VRM File Format
An interoperable open standard format for avatars
What is VRM?
It is an open source file format specially design for humanoid Character avatars, it is based on glTF2.0, a cross-platform format that has been gaining a lot of tracking during last years.
glTF - Runtime 3D Asset Delivery
File format details
One of the great things about VRM is that you can find lot of interesting features specifically designed for virtual avatars in just one file!
Face expressions,
You can have basic face gestures stored and set up in your VRM such as emotions, blinks, and aiueo This will allow you to have:
Select facial expressions
Lip sync from voice
Random blinking
Assign facial capture
BlendShape (Visemes)
Materials (shaders)
As for now VRM supports 3 types of shaders:
PBR
Unlit
MToon
Line of Sight control
In order to make avatars more alive you can customize their gaze.
Gaze by Bone
Gaze by BlendShape
Gaze by TextureUV
Spring Bones
You can add special bones to you avatar that will make it more dynamic looking. This is specially used on things like hair, tail, wings...
On VRM this are called Springbones, but you can also find them referenced as Dynamic bones in other environment such as Unity.
Avatar first person view
You can store the VR view directly in you VRM so it is set up and works seamesly
Licensing
One of the most interesting features of VRM is the ability to edit the Metadata.
Avatar creators can store their Information directly inside the VRM, the can also set the avatar licensing they desire when they create the final file
To find more information about licenses go here
What can you do with VRM??
VRM is a file format for Avatars, design and thought to be platform independent and very interoperable thanks to it’s glTF2.0 structure.
You can use it in any software that allows VRMs, for more information go to this site
Who created VRM?
The VRM file format is mainly being developed and updated by the VRM consortium an open source effort between many Japanese companies, stablished in April 24, 2019.
They came together to create a file format specifically thought on Avatars that could cross between VR experiences.
You can find more information about VRM consortium here
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