In Fall 2025, I took an independent study to research and create 2 Vtuber (Virtual Avatar) models. For this independent study, I tasked myself to design two models in Photoshop, then rig the models in Live2D to be able to mimic human behavior. Then transfer the rig to Vtube Studio to capture viewer movement.
In Vtubing culture, the vtuber usually has backstories that go with their design. For my first model, I went with a gothic vibe. The backstory for my model Pandora is that she is an alternative fortune teller, which supports her gothic makeup and dark attire. She is also only half a model, so I could focus on building my skills in design and rigging.
For my Second Model, I went with an underwater theme. This model, named Jelly, is a jellyfish princess who is kind and curious about the outside world. For this model, I wanted to push my skills, so I gave her a jellyfish hat, lots of jewelry, and a full body
When making these designs, I have to be sure to put everything on a separate layer, as when rigging the model, I have to add different physics to different body parts. When making each layer, you have to draw even what you may not be able to see, because when the character moves, hidden parts of the model are seen.
After the designs are complete, the next step is to import the PSD to Live2D, the standard for Vtuber rigging. Each layer needs to warp and deform to fit the 3D perspective. Once the basics of making the model go up, down, right, and then left, you can start to add physics to the model. Each piece you want to move has to have its own physics to make the movement look realistic.
Once the rigging is done, the models can then be uploaded to any tracking application. For this project, I used VTube Studio. Once you edit the physics to the person's movement, the model is ready to use. In these videos, an iPhone was used because the facial tracker is better than a webcam. Many professional VTubers use an iPhone to track their motion. There is also a plugin called Vbriger, which can be used to capture more complex facial expressions like puckered lips or puffing of the face.
