ShapeSync

Chapter 7: Advanced Outfit Registration and Collection (Shoe Deformation and Alignment)

← Back to Tutorial Index ｜ ← Chapter 6: Advanced Figure Registration and Partial Body Deformation (PBM)

This chapter explains the procedure for using the Collection feature, which corrects discrepancies in ankle angles and hip height that occur when a character wears shoes (such as heels or platform shoes).

First Half (VRoid Studio): Convert shoes from the sample model into custom items, equip them on Base and FBM base bodies, and export 2 shoe VRMs in total.
Second Half (Unity / ShapeSync): Confirm position discrepancies on the Scene, register Shoes1 in ShapeSync Editor, adjust postures (Hip Y / Foot X rotation) on Collection base body Prefabs and save Overrides, configure Full Collection (vertex Projection enabled), and verify Fit operations.

1. Introduction (Shoe Position/Posture Discrepancies and Collection Concept)

Posture Discrepancy Caused by Shoes: When wearing shoes with heels or thick soles, ankle angles (Foot tilt) and hip height (Hip Y) change relative to the default standing pose of the base body.
Collection Feature: A feature that automatically tracks and corrects bone postures and mesh vertices when wearing outfits by registering Prefabs with base body postures adjusted to match the shoes.
Difference Between Bone and Full:
- Bone: Corrects only the position and rotation of bones.
- Full: In addition to bone correction, also performs deformation (Projection) of body mesh vertices. This chapter uses Full for a reliable fit to the shoes.

2. Converting Shoes into Custom Items and Exporting Equipped VRMs (VRoid Studio)

First, use VRoid Studio to extract shoes from the model, equip them on Base / FBM base bodies, and export VRMs.

2.1 Converting Shoes into Custom Items

Launch VRoid Studio and open the preset model AvatarSample_I.
Select the Outfits tab in the top menu, and select Shoes from the left menu.
Switch category to Custom, and click Save as Custom Item on the displayed shoes item.

Saving shoes as custom item in VRoid Studio ▲Figure 7-1: Opening AvatarSample_I, going to Outfits > Shoes > Save as Custom Item

2.2 Exporting Shoes1BasicFemale.vrm

Open the base body model BasicFemale.vroid created in Chapter 2.
Select Outfits tab > Shoes > Custom, and select and equip the custom shoes item saved earlier.

Equipping shoes on BasicFemale ▲Figure 7-2: Opening BasicFemale and equipping custom shoes

Select Export VRM from the export button in the top right.
Select VRM1.0 and verify the Export Info (Polygon count: 20706, Material count: 10, Bone count: 59).

Checking VRM export for Shoes1BasicFemale ▲Figure 7-3: Checking polygon count, material count, bone count, and exporting as Shoes1BasicFemale.vrm

Enter Shoes1BasicFemale in Avatar Name, and export as Shoes1BasicFemale.vrm into the Unity project.

2.3 Exporting Shoes1SampleI.vrm

Next, open the FBM base body model SampleI.vroid.
Select Outfits tab > Shoes > Custom, and equip the same shoes item.

Equipping shoes on SampleI ▲Figure 7-4: Opening SampleI and equipping custom shoes

Select Export VRM (VRM 1.0) from the export button in the top right, and verify Export Info (Polygon count: 20706, Material count: 10, Bone count: 59).

Checking VRM export for Shoes1SampleI ▲Figure 7-5: Checking polygon count, material count, bone count, and exporting as Shoes1SampleI.vrm

Enter Shoes1SampleI in Avatar Name, and export as Shoes1SampleI.vrm into the Unity project.

3. Checking Position and Posture Discrepancies in Scene

Return to the Unity Editor and check the initial relative positions of base body and shoes.

Place base body BasicFemale.vrm and shoes Shoes1BasicFemale.vrm into the Unity Scene.
Set Transform Position of both to the identical coordinates (0, 0, 0).
Checking the feet in Scene view reveals that the position and posture of base body feet and shoes do not match and are heavily misaligned. Collection is used to correct this discrepancy.

Checking position discrepancy between base body and shoes in Scene ▲Figure 7-6: Placing BasicFemale and Shoes1BasicFemale at identical coordinates (0,0,0) and checking position discrepancies at feet and hips

4. Registering Outfit (Shoes1) and Classifying Materials

From the top menu in Unity Editor, open Tools > zgock > ShapeSync > ShapeSync Editor.
Select Outfits from the left TreeView.
Enter Shoes1 in Outfit Id and Shoes1 in Outfit Name, and click the Create Mesh Outfit button.
Select the created Outfits > Mesh Outfits > Shoes1.
In Outfit Prefab, drag and drop Shoes1BasicFemale.vrm from the Project window, and click Save to Database at the bottom of the screen.
Next, open Shoes1 > Materials (Mesh Outfit Materials) from TreeView.
Set the Classification for body material rows such as face and body to Projection instead of Exclude.
Keep the shoe material (Shoes_01_CLOTH) as Include, set Entry Name to Shoes1, and click Save to Database at the bottom of the screen.

[!IMPORTANT] Classifying body parts as Projection enables the vertex correction (Projection) of Full Collection described later.

Shoes1 Materials settings (Classifying body materials as Projection) ▲Figure 7-7-1: Setting body materials such as face and eyes to Projection in Shoes1 > Materials

Shoes1 Materials settings (Body Projection and Shoes1 Include) ▲Figure 7-7-2: Setting Body_00_SKIN to Projection and shoe material to Include (Entry Name: Shoes1), then saving with Save to Database

Open Shoes1 > FBMs from TreeView.
In FBM Prefab for the existing Figure FBM axis SampleI row, drag and drop Shoes1SampleI.vrm from the Project window, and click Save to Database at the bottom of the screen.

5. Exporting Collection Base Body Prefabs and Adjusting Posture

Create Collection Prefabs with base body postures adjusted to match the shoes.

5.1 Exporting Prefabs

Open Figure (Base screen) in TreeView, and click the Export button in the Prefab on Database row.
In the “Export Figure Prefab” dialog, specify destination as Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/BasicFemale.prefab and save (maintain default file name).
Open the SampleI row in TreeView under Figure > FBMs, and click the Export button for Prefab on Database.
In the “Export FBM Prefab” dialog, specify destination as Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/SampleI.prefab and save.
Similarly, from Export in the Outfit Prefab on Database row of the Shoes1 Base screen, save Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/Shoes1BasicFemale.prefab.
From Export for Outfit Prefab in the SampleI row of Shoes1 > FBMs, save Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/Shoes1SampleI.prefab.

Export completed screen for Collection Prefabs ▲Figure 7-8-1: State where 4 Prefabs are exported to Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/

5.2 Posture Adjustment in Scene and Saving Overrides

Place the created Collection base body BasicFemale.prefab and comparison shoe Shoes1BasicFemale.prefab into the Scene, setting both to (0, 0, 0).

Placing Collection base body and comparison shoe Prefab in Scene ▲Figure 7-8-2: Placing BasicFemale (for Collection) and Shoes1BasicFemale at identical coordinates in Scene

Check the Position Y coordinate (e.g. 0.9225485) of Root/J_Bip_C_Hips on the shoe Prefab (Shoes1BasicFemale).

Checking Hip Y coordinate of shoe Prefab ▲Figure 7-8-3: Checking Position Y coordinate (0.9225485) of J_Bip_C_Hips on Shoes1BasicFemale

Copy and enter the confirmed value (0.9225485) into the Position Y coordinate of Root/J_Bip_C_Hips on the Collection base body (BasicFemale).

Copying to Hip Y coordinate of Collection base body ▲Figure 7-8-4: Entering 0.9225485 into Position Y of J_Bip_C_Hips on BasicFemale

Adjust Rotation X of left and right ankle bones (J_Bip_L_Foot and J_Bip_R_Foot) on the Collection base body to fit the shoe tilt snugly (e.g. Rotation X = 3.71).

Adjusting Foot Rotation X of Collection base body ▲Figure 7-8-5: Setting Rotation X of J_Bip_R_Foot on BasicFemale to 3.71 to match shoe tilt

Once adjustments are complete, select the Collection base body (BasicFemale) in Hierarchy, and click Apply All from the Overrides dropdown in the top right of Inspector to overwrite-save to the Prefab.

[!WARNING] If you do not save Overrides (Apply All), adjusted postures will not be reflected in Collection corrections. Do not create a separate dedicated Prefab; always save to this BasicFemale.prefab.”

Executing Apply All from Overrides dropdown ▲Figure 7-8-6: Clicking Apply All from Overrides dropdown in Inspector to overwrite-save to BasicFemale.prefab

Similarly, place SampleI.prefab and Shoes1SampleI.prefab in the Scene, copy Hip Y, adjust left and right Foot X rotations, and save Overrides (Apply All) to SampleI.prefab.

6. Configuring Collection (Full and Projection)

Select Outfits > Mesh Outfits > Shoes1 > Collections from the left TreeView in ShapeSync Editor.
Select Full in the Collection dropdown.
Check Use Projection for Full Collection to ON.
Assign each Collection Prefab:
- Base Collection Prefab: Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/BasicFemale.prefab
- SampleI Collection Prefab: Assets/ShapeSync/Collection/Shoes1/SampleI.prefab
Click the Save to Database button at the very bottom of the screen to save.

Collections configuration screen for Shoes1 ▲Figure 7-9: Setting Collection to Full, turning ON Use Projection for Full Collection, assigning Base/SampleI Collection Prefabs, and saving with Save to Database

7. Registering Outfit Shape and Executing Generate

Create an Outfit Shape for shoes and generate Shape Templates.

Select Shapes from the left TreeView in ShapeSync Editor.
Enter outfitShoes1 in Shape Id and outfitShoes1 in Shape Name, and click the Create Outfit Shape Template button.
Open Shapes > Outfit Shapes > outfitShoes1 in TreeView.
Click the Add Mesh button and assign Shoes1 to Outfit Mesh.
Click the Save to Database button at the bottom of the screen to save.

Outfit Shape registration screen for outfitShoes1 ▲Figure 7-10-1: Assigning Shoes1 to Outfit Mesh in outfitShoes1 Outfit Shape and saving with Save to Database

Select the Generation section from TreeView.
Keep each output relative path at default values, and click the Generate button at the bottom of the screen.
Select destination root folder (Assets/ShapeSync/Generated), click “Select Folder”, and execute generation.

Generate execution screen in Generation section ▲Figure 7-10-2: Clicking Generate in Generation section, selecting destination root folder (Generated), and executing generation

8. Scene Placement and Operation Check with Shape Director, Verifying Poke

Apply shoes to Figure in Scene and check Fit status and remaining issues.

Select the Figure (BasicFemale) placed in the Scene.
Inspect the ShapeDirector component on the Figure.
Drag and drop the newly generated outfitShoes1.asset into Template List (Perform registration before entering Play Mode).
Verify that Walking.controller is assigned to Figure’s Animator, and press Unity’s Play button to enter Play Mode.
While walking animation is playing, confirm that shoe positions and ankle angles fit naturally and track correctly with walking.

Shoe Fit operation check in Play Mode ▲Figure 7-11-1: Shoe positions and angles fitting and tracking correctly during walking animation playback in Play Mode

Camera angle from under dress ▲Figure 7-11-2: Tracking state of shoes and feet viewed from beneath dress

Zooming in closely on the feet reveals that base body skin/toes slightly poke out through parts such as the toe area of shoes (Poke).

Close-up check of remaining Poke at toe of shoe ▲Figure 7-11-3: State of Poke where base body skin slightly protrudes from tip of shoe toe

[!NOTE] This remaining Poke at the toes is completely resolved using the Figure Mask feature explained in the next chapter (Chapter 8).

9. Common Issues and Solutions (Troubleshooting)

Q1. Shoe position or ankle angle is not corrected upon entering Play Mode

Cause: After adjusting postures on Collection base body Prefabs (BasicFemale.prefab, etc.), overwrite-saving to the Prefab via Overrides > Apply All in the Inspector may not have been performed.
Solution: Select the adjusted base body Prefab in the Scene and be sure to click Overrides > Apply All to save. Afterwards, re-execute Generate in Generation of ShapeSync Editor.

Q2. Body mesh around shoes does not deform cleanly

Cause: In Shoes1 > Materials, body part materials may be set to Exclude instead of Projection, or Use Projection for Full Collection may not be enabled in the Collections screen.
Solution: Confirm that body materials are set to Projection in Shoes1 > Materials, and that Full and Use Projection for Full Collection is ON in Shoes1 > Collections, save, and re-generate.

← Back to Tutorial Index ｜ ← Chapter 6: Advanced Figure Registration and Partial Body Deformation (PBM)

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