CharacterStudio vs FaceGen

CharacterStudio is a free browser toolkit for creating and optimizing 3D VRM character avatars. You can build characters with preloaded traits, point-and-click controls, a color picker, your own models and textures, or a manifest.json file. Imported models must use VRM format, with version 0.0 recommended. Texture replacement works by dropping an image into the browser, ideally using UVs that match the base mesh. Creations export as GLB, VRM, or screenshots, and programmable animations are listed. A one-click optimizer can merge skinned meshes and atlas textures; the documentation says this can reduce an avatar to one draw call. Batch export can randomize outputs or follow metadata schemas. Rendering uses Three.js and WebGL. The code is open source under the MIT license. JSON assembly and export is documented for batch Anata VRMs but remains a work in progress for general use.

FaceGen creates 3D human faces from photos, 3D scan data or random generation. Its face controls cover more than 150 characteristics, including age, race, gender and caricature. Modeller includes over 110 morph targets, including Facial Action Coding System targets, and adjusts expressions and accessories for each face. It exports meshes in formats including DAE, FBX, 3DS, OBJ, XSI, WRL and STL, with optional expression morph targets. FaceGen Artist creates faces for Daz Studio Genesis meshes and lists support for Genesis 1, 2, 3, 8, 8.1 and 9. The software runs on Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 with DirectX 11; macOS and Linux are unsupported. Modeller purchases are perpetual, one-time licenses for one concurrent user. Free demo editions are available. Paid plans include FaceGen Artist Pro at $100, paid once, Modeller Core at $300, paid once, Modeller Pro at $900, paid once and Modeller Enterprise at $2,900, paid once. Rendered images, video and physical sculptures may be distributed freely, while exported models retaining photo color details have restrictions.