How to Optimize your VRoid Model for VRChat using VRoid Studio and Blender

[@jeremiahab800]

This was a very helpful video, thank you so much for taking the time to walk us through each step :D P.S. For anyone having issues with atlasing materials, make sure to complete these steps before you begin the atlasing step: ( File > External Data > Unpack All into Files > Use files in current directory ) Now atlasing the materials shouldn't break your model anymore XD Also, if your textures aren't embedded in the fbx. model file when you export it to unity, import the atlas png. file into your materials folder. Then click on the texture file, and in the side menu, drag your atlas png. file into the *Albedo selection box, and it should update your model with your textures. You may have to do this for each texture file that your model has

[@ravychanuwu]

THANKS!!! you saved me from a headache!

[@idremi77]

Thank you very much, I've been searching a while for this problems

[@Wolvish]

What is the Atlas fix steps now? (For the 3.0.0 Blender)

[@JavierVillavicencioS89]

This is by far the best tutorial on cats optimizing, thank you!

[@fazziesan5931]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Thank you!

[@39nova77]

agreed, so clear and well put but doesn't go into excessive detail where it's not necessary!

[@MadLunat]

Thanks, this helped me a lot! I'd like to note that I also had issues when merging to Atlas. But Found on Reddit a comment saying to go to Files -> External Data - > Unpack All into Files -> then whatever was the first option on the pop up. This allowed me to merge materials however I wanted but also made my model's colours off in Blender. HOWEVER I was easily able to get the colours back once I imported the model into Unity through shaders.

[@white_lotuz]

Can confirm this works BEFORE trying to generate the Atlas. cc @Fazziesan you should pin this or add a new pinned with this tip comment!

[@Joe_334]

@@white_lotuz So, would this help having to get rid of the weird black borders around the textures in Unity?

[@charlottemoretz6698]

I dont know why this tutorial isnt getting more attention, super detailed, super understandable, the music and the peace at which you speak are perfect and got me all focused all the time!

[@charlottemoretz6698]

I finally had the time to follow the tutorial and the material combiner link seems down :c

[@fazziesan5931]

@@charlottemoretz6698 oh no! I'm so sorry I'm 2 weeks late. You can try this link: github.com/Grim-es/material-combiner-addon

[@noeinan]

I ran into some issues with the CATS "Fix Model" feature. In case anyone else has these problems, here's my solutions. First, "Fix Model" at the beginning of the video deleted my shoes and irises. To fix this, I had to uncheck "Combine same Materials". You combine materials again at the end anyway so it was not a big problem. Other than that, everything worked great! Also that version of Blender did not work bc it is no longer compatible with the VRM plugin. I just used 2.93 instead Thanks for the helpful tutorial.

[@VaniyaSei]

You are a savior and a god. Video definitely helped me understand the optimization part of the model and it was quite easy to follow

[@Armitox]

I know this was a year ago but it still helps with current vrm models. Thanks 😊

[@39nova77]

THIS IS AMAZING! Thank you! I used to spend hours awkwardly decimating all wrong and not understanding how multiple atlases worked! And the annoying inwards bending legs! Thank you so so much for this!

[@fazziesan5931]

Thank you so much for your kind words, I'm glad you found it helpful :)

[@sovael]

Thanks, and thanks for timestamps in the video description!

[@fazziesan5931]

You're welcome~

[@ForgetfulHatter]

16:43 I really don't know anything about that part where you import the model into unity. do you have any videos on how to import the fbx? I've only ever used the duplicate and convert for vrchat. my end result was.. not good I'll need to try again. sometime the model at the end was t posing, had....a lot more polygons from 20k after exporting from vroid to well red text... had a grey color over most of the textures. went from poor to very poor..

[@unicornisland878]

4:56 I tried that, but my laptop hates me and it won't let me check it. 😭😭😭😭😭

[@birbeyboop]

I just noticed how few views this has what the hell? this was a phenomenal tutorial

[@Karma20XX]

Thank you this is one of the best tutorials for CATS

[@onlyguy2]

hi everytime i click fix model it doesn’t fix it it’s been like choosing random colors and deleting some body parts i downloaded my vrm from vroid pls help

[@skeleto46821]

The atlas combine material thing does this weird thing where it swaps all the textures together and just makes my avatar look weird. And when I export to unity the weird texture placements are retained. Very strange. I see a lot of ppl in the comments section have the same issue, but there doesn’t seem to be a solution to it.

[@robertklowe]

This was super helpful, I watched another video on this and left feeling super confused; but now I think I could do this

[@Ahmadsyar]

15:30 A tip from my experience : No matter how bendy the knee is made, it does not work for me. What I did is I disable inherit rotation for the ankle bone.

[@fazziesan5931]

That's another way to do it xD thanks for sharing

[@silqmist]

ATLAS ISSUE FIX: There's a materials tab in optimization settings in the current version of VRoid Studio. Click the dropdown to change it from "Default" to "2" Materials. VRoid Studio will automatically do what CATS Atlas tool does. However with this fix, you will need to do most of your model editing in VRoid Studio (which, like Fazzie says is actually easier, use "E" to select the eraser tool). But you will perfectly get one material for your body and one for your face using this method!

[@Bearaitaa]

Thank you ☺️☺️ This is so nice and explained things very well. Keep up the good work!

[@fazziesan5931]

I'm glad you think so, thank you!

[@maestro_mattolsenchannel2860]

When I create atlases from a group of hair, the highlights on it are lost. how can this be fixed?

[@lando6583]

very good tutorial! Very clear concise and to the point!

[@blobbyblue02]

For anyone looking for the eye tracking option, The option is hidden in blender because eye tracking is set in unity with avatar 3.0

[@blaketracy4377]

For months now I can't seem to get the clothes separate from the body it's always part of the body mesh. It's also kept me from being able to change clothes on my model without swapping full models

[@alwaysyouramanda]

Pressing L over them in edit mode should select the entire article, then you press p to separate (I use by selection.) I personally give them a separate material and recombine so to toggle, I can just switch materials. (Making the articles transparent or cutout.)

[@strawberrymintz]

whenever i hit fix model, my textures go in the wrong places, how do i fix that ?

[@veanerys5772]

Same here, have you found a solution?

[@fazziesan5931]

i've never had that issue before so I don't know how to counter it..can you send a screenshot?

[@imthewokerbaby]

i have a problem where during the eye tracking part if i dont apply eye tracking and test the eyes can look left to right but when i put apply and put it under tracking its the exact opposite where they cant look left and right? help?

[@JimboS1ice999]

when I hit "fix model" it makes my eye mesh cover my face in a strange manner, i'm using blender 3.0

[@heavenvaldez7041]

Hello, idk if you see this but when I click on the wrench, it says error?

[@peepomilk9278]

Quick question, what about the outlines for body/hair? How do you maintain those from vrm to vrchat

[@wanwantsu]

I'm no Picasso of 3d but you might want to consider using something called a toon shader in order to convey that outline (Toon shading will let you do cel shading and outlines, or just one or the other). I reccomend MrTriPie's toon shader tutorial to learn the very basics of how to do that shader.

[@nickwalco]

when I hit create atlas, the model goes all wonky, like hands loose its texture

[@C0smic_Star]

so the fix model part the wrench thing doesnt work for me

[@TranquilK4rma]

when i do the merge atlas thing it makes all my textures grey

[@chillcentaur217]

what version of the vrm addon do I need, current version is not compatable with blender 2.83

[@erickcervantes7084]

You ever figure it out ?

[@Wolvish]

Question: is there deeper meaning behind using that specific Blender? I'm just curious if there is a plug-in or something that only works with that version.

[@Wolvish]

Answer: Yes(ish). A pathway to an Atlas/Materials fix is only available thru some of the older Blender versions. Current known newest version with this pathway is 2.93.8

[@ashenito]

@@Wolvish you are a hero, thank you

[@alwaysyouramanda]

Is there a fix for my issue? I’m trying to combine them into 1 but my body and face images completely disappear. When I try to combine just those two, the body texture appears on the face.

[@alwaysyouramanda]

I’m using CATS’ Atlasing tool with no luck.

[@fazziesan5931]

@@alwaysyouramanda unfortunately I can't pin down the issue or what might cause it without actually seeing it >

[@sd3ric]

so i been making some retextured avatars and i wanted to make my own model so i did vroid but one problem i have is the atlas material combiner installation keeps repeating. ive tried running as administator and also checked my wifi and they were fine. is there anyway to fix it?

[@fazziesan5931]

hi! sorry for the late reply - maybe I can send you the zip file for the materials combiner add on instead?

[@sd3ric]

I could try that

[@fazziesan5931]

@@sd3ric do you have a discord? you can add me fazziesan#1283

[@sd3ric]

I do and i just added you

[@spire21001]

Great video. I just have one concern, when i atlas my body it doesnt show any of my materials on the list.

[@bionixxd8766]

So when I import my FBX model and go to fix the model it makes it black and the eyes white and it only has 2 of its 6 materials showing in material properties... I'm not sure where to go from here.

[@fazziesan5931]

hi! i'm not sure how/why this issue would occur -I've only used the VRM option because all the models I've made are VRoid models. if you have the time, you can try to tell me about the issue in more detail on discord. my discord is fazziesan#1283

[@CWJester]

Hey there! Nice tutorial! :) I was curious if you ran into this issue as well: When I go to Atlas, and press "Save Atlas to..." I don't get any kind of window to pop up to save the atlas and it instead rips the textures off. I am running Blender 2.90 with the latest CATs Plugin and Material Combiner.

[@silqmist]

This same thing is happening to me! Blender 2.83

[@KazShiro]

Hello it seems that when I combine the materials through Atlasing the material all the textures go white/black

[@KazShiro]

(Edit for those having this issue) Disregard, I found the issue prematurely. If this happens go into File > External Data > Unpack all into files.

[@roswe11m88]

@@KazShiro THANK YOU!!!!!

[@takanorizr0902]

Thank you Fazzi

[@fazziesan5931]

You're welcome, I hope it helps!

[@95kybi]

thx so much, I will wait for part2 😀 do we need to have Unity 2018 to export our avatars to VRchat? Or is it ok to have higher version?

[@fazziesan5931]

I used Unity 2018.4 specifically because it works well with the VRCSDK 2...but the most updated VRCSDK (VRCSDK 3) works with Unity 2019.4.31f1, according to the vrc docs ^^

[@clarkkent1473]

very detailed instructions tho o.o

[@JimboS1ice999]

Could you just import the FBX file into unity and then use it as a traditional model for like a game instead of VR chat? jw. all the previous steps seem like a good way to cut down on poly and make it midpoly which is much better for performance.

[@ThatHippyDuck]

My avatar is 10 materials and it tells me to combine them. i don't get how i'm supposed to narrow it down to just 2. there's shoes with multiple textures, skin, clothes, etc.

[@fazziesan5931]

You can combine all your clothes textures into 1 material, all your face parts textures (eyes, eyebrows, tongue, teeth etc) into 1 material, your skin textures into 1 material, and your hair textures into 1 material. So in total, 4 materials. Still more than 1 materials, but a lot less than 20++ materials

[@sky_isfalling9051]

My Blender application doesnt show the "FACE" option and I followed every step correctly, what should I do?

[@fazziesan5931]

That's odd..if you followed every step correctly you should see that option..did you select the body mesh? You need to have a mesh selected to see the FACE option. If you're still confused, don't hesitate to ask me over on Discord ^^

[@sky_isfalling9051]

@@fazziesan5931 Whats your discord?

[@fazziesan5931]

@@sky_isfalling9051 fazziesan#1283

[@fazziesan5931]

@@sky_isfalling9051 fazziesan#1283

[@ravenoushemlock3268]

This tutorial is great and very easy to follow along but unfortunately the material add on won’t work for me it gives me an error I researched and unzipped renamed and zipped back and still nothing if anyone finds any answers to this let me know thank you!

[@fazziesan5931]

were you unable to install the add-on? what was the error message?

[@VolcanoQueen]

currently when I "fix the model" my face is bugged, it's all pink and the eyes are white, did I do something wrong?

[@fazziesan5931]

when you click fix model, the textures should appear on your model as normal...i'm not sure what could cause it to look like that :(

[@barfbrain5636]

Try hitting undo when it does that, that worked for me for some reason lol @Volcano Queen

[@VolcanoQueen]

@@barfbrain5636 do you mean Ctrl+Z?

[@FizuKuro]

Maybe you install the different Blender version from this video. I install the newer version and I had a same experience. So I install the version as mentioned in the video and it resolved.

[@VolcanoQueen]

@@FizuKuro I found out what happened, the version I was trying to use wasn't compatible with blender yet, so I had to down grade a version

[@tuminh6636]

thank you very much

[@clarkkent1473]

when a vtuber's blender tutorial is 100 times more informative than a standard blender tutorial by some other vtuber

[@JustFeral]

YEA, this offers way more controil than Vroid studio. Guess I will finally make my avatar Quest compatible.

[@kirstic1996]

Thank you so so so much for this tutorial, by far the best one for beginners to optimize our VRoid models! I do have a question though; when I imported my blender model into unity, the inside of the sleeves and skirt turned transparent, which looks really weird.. any idea how to fix that?

[@fazziesan5931]

Hi! Thank you for your kind comment, and I'm glad you found this helpful ^^ As for your question, did you combine all your textures into one material atlas? That can cause for it to look like that when imported into Unity. Also the type of shader that you use on the material atlas will change how the material look on the inside. The inside of my skirt is black when I use the VRM/Mtoon shader with cutout rendering type, and transparent when I use the VRChat/Mobile/MatCap Lit shader. Maybe if you want the inside of your skirt and sleeves to not be transparent, don't combine them into the material atlas - leave them as separate materials on its own. I haven't tried out this solution myself, but I suggest that you try it out in your case ^^ Do let me know if it fixes your problem!

[@BarbokVA]

Some shaders have a "cull" option that disables either front or out, look for it in your shader or use poiyomi where it is under "Rendering options" if you want the inside and outside to show you have to turn cull off.

[@kirstic1996]

I did leave the dress separate, but it still didn't work.. After a loooong while of experimenting, I actually fixed it by taking a duplicate of the dress separate and "flip" it, then put it back in my models materials, and "join" it with the original dress. This made the top of the dress show on the inside as well. Maybe not the best way, the "cull" option sounds much easier though, wish I knew that before hahaha, will definitely try that next time! Thanks a lot for helping guys

[@Violet_Eryn]

Thankyou

[@clarkkent1473]

"a lot of unnecessary bones" I WANT BONELESS GIRL, WITH BONELESS PIZZA

[@vanillaball]

sorry

[@punkyproductions5153]

👏👏👏🎩

[@CordadeRobert]

The atlas doesn't combine it just deletes

[@fazziesan5931]

hi, do you still have the cats plugin issue? please give me more details of your issue on discord fazziesan#1283

[@TheOriginalNewfieGamer]

u sound cute thanks for the help

[@NiteSek-rz4ec]

Bruh... idc what u say, Cats Plug-in has too many issues & plain a** doesn't work. Please stop mention this add on lol

[@Death_the_Kinnie]

I owe u my life _(´ཀ`」 ∠)

[@NiteSek-tm5dk]

Ya know Fazziesan.... Since you only have 465 subs... How about you do something that non of these dingus's with thousands & thousands of subs, if not millions, HAVEN'T bother to do............. AND MAKE A GOD DANG VIDEO ON HOW TO OPTIMIZE A VROID MODEL IN BLENDER FOR VRCHAT THAT ISN'T OUTDATED! ! Honestly, I can't find a single recent video tutorial that is up to date on this subject & all the videos now have TONNNNNNNNNNNS of issues. Particularly with this whole bullsh** Cats Plugin that doesn't work for sh**. There is always some error, or visual issue with the fix model button, & believe me, i've installed like 20 diff versions of both blender & the cats plugin, & even material combiner & the vrm add-ons, & some non-sense always happens. Line errors, avatar turns white or clothes disappearing after hitting that "Fix Model" button. That "Fix Model" button has given me PTSD. That Cats plugin is some Todd Howard sh**. "It Just Works"..... MY A********! ! ...Or at the very least. Say FAK the Cats plugin, & do a tutorial on how to optimize a vroid model in Blender for VRChat MANUALLY without the dang add-On/Plug-In. PLEEEEEASE! ! Be the ONE faking person that hops on this sh**. I mean, there is a faking Creator Companion now. None of these tutorials even mention that. U don't even NEED Avatars or Worlds SDK anymore OR the VRM add-on. It comes with the dang Creator Companion app now lol... Someone has got to do something about this outdated BS bra. Real sh**. Pardon my language, but i'm pissed off at how ridiculously hard it is to send a custom VROID Model to VRChat. Wayyyyyyyy too many steps, & many of those steps have aged cracks in them. You follow a tutorial & you fall through the damn woodwork. I've been doing this for about 2 weeks now & I still have yet to succeed.

[@whateverwhenever666]

cat plugin doesn't work anymore so delete your video :DDD when I try to install it on blender it gives error: Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender 3.6\3.6\scripts\modules\addon_utils.py", line 369, in enable mod.register() File "C:\Users\johndoe\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\3.6\scripts\addons\cats-blender-plugin-master\__init__.py", line 319, in register bpy.context.window_manager.addon_support = {'OFFICIAL', 'COMMUNITY', 'TESTING'} ValueError: bpy_struct: item.attr = val:: 'TESTING' not found in ('OFFICIAL', 'COMMUNITY')

[@ForeverShinko]

you're using the wrong version of blender, install version 2.83 and it will work. i had the same issue

[@erickcervantes7084]

@@ForeverShinkobrother I can’t seem to add the VRM because it’s for 2.93 and onward not 2.83 blender

[@TOMIEUNDEAD]

During the Atlas part. I had all my materials selected and I clicked save atlas to and my model turned all white… what am I doing wrong?

[@fazziesan5931]

Hi! sorry for the late reply - have you found a fix for this? if not then can you DM me on discord (fazziesan#1283) and tell me about the problem in more detail? I want to try to replicate it and see if I will also have the issue - thanks!

[@sleepdealer1478]

@@fazziesan5931 Hi! I have the same problem, if you fixed it I would be happy to hear the answer. Great Tutorial, thank u a lot! X

[@fazziesan5931]

@@sleepdealer1478 unfortunately I still haven't found a solution...I keep trying to replicate it but I haven't been able to reproduce the bug Q_Q if you could message me more details about it/send screenshots i'd be happy to help in detail!

[@Pinkissoswag]

Okay so as i was doing the combine materials when i combined them they turned white..is this normal if not how do i fix it?

[@fazziesan5931]

Hi! Can you DM me on discord (fazziesan#1283) and tell me about the problem in more detail? I want to try to replicate it and see if I will also have the issue - thanks!

[@AllTheNamesAreFTaken]

I have this exact issue and I'm using the same version of blender as in the video, was there a solution to this? Edit; nevermind, I watched How to Import Vroid Studio 3D Avatars into Blender 3.4 and basically just using newer versions of everything, there were no issues. - blender 2.9 and newest version of addons

[@UczuciaTM]

when i export it as fbx with copy mode on, it doesn't save the textures with my fbx, why?