[0:00] So, you want to become a VTuber, huh?
[0:02] Well, it's actually not that
[0:04] complicated. Today, I'm going to be
[0:05] showing you how I created my first 2D
[0:07] VTuber model within a week.
[0:11] If you want to become a VTuber, you are
[0:13] first going to need a couple of things.
[0:15] A good quality model, a decent computer,
[0:18] and a microphone. But today, we'll be
[0:20] focusing specifically on how to create
[0:22] and draw a 2D Vtuber model. I get asked
[0:25] a lot about how I created my VTuber
[0:27] model or avatar. And a lot of times
[0:29] people expect my answer to be complex
[0:31] and something they wouldn't be capable
[0:33] of on their own. But in reality, I
[0:35] created my first VTuber model within a
[0:37] week with very limited digital art
[0:39] skills and a crappy Wacom tablet. 2D
[0:41] Vtuber models are often mistaken for 3D
[0:43] models because they are so well
[0:45] animated. But in fact, they are just a
[0:47] flat image cut up into a bunch of
[0:49] different parts. 3D Vtuber models are a
[0:51] totally different process, and I will
[0:53] not be showing you how to make a 3D
[0:54] Vtuber model in this video. It's all 2D
[0:57] here baby.
[0:59] To create this model, you are going to
[1:00] need a program like Photoshop, Clip
[1:02] Studio Paint, or Whatever program
[1:04] you use, make sure you can export your
[1:06] work into PSD format. I also recommend
[1:10] that you have a character design or
[1:11] reference sheet done for your VTuber
[1:13] character before you begin working on
[1:14] your model. You can, of course, just
[1:17] wing it, but it's better if you already
[1:19] know what you want to look like ahead of
[1:21] time. Once you've picked your program,
[1:23] then sketch your model out fully.
[1:25] Recognize whether you're going to create
[1:27] a halfbody model or a full body model.
[1:29] And yes, halfbody models are perfectly
[1:31] fine. My first model was a half body
[1:33] model. Once you're happy with your
[1:35] sketch, it's time to start with actually
[1:36] creating your model. Figure out which
[1:38] parts will be moving individually from
[1:40] each other as you draw them and keep
[1:41] them in separate layers. If you aren't
[1:44] sure if certain pieces need to be
[1:45] separated or not, it's best that you
[1:47] just separate them anyway. I use a lot
[1:49] of layers when I create models.
[1:50] Typically, I use a line art layer, color
[1:53] layer, and a shading layer for each
[1:55] piece, and then I merge them together
[1:56] when the piece is done. However, this
[1:58] isn't a rule at all. Every artist has
[2:00] their own style and their own way of
[2:02] working, so do what works best with you.
[2:04] Typically, when creating models, the
[2:06] symmetry tool is your best friend.
[2:07] Although you will be separating the
[2:09] parts between left and right, you can do
[2:11] that at any time. The key parts in your
[2:13] model should be head, hair front, hair
[2:16] back torso arms clothing iris eye
[2:20] shine, eye, lashes, and mouth parts. And
[2:24] if you're doing a full body model,
[2:26] hands, waist, and legs. The face of your
[2:29] model is the most complicated part
[2:30] because it will move the most. Make sure
[2:32] you keep your eye whites, irises, eye
[2:35] shine, and lashes separate and do not
[2:36] merge them together. Mouth parts can be
[2:39] done in multiple ways. The easy way is
[2:41] to just draw an open and a closed mouth.
[2:43] But if you want better movement, here's
[2:45] a better way to do it.
[2:47] Any expressions, accessories, and other
[2:50] items should be made in different layers
[2:51] as well. Do not merge two parts together
[2:53] that you want to act separately. And of
[2:55] course, if you want your model's
[2:57] animation to be more complex, break up
[2:59] certain parts into more pieces so that
[3:00] they can move separately from each
[3:02] other. Now that you've finished creating
[3:04] your model and you are ready to export
[3:06] it, make sure that all the layers are
[3:07] separated between left and right if
[3:09] needed and are completely flat. There
[3:12] should be no folders, no effects on your
[3:14] layers, no hidden layers, and they
[3:16] should all be labeled clearly. Do not
[3:19] worry if it looks a little strange at
[3:20] this point. That can be fixed in the
[3:22] rigging process. Export this as a PSD,
[3:24] and you've officially created your
[3:26] model.
[3:29] Now it's time for rigging or the
[3:30] animation. The only program that I know
[3:32] of for animating VTuber models is Live
[3:34] 2D Cubism. Thankfully, Live 2D Cubism is
[3:37] a lengthy trial period for you to get to
[3:39] know the software without paying a
[3:40] scent. And that's exactly what I use to
[3:43] rig my original model. Now, I have never
[3:45] bought the Live 2D software, and my
[3:47] rigging abilities are limited and rather
[3:49] rusty at this point. Live 2D can be very
[3:52] intimidating and seem complex. But if
[3:54] you are diligent and adamant to not pay
[3:56] a scent for your model like I did, you
[3:58] can certainly rig your model fairly well
[4:00] and fully functionally before the trial
[4:02] period ends, which I do recommend you
[4:05] try if you have the time to do. If you
[4:07] can't or don't want to rig your own
[4:09] model, you can always look for someone
[4:10] else who's more experienced and can do
[4:12] it for you. There are plenty of rigging
[4:13] artists on Twitter who will rig your
[4:15] model for a fee. And there's an entire
[4:17] live 2D community that will be willing
[4:18] to help you regardless of which path you
[4:20] decide to take. Once your model is done
[4:23] being rigged and exported, you can use a
[4:25] couple of different programs to simulate
[4:27] your model, including Vip Studio and PRP
[4:30] Live. Simply take the files needed from
[4:32] your exported model and import them into
[4:34] the program. Most programs work very
[4:36] similarly, but this is how you do it
[4:38] with Vip Studio, and this is how you do
[4:40] it with PRP Live.
[4:43] And boom, you're a ding-dang Vtuber.
[4:45] Thank you for watching my tutorial.
[4:47] Hopefully you found it helpful. If you
[4:48] did, make sure to boop that like button
[4:50] on the nose and subscribe to my YouTube
[4:52] channel for more content featuring me. I
[4:55] will be making more VTuber tutorials in
[4:57] the future if this one does well. So,
[4:58] make sure to let me know how I did in
[5:00] the comments. And share this with
[5:01] friends who might need it. I hope you
[5:02] have a fantastic rest of your day. Bug
[5:04] out.