OH BOI HERE WE GO!
It's a bit overdue, but this will be a full update/tutorial on the use and make of vtuber/pngtuber/giftuber/ and whatnot. I will cover many bits and pieces and I will be referencing other blog posts in this, so be prepared. You’ll have a table below of everything that’ll be covered in this that you can bookmark and bounce back-n-forth on. let's begin!
Whats a Vtuber?
Let's get some basics out of the way, a vtuber started as a virtual YouTuber where creators used character sprites from games or specific images to give a visual to the voice-only YouTubers on their videos. Its evolved alot from that point, where Vtubers have moving character displays with facial tracking, changeable positions, and so many insane moving parts, and all in real-time!
The other versions I've noted, like Pngtuber or Giftuber are similar. Pngtubers uses Pngs to create a very simple version of vtuber that changes only with the creator is talking and has a cycle for blinking. The same for giftubers, using gifs that have a repeating cycle that's activated by audio.
Vtubers can be very expensive as it takes so much to just create them, from the initial design, to the drawing and rendering, to riggin' the model, to some of the equipment that used to make the model work properly. It's alot of planning and setting up, so generally creators have pngtubers to test the waters of specific designs early on. Sometimes not just one design but changing, tweaking, adjusting, just to make the design perfect for them!
This whole process does take time, so it's ok to try many things out, and adjust as you please so you love what you made in the end. Here are some steps you can do to help get you started.
Usage intent
Vtubers can be used in place of a face/identity but that doesn't stop creators from creative uses for content creation. There are some minor limitations, like make-up channels or irl applications type content but it's something for you to find and enjoy. If you're looking to do all this stuff for fun and not really for specific reasons or gain, you can just jump through all of this as some of the points I have are mainly for better brand cohesion or business-like thinking.
Character design
I've made hundreds of Pngtubers, too many giftubers, and a few vtubers, and with all that experience I’ve seen some… good and bad of character creation for vtubers. I’ll refer to some pieces of my character design post and it’ll have similar points. But designing for vtubers is a bit different as the usage is different.
The main focal point for Vtubers is their face/portrait area. As its the zone used most for conveying emotions and usage. For vtubers that just talk with their audience, to pngtubers making video essays or giftubers making TikTok. The upper half of the body and face is what's shown most. Don't disregard the lower half though but most of the important visual information should be on top or can be seen up top. Colors are way more important than you think. At least in a green screen sense, most programs use greenscreens and variants. When you pick the colors for your character design keep in mind to have your design tested against some green screen options. The popular three are Neon Green, Neon Blue, and Neon Magenta. It's something I should have done for a vtuber design as most of the character's colors have bits of every color of green, blue, and magenta, so a custom blue had to be used instead.
So there's no way of going about it without sounding weird. The best designs do not always have the largest tits, biggest hips, or longest…. Ya know. There's a side of sexualization for vtubers that's been around, and it's been shown it's not fully needed. If you want to express yourself by having some of these specific assets be sure to have them comply with guidelines. It'd be bad if you paid thousands of dollars just to get banned on day one.
*Also if you make some of these assets part of your character and brand, you are setting yourself up for a specific path that is limiting. Not all brands will want to work with you, sponsors will most likely pass you over and your audience will be exactly be what you make them be. Just be sure if you make this choice and stick with it, you will have a bit of a different experience as a vtuber.
Audience appeal or knowing your audience can help you stay away from certain aspects that make you more or less appealing to others. As I noted before sex appeal can hinder sponsorships or brand deals, same thing for how you act on your content or even your username. It's something you should keep in mind when on your character evolution journey.
So keep in mind all of these points for your character design; focal point, color palette, sex/visual appeal, audience, and how you act. These are pieces of your puzzle to solve, and here are a few ways I can point you to, to weave all your ideas together.
The easiest way to start is picking a theme, something you like, or an idea of a vibe like; Business, Witch, tarro cards, space, circus, bar, etc. These ideas help you narrow ideas together, kinda a start to a mood board or a word chart. Play into your theme! It's something that you like so go nutz for it!
Refine your ideas down now, from the general “wicked Business” to “witch lawyer” and on. You can tell a story or have ‘lore’ to make things ‘fit’ together. Like from our example, our Witch lawyer makes deals with demons to run her business like normal employees. And if our Witch lawyer streams, her viewers could be clients or employees. To refine even more down, think of some of the things our Witch Lawyer would need. She would need a desk, she would be in professional wear like a suit, maybe looking at contracts and stacks of papers, maybe have some pentagrams or some witch symbols? Do some research! look around with your keywords, scroll Pinterest, read some documents, look up general outfits, and dive deep!
Once you got all that you should have seen some things you like! Add them to a document so you can keep track of everything. You should have the start of how you want your character to look like, you can go in and add anything you want to reference, like tattoos of ips you love or scars. Keep adding if you feel it's needed!
Finally, you have the idea of your character! And maybe some other ideas as well that could help with your content.
Brand cohesion
These are just some quick tidbits to keep things together and look very unified.
Keep a similar color palette to your character's colors with some darker and lighter versions. This will make things kinda same-y with everything and look together, you could add some complementary colors to help your character pop out a bit more in contrast to your assets, like banners, logos, icons, etc.
Heres a quick list of brand things for vtubers that would be pretty nice to start with. I have a post of Brand guide details talking about keeping everything together.
Icon
Banner
Overlay (backgrounds for contents)
Posting schedule (streamers)
Info panels (streamers)
link card or website
OBS usage
Okies! This is a quick overview of how to use Vtuber/pngtuber stuff and how to put the models into OBS. I’ll reference some videos which will be linked and credited throughout.
Pngtuber/giftuber models!
Once you get your images and gifs, you can put them into any pngtuber program! Common ones Gazo-tuber [ https://risunz.itch.io/gazo-tuber ], Veadotube [ https://veado.tube/ ], and *pngtuber+ [ https://kaiakairos.itch.io/pngtuber-plus ]. Most of these are pretty direct as it’ll ask you to upload the images into different sections. Make sure you line up the correct files with the right motions ie; eyes blinking and taking in one, eyes open and mouth closed in the other, and on and on.
Set up your mic so the pngtuber program can catch it for the motions, you’ll have a few options to play with. You choose your fav, and in OBS you can add the pngtuber program as a game capture.
(images)
+ source -> game capture
Pick a specific window and add the pngtuber program.You’ll have to either choose a greenscreen and have that filtered out or if the program allows it, a transparency option. Should be in the same area of the color picker for the pngtuber program but make sure you have the transparency allowed option for obs in the properties menu.
* pngtuber+ is a newer program with a different setup to make your character bounce and move around more. Micking Vtuber models, this pngtuber+ model is set up very differently so please make sure you double-check with your artist and art files before putting everything in your program.
Vtuber models!
Once you get your model zip folder from the rigger (make sure you unzip it!), open up your vtuber program. There are a few options but the most popular vtuber program is Vtuber Studio. Once you open vtuber studio you can click on “add model” It will pop open a folder where you can drag the Model folder. You should be able to see your model in the program! But you're not done yet though, you still need to adjust the model movements to your liking and add your camera capture so the face tracking can work.
Most of these can be found in the settings menu in a few different tabs go through each of them as it's a trial and error to find what fits best for you!
There are a few ‘upgrades’ you can add, but not needed. These only enhance the facial tracking and movements better giving more fluidity. You will need a better camera for these upgrades and the best setup vtubers uses is iPhone 15 and higher due to the tracking in the camera. It's def an expensive upgrade so take your time with your character's design and how you use your model before going to the next level.
Wrap up
So I believe I got the basics covered, and everything I can currently think of. Def will add more information later if you guys leave questions down below. Eventually, I want to make this into a video as there are some recurring questions that this page should cover.