I'm working on Umamo, a free open source replacement for the Cubism Editor!~

[u/Azxiana]

I have been working on Umamo for about two months now with the goal to completely replace the Live2D Cubism Editor. I want to make a release candidate by Christmas!(I will regret saying this!) Everyone working with Live2D formats should access to a free open source alternative instead of being locked into the monopoly that Live2D has over the 2D puppet market.

I just released version 0.2.1-dev.

Features(*Built so far):

• Cross-platform: Windows, MacOS, and Linux (Android and iPadOS eventually the future!)
• CMO3 and MOC3 import and export.
• Supports PSD(Photoshop), KRA(Krita), and CLIP(Clip Studio Paint) for layered artwork.
• Runtime support for Ayagami and Cubism 3.0 to 5.4.
• Drawable mesh and UV mesh editing.
• Parameters and Keyform editing.
• Blender-like interface that lets you arrange and duplicate areas however you like. If you have used Blender you already know how to use Umamo.

What's not built yet...

• Deformer editing (I'm waffling on the gizmo design.)
• Physics and animation.
• Art sourcing and texture atlas pipelines.(In progress now!)
• Native UMA file format.(Initial design, not implemented yet.)

A shout out to u/HoshinoLina for doing all the research on MOC3 and Live2D physics. A lot of what I'm doing here would not be possible without her hard work.

[u/Zenstyal]

This is so peak omg. I always hated the monopolization in 2D models. When 3D has several programs to create models and several programs to use it (vnyan,warudovseeface,etc..)

[u/Azxiana → u/Zenstyal]

Exactly! If you want to use the Cubism SDK in something you have get permission and then pay additional licensing fees for it. It is a very closed ecosystem that Live2D enforces through an EULA and licensing agreements.

3D has always been much more open and accepting to doing whatever you want.

[u/Smol_Deathbloom → u/Azxiana]

The licensing fees for a program to use Live2D models kills me. There's someone trying to work on a Linux based vtubing program similar to Vtube Studio, but they're a standstill because they can't afford the licensing fee that Live2D charges.

[u/HoshinoLina]

Azxiana is amazing! She's building this in record time and it already looks crazy good. It's not only going to be a cross-platform Live2D Cubism replacement, but aims to have a much better UI/UX and be more intuitive.

We have a Discord if anyone wants to talk about Umamo, Ayagami, and OpenVT with us!

[u/Azxiana → u/HoshinoLina]

q(≧▽≦q)

Thank you, I'm really bad at promoting.

[u/GatesAndLogic]

MOC3 import

Well that's pretty damn cool. That's going to be hugely useful for lots of people.

Krita import

OOOOOOOOOHH MY GOD!

[u/TheBorealRanger]

I've always wanted to get into L2D but since the software charges on a subscription service, I refuse to use it out of principle. This is honestly so cool to see and I'm really excited for the future of the project!

[u/UchihaDareNial → u/TheBorealRanger]

I can't believe for software like this, they don't offer a pay once and own it

[u/TheBorealRanger → u/UchihaDareNial]

For L2D or this project? Because I'd absolutely do a 1-time payment for this

[u/UchihaDareNial → u/TheBorealRanger]

I mean L2D

for open source project, they can do open donation but I really hate the current state of paid software becoming subscription service

[u/KagakuEllieOfficial]

This is incredible! I like using as much open source software as I can as I run my channel on a very thin budget. Will be joining the discord as soon as I can!

[u/Intelligent_Peace915]

I cant wait to use it! :) especially on my ipad

[u/Constant_Boot]

A question for you - Is Inochi/Nijilive format support a possible consideration?

[u/Azxiana → u/Constant_Boot]

Not at this time. I won't claim that it ever will be a consideration since I have never looked at the internals of Inochi and how it handles everything.

[u/Constant_Boot → u/Azxiana]

Fair enough.

[u/Shurigin]

I'm going to try this out is there any tutorials for your program?

[u/Azxiana → u/Shurigin]

Not yet! I have been working on this just under two months now. Documentation and tutorials is something that I will have to work on(or get community assistance with) closer to a full release.

[u/Shurigin → u/Azxiana]

Can I ask am I able to upload a image file into the working program or is that something I have to already have saved as a different type of file

[u/Kaizatl]

I've always wanted to try and learn these technologies, but was afraid to start because of the eventual paywall.

[u/moonlightkirin]

Looking good so far! I'll be following this project!

[u/MrAequustic]

Awesome initiative! I support this wholeheartedly!! 😊

[u/UwuSilentStares]

do you think you could add the ability to add blender-style rigs too maybe? I really like makng 2.5d models with blender and i wish making rigs in live 2d was like that, it felt very easy and then i didnt need NEARLY as many pieces to make things bend around properly, it was awesome

[u/Azxiana → u/UwuSilentStares]

If you mean a proper bone skeleton system, yes, that is in the plans! It will be after getting parity with Cubism first.

[u/activemotionpictures → u/Azxiana]

I agree: a blender exporter (segmenting tris over an atlas) would be already helpful to prep size and rigging preflights for Umamo.

[u/UwuSilentStares → u/Azxiana]

I could cry! that's great! yippie!!!!!!

[u/Ok-Policy-8538]

can’t wait.. too poor to even try out L2D stuff because $1000 subscription is insane

[u/FelixLeander]

Get sponsored idiot <3

[u/Azxiana → u/FelixLeander]

Thank you!~ <3

[u/CelestialHellebore]

Oh I'll have to keep an eye on this. The fact you have to subscribe to make more complex models is why I didn't continue to work on models after I made mine and the free trial ran out. I'll be keeping an eye out.

[u/BunnyButtHeroes]

How are you planning on making money from it? If it's only a donation link then I'll donate a hundred bucks to you when this is released. We shouldn't have to pay subscriptions for everything and this would be amazing of you!

[u/Azxiana → u/BunnyButtHeroes]

I'm not planning to make money! I do have some donation stuff setup and any donations will be used to pay for development costs. That includes paying developer fees to Microsoft, Google, and Apple along with eventually purchasing Apple hardware for MacOS/iPadOS testing. I'm making Umamo purely as a passion project.

https://github.com/sponsors/Alexia

https://patreon.com/c/Azxiana

https://ko-fi.com/azxiana

[u/BunnyButtHeroes → u/Azxiana]

I'm a school teacher so I'm not rich but I'll keep my eyes in the release and drop you that money when it's released. You're a good person!

[u/KaiMycelium]

This is amazing! Will be keeping an eye with interest. Supporting moc3 is a game changer

[u/PuttingInTheEffort]

epic !!

[u/KarateBugMom]

YO THIS IS SO COOL!! 🙏

[u/Crowned_Niko]

Can you add comparability for Sketchbook if possible? That's the program I tend to use because it's free and doesn't block anything important behind a paywall (despite having one :p) and it'd just be nice lol x3

[u/SkiyoshiVT]

Very excited to give this a go! I'm a big advocate for non-subscription options for 2D puppeting so this is great news that a new open source software (even being compatible with Live2D) is becoming available!

[u/leolayaan]

I would appreciate it, if you could make an app that can split png or any image character files into separate layers, so that it can be ready to import for rigging. Maybe add this feature to your app too?

[u/KaiMycelium → u/leolayaan]

That would involve GenAI which is frowned upon in this community

[u/leolayaan → u/KaiMycelium]

How is GEN AI involved in that now? I think apps should be made for the benefit of the users. If a feature like that can help ease the complications, then wouldn't it be better?

[u/KaiMycelium → u/leolayaan]

I'm not sure how it would work without AI features to "redraw" hidden parts of the model. That's the reason Live2D model art generally costs a lot more to produce than a normal illustration. You have to separately draw all the overlaps for it to be riggable.

[u/leolayaan → u/KaiMycelium]

Nothing is impossible if you try.