Scaling
The Scaling panel integrates with the Immersive Scaler plugin to provide precise model scaling tools optimized for VR platforms.
Overview
Proper avatar scaling is crucial for VR experiences:
- Ensures comfortable viewing in VR
- Maintains correct proportions relative to the world
- Meets platform height recommendations
- Provides better social interaction in VR
Requirements
The Scaling panel requires the Immersive Scaler plugin to be installed.
Immersive Scaler Requirements
- For Blender 5.0+: Download from Immersive Scaler Repository - Version 1.0.0.0 or higher
- For Blender 4.x or older: Use the original Immersive Scaler - Version 0.5.2 or higher
Installation States
The Scaling panel adapts based on Immersive Scaler status:
When Immersive Scaler is NOT Installed
The panel shows:
- Installation instructions
- Direct download link
- Explanation of features
To install:
- Download from the link provided
- Install via Edit > Preferences > Extensions
- Restart Blender
- Return to Scaling panel
When Immersive Scaler is Disabled
The panel shows:
- Quick enable button
- No restart required
- Click to activate instantly
To enable:
- Click the Enable button
- Immersive Scaler activates immediately
- Scaling features become available
When Immersive Scaler is Active
Full scaling features are available:
- Height measurement tools
- Scale reference objects
- Platform-specific guidelines
- Conversion utilities
Key Features
Once Immersive Scaler is installed and active, you'll have access to:
Model Scaling Tools
Accurate Height Measurement:
- Measure avatar height in real-world units
- Measure in meters, feet, inches
- Account for foot position and head top
- Get accurate measurements
Real-World Size References:
- Compare to real human heights
- See how avatar will appear in VR
- Understand scale relative to environments
Scale Operations:
- Scale to specific height
- Scale by percentage
- Maintain proportions
- Preserve armature and mesh together
Measurement Tools
Height Markers:
- Visual height reference in viewport
- Shows common height marks
- Helps visualize final size
- Removable reference objects
Scale Reference Objects:
- Doors, chairs, tables
- Common objects for size comparison
- Helps understand avatar scale
- Can be deleted after measurement
Unit Conversion:
- Convert between metric and imperial
- Meters, centimeters, feet, inches
- Easy understanding of measurements
Custom Measurement Points:
- Measure from specific bones
- Account for custom rigs
- Handle non-standard models
Platform Support
VRChat Height Guidelines:
- Recommended: 160cm - 180cm (5'3" - 5'11")
- Optimal: 165cm (5'5") for average view
- Too tall: Over 200cm (6'7") - may cause issues
- Too short: Under 140cm (4'7") - may cause issues
ChilloutVR Size Standards:
- Similar to VRChat recommendations
- 160cm - 180cm comfortable range
Resonite Scaling References:
- Flexible scaling options
- Supports wider range
Universal VR Measurements:
- Works across platforms
- Standard height references
- Comfortable viewing ranges
Using Immersive Scaler
For detailed information about using Immersive Scaler features:
- Install and enable Immersive Scaler
- Visit the Immersive Scaler Repository for documentation
- Check the repository's wiki for tutorials
- Explore the tool's interface in Blender
Basic Workflow
- Import your model using Quick Access
- Open Scaling panel
- Ensure Immersive Scaler is active
- Measure current height
- Scale to desired height
- Verify with reference objects
- Export model
Best Practices
Recommended Avatar Heights
For VRChat:
| Height Range | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 165cm (5'5") | Ideal average | Most versatile, comfortable for all |
| 160-170cm | Comfortable range | Good for most avatars |
| 150-160cm | Shorter avatars | Cute characters, children |
| 170-180cm | Taller avatars | Tall characters, warriors |
| 140-150cm | Very short | Chibi, small creatures |
| 180-200cm | Very tall | Giants, monsters (use sparingly) |
General Guidelines:
- Too short: Hard to interact with world objects
- Too tall: Can clip through ceilings, appears intimidating
- Average: Most comfortable for social interaction
- Consider your avatar type and use case
When to Scale
Scale BEFORE:
- Setting up eye tracking
- Setting up visemes
- Creating shape keys
- Final optimization
- Exporting
Scale AFTER:
- Importing model
- Fixing MMD model
- Basic mesh cleanup
Testing Scale
In Blender:
- Add reference objects
- Compare to human-scale references
- Check proportions
In VRChat:
- Test in-game before finalizing
- Ask others how you appear
- Check mirror view
- Test interaction with world objects
Common Scale Issues
Avatar Appears Wrong Size in VRChat
Possible causes:
- Scaled incorrectly in Blender
- Export settings wrong
- Unity import scale issues
Solutions:
- Verify height in Blender with Immersive Scaler
- Use correct export settings in Cats
- Check Unity import scale (should be 1.0 for FBX)
Scaling Breaks Shape Keys
This shouldn't happen with proper tools, but:
- Scale before creating shape keys
- Use proper scaling tools (not just manually resizing)
- Immersive Scaler handles this correctly
Proportions Look Wrong After Scaling
Possible causes:
- Non-uniform scaling
- Only scaled mesh, not armature
- Only scaled armature, not mesh
Solutions:
- Use Immersive Scaler's scale tools (scales both together)
- Apply transforms after scaling
- Check both armature and mesh were scaled
Integration Notes
With Optimization
Scale before or after optimization:
- Doesn't significantly affect Optimization tools
- Bone merging works at any scale
- Atlas creation works at any scale
With Export
Using Quick Access export:
- Cats handles scale correctly
- FBX export maintains scale
- No additional settings needed
Related Pages:
- Quick Access - Import/Export
- Custom Model Creation - Merging models
- Troubleshooting - Scale issues
External Resources:
- Immersive Scaler Repository - Detailed documentation
- VRChat Avatar Scaling Guidelines
Please do not report any issues for Blender version below 5.0