MAKING YOUR OWN 2D VTUBER MODEL
(BEGINNER’S GUIDE, BUNLYNNVT’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 or 8000x4000 300 dpi canvas
* 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 a few LAYERING GUIDES that I used to help me with that!
* 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!
* 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
* Optional (i use this now): For your nude base of your model (and some other things) you can try doing the underfill method as it makes things easier to rig
* HIMEY’S LAYERING GUIDE: https://twitter.com/__himey/status/1302233959544233984?s=20
* HAMUARIA’S LAYERING GUIDE:
https://twitter.com/HamuAria/status/1395001595109195783?s=20 (cont. Next page)
* Shyfenich’s HEAD LAYERING GUIDE
* https://x.com/shyfenich/status/1763261437143548221?s=20
* ROXOAH DOWNLOADABLE LAYERING GUIDE ( face ):
* https://ko-fi.com/s/11da3f7dc8
* ROXOAH DOWNLOADABLE LAYERING GUIDE ( body):
* https://ko-fi.com/s/0d1042a5f3
* @naphiria’S MOUTH SEPARATION GUIDE:
* https://x.com/naphiria/status/1764770449097957557?s=20
* KEEP USING SYMMETRY TOOL, you can just separate the Left and Right later when finalizing!
COLORING/RENDERING
* This part is pretty straight forward, go through all your separated layers and flat color on a layer under them 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.
* BUT DO NOT MERGE UNDERFILLED LAYERS
* you can keep some color/lineart parts separated depending on your rig artist’s needs, some rig artists like more separated models than others depending on the object
* 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
* A note on layering: the more separate some parts are, the more complex your rig can get. Your rig artist can let you know if they want some things separated so they can achieve certain effects.
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, in layering it’s helpful to indicate what layer mode it is in the naming ie: bellshine_add
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!
Ideal naming examples:
r_ear
l_pupil
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)