Patreon supporters will have access to trials of the face tracking rigging tool and blendshape generator sometime during the next week. (This article is written on the 27th of October 2023)

What is this tool?

I am building a tool that lets me rig an avatar in Unity Editor. I’m doing this because there’s an avatar I wanted to buy, but there is no one selling a face tracking patch for that avatar.

Last time I made my own face tracking blendshapes in Blender for my main avatar, it bored me to death. I thought that if I could build a tool that creates the blendshapes for me, then I could purchase more avatars because there would be less friction.

I already did a blendshape generation experiment a week earlier using Vixen, one of my other tools, which led me to look into it.

2023-10-26_17-41-25_ShareX.mp4

Reason for Trials

Here's how the trials will be laid out:

• The trial exists because face tracking with the variety of avatars is inherently complex, so there's no way the tool will get things right on the first try.
• Because of this, during the trial, I will allow myself to update the tool in a way that's could break compared to previous versions, so don't get too attached to it. There should be advance warnings when that's going to happen. Please do not volunteer if that's not a risk you want to take.
• Access to the trials will be for Patreon supporters only.
  • (1000円🌙⭐以上のpixivFANBOXサポーターの方はDiscordの#mainチャンネルまでご連絡ください。)

Avatar types

• I will be looking for feedback on how well the tool performs in a variety of avatars that you personally use yourself, including anime-like avatars (i.e. booth), furry avatars, and other types.
• However, at first, the focus will be on anime-like avatars because it is a type of avatar that I am personally more familiar with. If I cannot get anime-type avatars right, you can be sure I have no chance of getting a furry avatar working.
• The concern about furry avatars is the extreme variety of face shape types, and different behaviour in how the interior of the mouth (or jaw) moves compared to an anime-like avatar. There may not be a guarantee that furry avatars will ever work well with that tool, but I'd like it to be.
• If you use a furry avatar and you want to volunteer, please do so, I appreciate the feedback as it will help me anticipate special adjustments I will need to do to support both main target avatar types.

Compatible platforms and apps

• The tool will require the use of the Unity Editor.
• It is a non-destructive tool, in the sense that the original model file will not be permanently edited.
• VRChat will be a primary focus, and for VRChat, it is a non-destructive tool in the sense that the avatar will not be modified in the GameObject hierarchy until the avatar is built or enters play mode.