MAKING YOUR OWN 2D VTUBER MODEL

(BEGINNER’S GUIDE, LYNNTSUNAMI’S WORKFLOW)

You can use Clip Studio, Photoshop, Procreate (limited canvas size), just make sure it is saved as a .PSD

START WITH A DESIGN

* Have a good reference/idea of the design you want to make. This will make the entire process of making your vtuber model much smoother.

* When designing, experiment! Play with it to get it to how you exactly want it etc.

SKETCHING

* After you have solidified your design, you want to start with sketching!

* USE THE SYMMETRY TOOL, I cannot stress this enough. This is how you will get a really clean and even model and it will make everything so much easier. Of course you can turn it off when making asymmetrical designs that’s no problem BUT USE IT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.

* I now use 6000x3000 300 dpi canvas (I switched from ipad to cintiq so bigger file sizes are okay now) but still feel free to go even bigger. I've seen like double the size so do whatever ! I found this size to be the most comfortable though.

* 4000x2000 300 dpi canvas MINIMUM (good for if u just have an ipad/procreate etc)

* When sketching you don’t have to worry about layering just yet so really get the shape making you want

LINING

* So you have your sketch, now it’s time to begin lining your model. When you do this, IT IS EASIER TO CUT UP/SEPARATE THE MODEL PARTS DURING THIS, rather than later. This can be really daunting! How do you know what to cut up? I am linking two LAYERING GUIDES that I used to help me with that!

* HIMEY’S LAYERING GUIDE: https://twitter.com/__himey/status/1302233959544233984?s=20

* HAMUARIA’S LAYERING GUIDE:

https://twitter.com/HamuAria/status/1395001595109195783?s=20

* PRO TIP: if you potentially want alternate outfits on your model, try to have a naked base model under your clothes or save a version with just your base model

* KEEP USING SYMMETRY TOOL, you can just separate the Left and Right later when finalizing!

* THINK ABOUT THE MOVING PARTS YOU WANT. If you have a bunch of hair keep all the hair chunks on separate layers, if you have a bag, a zipper, a jacket, things you want to be able to toggle on and off, KEEP THEM ON SEPERATE LAYERS!

COLORING/RENDERING

* This part is pretty straight forward, go through all your separated layers and flat color then render them as you want!

* I usually add a layer under the lineart layer im working on and render that, then will merge like in the next step vvv

* After, if you haven’t already, you merge the coloring and the lines of each separate part. Example: The arm lineart and the arm coloring now merge into just the arm layer.

* Think about the layers of a paper doll or a real person, draw out anything under fully so there's no gaps, for example: drawing the legs fully under a skirt, no baldness under hair chunks

FINALIZING

* After you have finished the model visually, you want to separate the model’s lefts and rights that may be on the same layers. (FOR EXAMPLE: you used the symmetry tool to render the left and the right arm on the same layer, now separate them into Left Arm and Right Arm)

* REFER BACK TO THE LAYERING GUIDE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING PROPERLY LAYERED THIS INCLUDES:

Eyes: top eyelash, bottom eyelash, top eyelid, bottom eyelid, eye shine, iris, eyewhite, sometimes pupil, etc. Lefts and Rights of each.

Mouth: top mouth, bottom mouth, teeth, tongue, inner mouth, etc.

AND WHATEVER ELSE

* THE LEFT BODY PARTS ARE THE MODEL’S LEFT BODY PARTS the lefts and rights are relative to the model. THIS IS IMPORTANT. The layering guides show this.

* * Folders are your friend! Makes the rig artist’s life a lot easier and just keeps things organized because you are going to have a lot of layers!

* LIVE2D HAS LIMITED BLENDING MODES SO TRY TO KEEP IT AT: NORMAL/ADDITIVE/MULTIPLY

EXTRA:

* Note that you can add extra layers onto your model!

* emotion layers Ex: Hearts, Star Eyes, Shading for Anger/Nervous

* Different Hairstyles

* Drawing Arm (separate the fingers, pen, hand, and arm for this)

* Different Outfit

* Whatever you want!

Please name your layers clearly and properly!

SAVE AS A .PSD !! and have all the layers visible !

THIS IS JUST A BEGINNER’S GUIDE THAT COVER’S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE BASICS OF MAKING A MODEL. THERE ARE OF COURSE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO ABOUT THIS, I HAVE JUST FOUND THIS TO BE THE EASIEST AND MOST STREAMLINE WAY FOR ME! THERE ARE MORE ADVANCED THINGS YOU COULD POTENTIALLY DO AS MODEL MAKING AND RIGGING POSSIBILITES ARE VERY MUCH ENDLESS!

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!

NOTE: EVERY RIG ARTIST WILL HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR LAYER SEPARATION ! PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR RIG ARTIST (if you aren’t rigging yourself)