---
slug: "blender-nyaatools"
source_type: "readme"
source_url: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/nyaarium/blender-nyaatools@main/README.md"
repo: "https://github.com/nyaarium/blender-nyaatools"
source_file: "README.md"
branch: "main"
---
# NyaaTools

NyaaTools is a bundle of tools for avatar/asset creators covering mesh preparation, material baking of complex shader trees, and multi-format exports.

Location: **N-Panel** > **NyaaTools**

## Asset Management

Modifiers are applied on exported copies, not on source meshes. You do not need to destructively apply before export.

**Asset types** - Assets support both rigged characters (armature-hosted) and static meshes (mesh-hosted). When creating an asset:
- **Rigged assets**: Config lives on the Armature object - select the armature to see the asset
- **Static assets**: Config lives on a Mesh object - select the mesh to see the asset
- Can also export posed characters/props by applying the armature _(Export as Static option)_

**Layers** - Group meshes by purpose _(Base, Outfit, Hair, etc.)_ and instruct the exporter to merge them together on export. Each mesh is assigned to a layer, and all meshes in the same layer are merged into one during export. The special `UCX` layer is reserved for Unreal Engine collision meshes, and only export if you check it on the export profile for Unreal Engine.

**Export profiles** - Configure multiple targets to quickly export directly into Unity `Assets/` folder. Quickly switch between different destinations and engine-specific settings:
- **Formats**:
  - FBX _(Unity/Unreal)_
  - OBJ _(static meshes)_
  - [VotV 0.9 _(Voices of the Void)_](https://github.com/madrod228/voicesoftheprinter/blob/main/Guide-VOTV%20Printer.md)
- **Static export**: Apply pose and modifiers, remove armature - exports rigged character as static mesh
- **UE Colliders**: Toggle to include/exclude UCX_ collision meshes per profile
- **Bake after export**: Auto-trigger material baking after successful export

## Material Baking

**Smart Baking** - Automatically analyzes complex shader trees to configure bake passes. Supports procedural materials, nested node groups, and requires at least 1 Principled BSDF to sample from.

**Optimization** - Intelligent mipmap-degradation analysis to reduce texture resolution on images where high detail isn't needed.
- **Analysis**: Scans baked images' **UV islands** to see what would be degraded if downsampled.
- **Downscaling**: Where possible, reduces resolution _(min 8x8)_ for maps with low frequency detail _(uniform metallic/roughness)_.

**Texture Packing** - Configure custom channel-packing for your specific engine needs.
- Map any source _(R, G, B, Alpha, Normal GL/DX, Metallic, Roughness, Emission, etc.)_ to output images.
- Even supports silly games like [**Kenshi**](https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Custom_Character_Race_and_Normal_Map_(displacement_map)), where the **normal map's** RGBA is defined as `nd-nd-nd-nx`:

  | Channel | Direction | Code |
  | --- | --- | --- |
  | **Red** | `-Y` | `nd` |
  | **Green** | `-Y` | `nd` |
  | **Blue** | `-Y` | `nd` |
  | **Alpha** | `X` | `nx` |

**Presets** - Standard configuration profiles included:
- **PBR (MRS)**: Generic packing Metallic, Roughness, Specular into `me-ro-sp`. Change as you need.
- **Poiyomi**: Geared for VRChat, packing Metallic, Smoothness, and value 1 into `me-sm-1`
- **VotV**: Voices of the Void specific packing `[me-sp-ro]`.
  - All 4 maps are set to suppress the "missing texture" warning.
  - Unused textures are set to 8x8 pixels for minimal performance impact.

**Formats** - Choose the right format for your data:
- **PNG**: 8-bit, best for anything about "color".
- **EXR**: 32-bit linear, highly recommended for Utility maps _(Normal, PBR, etc)_ to preserve exact data values and neutral points.

## Other Handy Tools

**Mesh Cleanup** - Selection-based batch tools for removing unused materials, shape keys, and vertex groups.

**Armature Tools** - **Dissolve bones** merges a selected series of bones and combines their vertex groups (blending weights). Good for reducing hair bone counts on VRChat avatars.

**Image Packer** - Quickly pack or unpack all images associated with selected objects into the Blender file.