Live2D Cubism Editor 5.1 alpha2 Enhanced Model Template Function User Tutorial |
04/11/2024 r2
Enhanced Model Template Function
Adjust the model after applying templates
Version | Revision date | Revision details |
r2 | 04/11/2024 | Updated for alpha2 ・Modified the article on how to insert parts in the "Adjust the Model After Applying Templates" section. |
r1 | 03/28/2024 | First edition |
The model template function is a convenient feature that allows you to apply elements such as parts, deformer structures, and parameter keyforms to a newly created model based on a completed Live2D model.
The model template function makes it easy to transfer the features and movements of an existing model to a new model.
The traditional model template function could not be applied to models with deformer structures or keyforms, so it could only be applied once at the beginning of the modeling process.
In Cubism 5.1 alpha, templates can now be applied to any model with deformer structures and parameter keyforms.
This makes it possible to apply the system as many times as necessary and facilitates fine-tuning for each part.
Cubism 5.0 or earlier
Cubism 5.1 alpha
In Cubism 5.1 alpha version, the [Model template selection] dialog box is empty.
The model can be displayed in the dialog box by placing the following files in the Model Template Folder described later.
Please review the Terms of Use and then download the files.
Please download the ZIP file from the link below.
The template model will be applied assuming that no deformers or keyforms are set in the model to which it is applied.
First, let’s partially apply the arm template.
Select the ArtMeshes for the right upper arm, forearm, and hand.
You can apply the template partially by selecting the area to which you want to apply it.
Click on the “arm_R” image.
The selected “arm_R” template model is superimposed on the front of the model to which it is being applied.
For more information, see “Adjust Model Position and Size” under the “Model Template Function” in the Editor Manual.
For more information, see “Mapping of Parts” under the “Model Template Function” in the Editor Manual.
Cubism 5.1 alpha version has an [Unmapping] button in the [Preview] pop-up menu.
If there are multiple unintended mappings, they can be removed in a single operation.
Clicking the Playback button will automatically play the motion, but it may not play for some parts of the body.
In that case, select [Preview] menu -> [Show parameters] to display the [Preview/parameters] pop-up to directly check the parameter movement.
After adjusting the position and size of the model and clicking [OK], a dialog box appears to set how the settings will be applied to the destination model.
First, set up the following.
Parts of the template model, deformer structures, and parameter keyforms have been applied to the destination model.
For more information, see “Enhanced Model Template Function” in the User Manual.
In Cubism 5.1 alpha, templates can now be applied to arbitrary models with deformer structures and parameter keyforms, making the applied results more complex than in the past.
Here are some tips on how to successfully apply templates in various cases.
When a template is applied, the parameters and parameter groups of the template model are newly added to the destination model.
If the same parameters, such as face movement (Angle X, Y) or body movement (Body rotation X, Y, Z), already exist in the destination model, the keyform can be moved if the following items match in the template model and the destination model.
In that case, select [Overwrite] for the [Same parameters] setting in the Apply Settings dialog box.
Precautions The ability to overwrite non-parameters (parts, deformers, etc.) according to the structure of the model to which they are applied is still under consideration. |
In the Apply Settings dialog box, select [Change to specified color] for the [Label color] settings and set your selected color to make it easier to see what has changed after applying the template.
Precautions If a keyform is moved to a parameter of the model to which it is applied, for example, by using the [Overwrite] setting, the label color settings will not be applied. |
The template function is good at reusing deformer structures and movements.
However, depending on the layout, the ArtMesh may extend far beyond the deformer, resulting in unintended movement.
By utilizing the overall scaling and adjustment parameters of the template model, it is possible to match the shape of the ArtMesh as closely as possible to avoid outliers from the deformer and to increase the accuracy of the movement.
Template accuracy can also be improved by using the template model as a guide image to create an illustration with a similar shape.
In Cubism 5.1 alpha, the parts in the template model are inserted near the selected ArtMesh before the template is applied.
The draw order may change with parts to which the template is not applied. Adjust the position and the draw order of the parts after applying the template to get the look you want.
If necessary, empty parts are also deleted.
In Cubism 5.1 alpha, deformers in the template model are inserted at the bottom of the palette directly under the Root.
If the template is applied to a part of the model, such as hair, it should be adjusted to the head movement of the destination model, so adjust the parent-child hierarchy by setting it as the child of the reference rotation deformer.
In addition, the position and deformation are also adjusted to match other parts of the body.
Similarly, ArtMeshes should be adjusted when applying a template partially, as they are likely to be misaligned with the movement of other parts of the model.
Models created with this alpha version may not be able to be opened in future versions of the Editor (incompatibilities may occur).
If you intend to continue using the model you created as a template in the future, create it in the full version of Editor to maintain compatibility.
In this case, we recommend applying a template model created in the full version to the model loaded in the alpha version for trial use.
Template models can be adjusted in position and size more finely by setting “Parameters for adjustment.”
Parameters for adjustment are used only for position and size adjustment during layout and are automatically deleted after the template is applied.
Parameters for adjustment can be created by prefixing the parameter ID of the template model with a one-byte “@” character.
The parameters for adjustment are basically the same as those for blend shapes.
Using parameters for blend shapes eliminates the need to worry about parameter multiplication and allows multiple adjustment parameters to be tied to a particular deformer.
The parameter names of the distributed template models are marked with “@” for easy identification during layout. (You do not necessarily need to include the “@” in the name.)
Use the template models distributed as a reference to create your own models.
A model you wish to use as a template can be exported as a model template information file (.template.json).
For details, please refer to “Model Template Information (.template.json)” in the User Manual.
In Cubism 5.1 alpha, when exporting a template, the entire model is targeted.
To cut out a portion of an existing model and use it as a template, copy the necessary objects and paste them into a new model file.
This makes it easy to create models for each part of the body.
Select [File] menu -> [Export Template...] to open the [Export Template] dialog box.
Enter the name and any necessary details.
Included details will appear as tooltips in the Template Selection dialog box and will also be searchable.
After clicking [OK], the file will be exported to the following local location.
Files to be exported
Select [Edit] menu -> [Open model template folder] in the Template Selection dialog box to open the location where the files are saved.
By opening the model template information file (.template.json) with Notepad, etc., and changing and saving the contents, GIF images can be displayed in the dialog box and data can be registered for reference.
For models that are partially output as templates, such as arms or hair, you may want to refer to the original full body model or PSD file.
In this case, include the file name of the full-body model or PSD in the ReferenceFiles section of the JSON file and place the files in the same folder.
This allows you to duplicate and save the specified file from the [Reference] button.
Refer to “Enhanced Template Function” in the Cubism 5.1 alpha1 User Manual or the distributed model template information file (.template.json) to customize it for your own use.
Precautions Model template information files (.template.json) created with the alpha version Editor cannot be used with the beta version Editor. Please use this as a temporary version to facilitate testing of the template functionality in the alpha version. Features such as exporting templates will be officially implemented based on the operation in the alpha version. |
TIPS
If you do not need to view thumbnails, you can also directly select the model to be used in the template from the [Select from .cmo3 file] at the bottom of the dialog box.
Finally, we encourage you to take advantage of the new template functionality in the alpha version and create your own template models.
