Level 1 - Fundamentals
>
Stage 4 - Deformers

Stage 4 - Deformers

STAGE

🧭 Lesson Objective

1️⃣ Learn what a deformer is and the two different types

2️⃣ Learn how to create deformers

3️⃣ Learn what a deformer hierarchy is and how to create one

🎯 Lesson Quests

🚩 Quest 1: Learn what a deformer is
🚩 Quest 2: Learn the different types of deformers
🚩 Quest 3: Learn what a deformer hierarchy is
🚩 Quest 4: Create a Warp & Rotation deformer
🚩 Quest 5: Alter a deformer's settings
🚩 Quest 6: Create a deformer hierarchy

🚩 Quest 1: Learn what a Deformer is

A Deformer is a tool that allows you to bend or move ArtMeshes without directly editing the mesh itself. It’s like a container — you can group multiple ArtMeshes or other deformers inside it, and then control them all at once.

Deformers can act like folders, letting you apply movement or transformation to everything inside, making rigging much more organized and powerful.

🚩 Quest 2: Learn the Different Types of Deformers

There are two main types of deformers in Live2D:

🌀 Warp Deformers

Warp Deformers are used to bend and stretch artwork.
They use a grid of points to create smooth warping effects and are the most common type used in Live2D rigging.

🔁 Rotation Deformers

Rotation Deformers are used for rotational movement, like turning the head or rotating arms.
They do not bend or stretch the art inside — they simply rotate it as a whole.

🚩 Quest 3: Learn What a Deformer Hierarchy Is

You can nest deformers inside each other to create a hierarchy, where one deformer influences everything below it.

  • A Parent Deformer controls its Child Deformers and ArtMeshes.
  • A Child Deformer can still move independently, but it follows any transformations applied to its parent.

💡 All ArtMeshes behave like child deformers when inside a deformer.

In the Example Above:

If you move a Master Deformer, everything inside it (like the Head, Arms, or Face deformers) will move too.
If you move just the Head Deformer, only the head parts move — the body stays in place.

This structure is key to keeping your rig clean, organized, and easy to animate.

🚩 Quest 4: Create a Warp & Rotation Deformer

🛠️ How to Create a Deformer

  1. Click the Create Deformer button from the toolbar
  1. A window will appear with the following options:
  • Destination Part — where the deformer will be saved in the Parts window
  • Name — name your deformer clearly (e.g., Head_X, Arm_L_Warp)
  • Parent or Child — choose if this deformer goes above or below a selected object
    • If nothing is selected, you can only create a Parent
  • Bezier & Conversion Divisions — controls the density of the deformer’s grid

More divisions = smoother movement but heavier performance

  1. Click Create, and your new deformer will appear in the work area.

🚩 Quest 5: Alter a Deformer’s Settings

🔧 Resizing the Deformer

Use the Arrow Tool to click and drag the red box corners around the deformer.

  • ALT — resize from center
  • Shift — resize while keeping proportions
  • CTRL — resize without affecting child objects
  • You can combine these keys for more control
Live2D Example

🔧 Bending with Points

  • Use the Arrow Tool or Lasso Tool to select one or more points
  • Move the points to bend the deformer’s shape
Live2D Example

🖌️ Brush Deform Tool

Use this tool to “brush” movement into the mesh structure.

  • Resize the brush by holding B and left-click drag left/right on screen
Live2D Example

🚩 Quest 6: Create a Deformer Hierarchy

To build a hierarchy:

  1. Open the Deformer tab
  2. Click and drag deformers or ArtMeshes into each other in the list
    • Drag into another deformer = becomes a Child
    • Drag above or outside = remains separate

You can also drag ArtMeshes into deformers to organize them under movement groups.

Live2D Example

🧪 Example: Lua Model Starter Hierarchy

Here’s a simplified version of the starting hierarchy I used for the Lua model:

  • Master Body [Z]
  • Master Body [XY]
  • Breathe
  • Head X [Body X Movement]
  • Head Z Rotation (Rotation Deformer)
  • Face [XY]
    • Ears [XY]
    • Bangs [XY]
    • Mid Hair [XY]
    • Back Hair [XY]
    • Face Parts [XY]
      • Eyebrows [XY]
      • Nose [XY]
      • Mouth [XY]
      • Eyes [XY]
  • Body [XY]
    • Torso [XY]
    • Neck [XY]
    • Arms [XY]
    • Waist [XY]
    • Clear Skirt [XY]
    • Armor Skirt [XY]
    • Hips [XY]
    • Legs [XY]

You can use the study file if you’d like to see how it’s built, or try building it from scratch for extra practice.

📦 Study File

Level 1 - Stage 4 | Deformer Study File

🏁 End of Level 1 - Stage 4 | Deformers

Level 1 - Fundamentals
>
Stage 4 - Deformers

Stage 4 - Deformers

STAGE

🧭 Lesson Objective

1️⃣ Learn what a deformer is and the two different types

2️⃣ Learn how to create deformers

3️⃣ Learn what a deformer hierarchy is and how to create one

🎯 Lesson Quests

🚩 Quest 1: Learn what a deformer is
🚩 Quest 2: Learn the different types of deformers
🚩 Quest 3: Learn what a deformer hierarchy is
🚩 Quest 4: Create a Warp & Rotation deformer
🚩 Quest 5: Alter a deformer's settings
🚩 Quest 6: Create a deformer hierarchy

🚩 Quest 1: Learn what a Deformer is

A Deformer is a tool that allows you to bend or move ArtMeshes without directly editing the mesh itself. It’s like a container — you can group multiple ArtMeshes or other deformers inside it, and then control them all at once.

Deformers can act like folders, letting you apply movement or transformation to everything inside, making rigging much more organized and powerful.

🚩 Quest 2: Learn the Different Types of Deformers

There are two main types of deformers in Live2D:

🌀 Warp Deformers

Warp Deformers are used to bend and stretch artwork.
They use a grid of points to create smooth warping effects and are the most common type used in Live2D rigging.

🔁 Rotation Deformers

Rotation Deformers are used for rotational movement, like turning the head or rotating arms.
They do not bend or stretch the art inside — they simply rotate it as a whole.

🚩 Quest 3: Learn What a Deformer Hierarchy Is

You can nest deformers inside each other to create a hierarchy, where one deformer influences everything below it.

  • A Parent Deformer controls its Child Deformers and ArtMeshes.
  • A Child Deformer can still move independently, but it follows any transformations applied to its parent.

💡 All ArtMeshes behave like child deformers when inside a deformer.

In the Example Above:

If you move a Master Deformer, everything inside it (like the Head, Arms, or Face deformers) will move too.
If you move just the Head Deformer, only the head parts move — the body stays in place.

This structure is key to keeping your rig clean, organized, and easy to animate.

🚩 Quest 4: Create a Warp & Rotation Deformer

🛠️ How to Create a Deformer

  1. Click the Create Deformer button from the toolbar
  1. A window will appear with the following options:
  • Destination Part — where the deformer will be saved in the Parts window
  • Name — name your deformer clearly (e.g., Head_X, Arm_L_Warp)
  • Parent or Child — choose if this deformer goes above or below a selected object
    • If nothing is selected, you can only create a Parent
  • Bezier & Conversion Divisions — controls the density of the deformer’s grid

More divisions = smoother movement but heavier performance

  1. Click Create, and your new deformer will appear in the work area.

🚩 Quest 5: Alter a Deformer’s Settings

🔧 Resizing the Deformer

Use the Arrow Tool to click and drag the red box corners around the deformer.

  • ALT — resize from center
  • Shift — resize while keeping proportions
  • CTRL — resize without affecting child objects
  • You can combine these keys for more control
Live2D Example

🔧 Bending with Points

  • Use the Arrow Tool or Lasso Tool to select one or more points
  • Move the points to bend the deformer’s shape
Live2D Example

🖌️ Brush Deform Tool

Use this tool to “brush” movement into the mesh structure.

  • Resize the brush by holding B and left-click drag left/right on screen
Live2D Example

🚩 Quest 6: Create a Deformer Hierarchy

To build a hierarchy:

  1. Open the Deformer tab
  2. Click and drag deformers or ArtMeshes into each other in the list
    • Drag into another deformer = becomes a Child
    • Drag above or outside = remains separate

You can also drag ArtMeshes into deformers to organize them under movement groups.

Live2D Example

🧪 Example: Lua Model Starter Hierarchy

Here’s a simplified version of the starting hierarchy I used for the Lua model:

  • Master Body [Z]
  • Master Body [XY]
  • Breathe
  • Head X [Body X Movement]
  • Head Z Rotation (Rotation Deformer)
  • Face [XY]
    • Ears [XY]
    • Bangs [XY]
    • Mid Hair [XY]
    • Back Hair [XY]
    • Face Parts [XY]
      • Eyebrows [XY]
      • Nose [XY]
      • Mouth [XY]
      • Eyes [XY]
  • Body [XY]
    • Torso [XY]
    • Neck [XY]
    • Arms [XY]
    • Waist [XY]
    • Clear Skirt [XY]
    • Armor Skirt [XY]
    • Hips [XY]
    • Legs [XY]

You can use the study file if you’d like to see how it’s built, or try building it from scratch for extra practice.

📦 Study File

Level 1 - Stage 4 | Deformer Study File

🏁 End of Level 1 - Stage 4 | Deformers

Level 1 - Fundamentals
>
Stage 4 - Deformers

Stage 4 - Deformers

STAGE
Learn about deformers and how they are used within Live2D Cubism.
Mark as Complete
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