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Compressive Deform

The Starmesh Op. Compressive Deform component creates a blendshape that emulates the effect of a flat surface being compressed against that object.

This is different from rescaling. The surface of a non-flat object will be progressively flattened as it's being compressed.

  • This blendshape has multiple frames, so it emulates a non-linear interpolation.
  • It will move vertices progressively as the blendshape progresses.
  • It will not flatten vertices far from the compression surface, unless the compression surface becomes closer.
  • It will expand the object laterally to the force.
  • The lateral expansion is limited by the proximity to the compression surface.
danger

If you use a third-party tool called DexProtect, then you must update DexProtect to version 2.2.3 or higher.

Compressive Deform will not work properly with a lower version of DexProtect.

danger

🚫 Not compatible with GLB/GLTF format

Since this blendshape has multiple frames, this cannot be used in applications if the format is VRM or GLB (i.e. Resonite).

This can still be used in

VNyan
and
Warudo
 as long as you use their proprietary avatar formats, instead of the VRM format.

How to use​

Create the operator and selectors​

  • Add a Starmesh Op. Compressive Deform component on a new GameObject in your avatar.
  • In the selectors of this component, add a Starmesh Select Meshes, or choose one that you already have.
    • Configure the Select Meshes selector so that it affects the relevant meshes.
  • In the selectors of this component, add other selectors, for instance, a Starmesh Select Bones or a Starmesh Select Line Radius.
    • If you choose to use a Select Point Radius or a Starmesh Select Line Radius, it may need to be larger than usual (or, modify the curve), so that the Compressive Deform has full influence over the affected vertices.
tip

You can add selectors as children of this GameObject.

Configure the operator​

Configure the blendshape​

  • Choose a name for the generated blendshape in the Shape Name.
  • The Shape Default Weight setting is the default value of the blendshape on your SkinnedMeshRenderer component after it is created.
    • If you are going to use that blendshape for scripts or animations, leave the Shape Default Weight to 0.
    • If you are not going to use that blendshape in any scripts nor animations, set the Shape Default Weight to 100.

Configure the Inwards deformation​

The Inwards deformation section configures how the vertices moves inwards from the compression surface to the origin.

  • Make sure you have gizmos enabled in your scene.
  • You may want to set the Preview to 0 while setting up for the first time.
  • In your scene, move the Origin gizmo to the far surface of your object being compressed.
  • Move the Origin gizmo laterally (on the red/green axes) to be roughly at the center of your object. If your object is round, put it at the center of that roundness.
  • Rotate the Origin gizmo to orient it towards the surface that will be compressed.
  • Increase the Size gizmo so that it is right above the surface that will be compressed.
  • Move Maximum gizmo so that it represents the maximum compression that you will allow.

Configure the Lateral deformation​

The Lateral deformation section configures how the vertices moves laterally away from the origin.

  • Make sure you have gizmos enabled in your scene.
  • You should set the Preview to 100.
  • For now, increase the Lateral Margin to any higher value. You won't see any visible changes until you set the Lateral Power next.
  • Increase the Lateral Power to any higher value.
  • Increase or decrease the Lateral Margin. This value changes how far away from the compression surface vertices will be affected.
  • Increase or decrease the Lateral Power. This value changes how much the vertices will move laterally as the compression progresses.
  • If you haven't already done it, move the Origin gizmo laterally (on the red/green axes) to be roughly at the center of your object. If your object is round, put it at the center of that roundness.
    • You will notice as you move the Origin gizmo laterally that the vertices will expand in a different direction.

Configure the Lateral deformation to decrease the influence near the center​

  • Increase or decrease the Lateral Center Displacement Distance. This value creates an area near the center that will be immune to the effect of the lateral deformation.

Configure the Lateral deformation for Cylindrical shapes​

  • If your compressed object has more of a cylindrical shape than a round shape:
    • Check the Lateral Is Cylindrical checkbox.
    • Rotate the Origin gizmo so that the vertical lines line up with the direction of your cylindrical shape.

Test the operator​

  • Move the Preview slider at the top to test the blendshape.
  • Press the Recalculate Normals button to test the blendshape with proper shading. This is slower, so turn it off if you are not testing your materials.

Advanced settings​

Configure the Displacement over %​

The Displacement over % section lets you configure how the vertices should move over time, depending on how far that vertex is away from the compressive surface.

  • The Surface Curve Response configures how the vertices that are on the surface will move.
  • The Inside Curve Response configures how the vertices that are on the inside surface (closer to Origin) will move.

As easy tweak you can try is to edit the Surface Curve Response, and tilt the angle of the point at (0, 0).

Recalculate Normals​

Normals will be automatically recalculated for this blendshape.

Creating prefabs​

Requires VRChat

The field Animation Repathing is used for the creation of

VRChat
prefabs using Modular Avatar Merge Animator.

When this field is not empty, Starmesh will generate Modular Avatar Blendshape Sync components inside the meshes used by Starmesh Select Meshes during the build, which will bind the animations targeting the operator's object name with the blendshape defined in Animation Repathing to the generated blendshapes. For concrete examples, see the VRChat prefabs section.

In addition, if you leave Shape Name empty, Starmesh will generate a unique blendshape name.

Versions​

  • 1.3.0: ⚡ Compressive Deform now generates 15 frames by default instead of 25.
  • 1.0.0: Added.