio software, allow users to customize and Create their own unique virtual characters. However, while Vroid Studio provides a great starting point, Blender offers additional tools and features to take your avatar to the next level.

In this article, we'll explore how to optimize and fix common issues with Vroid avatars using Blender. We'll cover everything from installation to exporting the final optimized avatar. So let's dive in and start making your Vroid avatar shine.

Getting Started with Blender

Before we can start fixing and optimizing our Vroid avatars, we need to install Blender and the necessary plugins. Blender is a free and open-source 3D modeling software that offers a wide range of features. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Blender Website and download the slightly older version of Blender that is compatible with the Cats plugin (version 2.93 at the time of writing).

2. Install Blender on your computer following the on-screen instructions.

Installing the Required Plugins

To enhance the functionality of Blender for working with Vroid avatars, we need to install three essential plugins: the VRM Add-on for Blender, the Cats plugin, and the Material Combiner add-on for the Cats plugin. Follow these steps to install the plugins:

1. Download the three plugins from their respective GitHub pages (links will be provided in the article).

2. Open Blender and navigate to "Edit" in the top left corner, then select "Preferences."

3. In the Preferences window, go to the "Add-ons" tab and click on the "Install" button.

4. Locate the downloaded zip files for each plugin and select them to install.

5. Make sure that all three plugins are checked and enabled in the Add-ons list.

With Blender and the necessary plugins installed, We Are now ready to start working on our Vroid avatar.

Importing Your Vroid Avatar into Blender

To begin the fixing and optimization process, we first need to import our Vroid avatar into Blender. Here's how you can do it:

1. Open Blender and start a new project.

2. Delete the default cube object by selecting it and pressing the delete key.

3. Go to the "File" menu, select "Import," and choose the "VRM" option from the bottom.

4. In the file explorer, locate the VRM file exported from Vroid Studio and select it.

5. After importing, you should see a gray Shape in the middle of the Blender scene, representing your Vroid avatar.

Now that our Vroid avatar is successfully imported into Blender, we can move on to fixing any issues with the model and enhancing its appearance.

Basic Navigation in Blender

Before we start making changes to our Vroid avatar, it's essential to familiarize ourselves with the basic navigation controls in Blender. This will allow us to navigate the 3D view and inspect the model from different angles. Here are the basic navigation controls:

• Hold down the middle mouse button and move the mouse to rotate the scene.
• Scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
• Hold down the Shift key and the middle mouse button to pan around the scene.

By mastering these navigation controls, you'll be able to perform precise edits and adjustments with ease.

Fixing Model Issues with the Cats Plugin

The Cats plugin is a powerful tool for fixing various model issues with Vroid avatars in Blender. It provides a range of features to help you make your avatar look just the way you want. Here's how you can use the Cats plugin to fix common model issues:

1. Select your Vroid avatar model by clicking on it. Make sure it is highlighted in orange.

2. In the right panel, click on the arrow icon to expand the Cats options.

3. Click on "Fix Model" at the top, which will correct any model discrepancies and Apply the right textures.

4. After the fix, you should see your avatar looking as it did in Vroid Studio.

By using the Cats plugin's "Fix Model" feature, you can quickly resolve any model issues and ensure your avatar maintains its intended appearance.

Setting Up Eye Tracking

Eye tracking adds a level of realism to your Vroid avatar by allowing the eyes to follow the movement of the user's gaze. To set up eye tracking for your avatar, follow these steps:

1. Expand the "Eye Tracking" tab in the Cats plugin options.

2. Select "i_close_l" from the drop-down menu under "Blink L."

3. Select "i_close_r" from the drop-down menu under "Blink R."

4. Click on "Create Eye Tracking" to create the necessary shape keys for eye movement.

5. Under the "Eye Tracking" tab, click on "Start Eye Testing" to verify that the eye tracking is working correctly.

By following these steps, you can enable eye tracking for your Vroid avatar, enhancing its interactivity and immersion in VR Chat.

Creating Visemes for Mouth Movements

Visemes are essential for realistic mouth movements when your avatar is talking. In Vroid Studio, you already defined the necessary shape keys representing different mouth shapes. Now, let's assign those shape keys in Blender using the Cats plugin:

1. Expand the "Visemes" tab in the Cats plugin options.

2. Assign the appropriate shape keys for each viseme. For example, assign "mouth_a" to the "ah" viseme, "mouth_o" to the "o" viseme, and so on.

3. Click on "Create Visemes" to generate the necessary shape keys for mouth movements.

By setting up the visemes correctly, you'll ensure that your Vroid avatar's mouth moves naturally according to the sound it is making, making interactions in VR Chat more engaging.

Adjusting Bones and Armature

The armature, or the skeleton structure, of your Vroid avatar may need some adjustments to ensure proper movement and alignment. Let's explore how you can make these adjustments using the Cats plugin:

1. Enter Edit Mode by selecting the Armature and choosing "Edit" from the drop-down menu.

2. Select the bones you want to adjust, such as the shoulders or feet.

3. Use the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools to make the necessary changes. For example, you can shorten the shoulder bone or reposition the feet.

4. Repeat this process for other bones that require modifications.

By fine-tuning the bones and armature, you can optimize the movement and positioning of your Vroid avatar in VR Chat, ensuring a more natural appearance.

Reshaping the Avatar

Blender gives you the option to reshape your Vroid avatar, allowing you to make adjustments to its overall proportions and appearance. Here's how you can do it:

1. Enter Sculpt Mode by selecting your Vroid avatar and choosing "Sculpt" from the top left corner.

2. Use the Sculpting tools to modify the avatar's shape. For example, you can use the Grab tool to pull parts of the avatar out or the Inflate tool to add volume.

3. Be cautious while reshaping and ensure that the changes Align with your desired aesthetic.

Reshaping your Vroid avatar in Blender provides further customization options, allowing you to make your avatar unique and original.

Optimizing Polygon Count

It's crucial to optimize the polygon count of your Vroid avatar to ensure smooth performance in VR Chat. Excessive polygons can result in lag and decreased overall performance. Here's how you can reduce the polygon count:

1. Assess the Current polygon count of your avatar by right-clicking on the bottom-right corner and enabling "Scene Statistics."

2. Aim to reduce the polygon count below the recommended limits for PC and Quest avatars. For PC avatars, ideally, stay under 32,000 polygons. For Quest avatars, aim for below 15,000 polygons for the best performance.

3. Use the built-in Decimate Modifier in the Cats plugin to reduce polygon count. Be cautious not to over-decimate and compromise the model's quality.

By optimizing the polygon count, you'll ensure smooth performance and an enjoyable user experience for your avatar in VR Chat.

Deleting Dynamic Bones for Quest Avatars

If you plan to use your Vroid avatar on Quest in VR Chat, it's essential to delete the dynamic bones. Quest has limited resources, so removing the dynamic bones optimizes performance. Here's how you can do it:

1. Enter Edit Mode for the armature and select the bones that control the dynamic bones, such as the bones for hair or clothing.

2. In the Cats plugin options, choose "Merge Weights to Parents" to remove the dynamic bone influence.

3. Repeat this process for all dynamic bone-related bones in the armature.

Removing dynamic bones ensures your avatar is optimized for Quest, allowing for better performance and compatibility in VR Chat.

Combining and Atlas-ing Materials

To further optimize your Vroid avatar, it's beneficial to combine and atlas the materials. This reduces the number of material requests, improving performance. Here's how you can combine materials:

1. Generate a material list by clicking on "Generate Material List" in the optimization section of the Cats plugin.

2. Choose the materials you want to combine, keeping in mind that fewer materials will result in better performance.

3. Click on "Save Atlas 2" to combine the selected materials into a single material.

By combining materials and creating a material atlas, you'll optimize the performance of your Vroid avatar, ensuring faster loading times and smoother rendering in VR Chat.

Exporting the Optimized Avatar

Once you have fixed and optimized your Vroid avatar in Blender, it's time to export it for use in VR Chat. Here's how you can do it:

1. Ensure that your model is selected in Blender.

2. Go to the Cats plugin at the top of the Blender window and click on "Export Model."

3. Set the export path and choose "FBX" as the format for exporting.

4. Click on "Export FBX" to export your optimized avatar.

Congratulations! You have successfully fixed and optimized your Vroid avatar in Blender. You are now ready to import the optimized avatar into Unity and further refine it before uploading it to VR Chat.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have explored the process of fixing and optimizing Vroid avatars using Blender. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can enhance the appearance and performance of your Vroid avatar, ensuring it stands out in VR Chat. From fixing model issues to reducing polygon count and optimizing materials, Blender offers a range of tools to take your Vroid avatars to the next level.

So, go ahead and start fixing and optimizing your Vroid avatars. With a little effort and the power of Blender, you can create avatars that truly shine in the virtual world. Happy optimizing!