Persona supports both Live2D and VRM models natively on the same stage. Both formats appear in a unified model list with format badges, so there is no need to switch modes manually.
Live2D vs. VRM
Live2D and VRM models share one stage, though some features are specific to one format. Badges at the top of a page or below a section heading indicate what a feature applies to: Applies toLive2D, Applies toVRM, or both. Applies toVRM3D Object marks 3D scene features such as the camera and lighting, which apply to VRM avatars and 3D objects rather than Live2D models.
Tracking
| Feature | Live2D | VRM |
|---|---|---|
| Face Tracking | ✓ Through parameter bindings | ✓ Drives expressions, gaze, and head bones directly |
| Pose Tracking (VMC, mocopi, webcam body) | — | ✓ |
| Webcam hand tracking | ✓ Hand inputs for bindings | ✓ Arm and finger bones |
| Lip Sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Controller bindings | ✓ Model parameters | ✓ Head, body, gaze, and expression targets |
| Controller stage movement | ✓ | ✓ Plus walking |
| Whole-Model Movement | ✓ | — |
Motions and Expressions
| Feature | Live2D | VRM |
|---|---|---|
| Idle | Idle Animation from the model's motions, plus Auto Breath | Idle Animation from the Inventory's clips, plus natural breathing |
| When Tracking Is Lost | ✓ Can also play a Tracking-Lost Motion | ✓ Keep Last Pose or Return to Idle |
| Motions | Motion groups in the model folder (.motion3.json), editable in Recording Motions | Animation clips from the Inventory (.vrma, .fbx, .vmd) |
| Recording Motions | ✓ Saved as .motion3.json beside the model | ✓ Saved as .vrma in the Inventory |
| Expressions | .exp3.json expressions, editable in the Expression Editor | Blendshape presets and outfits, with adjustable weights |
| Expression Groups | ✓ Members match by file name; imported from .vtube.json and stored in .persona.json | ✓ Members match by expression name, outfit items included; stored in .persona.json |
| Stop on Last Frame and Stop After in playback options | ✓ | — |
| Trimming Play Motion clips on the timeline | — | ✓ |
Look and Scene
| Feature | Live2D | VRM |
|---|---|---|
| MToon Materials | — | ✓ |
| Camera, Lighting, and Environment | — Drawn as a flat layer over the 3D scene | ✓ |
| Depth of Field | — Stays sharp | ✓ |
| Physics | — | ✓ Catches falling objects |
| Effects and layer effects | ✓ | ✓ |
Layers and Integrations
| Feature | Live2D | VRM |
|---|---|---|
| Pinning objects to the model | ✓ 2D objects on ArtMeshes | ✓ 3D objects on humanoid bones |
| Live2D Items | ✓ | — |
| Avatar Shortcuts and automation avatar actions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swapping to a model of the other format | ✓ | ✓ |
VTube Studio models (.vtube.json) | ✓ | — |
| Cubism Editor Link | ✓ | — |
| Model thumbnails (user models) | ✓ Imported from .vtube.json, or set via Set Thumbnail… in .persona.json | ✓ Set via Set Thumbnail… in .persona.json |
| Author and license model info (user models) | ✓ Set via Edit Info… in .persona.json | ✓ Read from embedded .vrm metadata |
| Version History (user models) | ✓ The model's files in its folder | ✓ The .vrm file, its .persona.json, and its thumbnail |
| Plugin API parameter injection | ✓ | — |
Bundled Models
Five sample models are available on demand in the Downloads group of the Inventory, each with full author credits: two Live2D models and three VRM avatars.
Sample models are provided for evaluation and testing, and none of them may be used commercially, including for commercial streaming or video production. Persona displays attribution notices and license links in the panel. Import your own licensed models before going live.
LAPLACE's own models are no exception, in either Live2D or VRM format:
- Persona-chan (Live2D,
nasutouri and LAPLACE Live!): commercial use is prohibited. - Wenjing VRM (VRM,
LAPLACE Live! × 彩茫): also released under its own license, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Credit its authors, don't use it commercially, and share any adaptation under the same license.
Loading Custom Models
- Click Add to Scene… below the layer list (or from the system tray menu) to open the Inventory.
- In the left sidebar, select Live2D or VRM.
- Click Open Model… and choose the entry file:
.model3.jsonfor Live2D, or.vrm/.glbfor VRM.
Persona checks file references before loading. If a Live2D model is missing referenced textures or motion files, the dialog lists the missing files directly instead of failing silently.
Standard .glb files without VRM metadata are loaded as 3D objects, so you can also import 3D sets, furniture, or props right from the model picker.
The Recent section remembers up to 10 recently opened models across restarts. Each entry shows a format badge and the model's thumbnail (Live2D models import their VTube Studio icon by default), and you can set a custom thumbnail for any Live2D or VRM model via Set Thumbnail… in its Inventory row menu, or edit author and license metadata for a custom Live2D model via Edit Info….
Plugins can also register models and assets from folders configured in Plugin Folders, making them available in the shared Inventory.
Per-Model Settings
Selecting a model in Layers reveals its settings sections below the list. Each section can be collapsed individually, and Persona remembers which sections you collapsed across restarts.
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Info | Technical specifications and asset status of the loaded model (see below) |
| Position | Canvas dragging and numerical transform controls for this model |
| MToon | Applies toVRM Material and shading adjustments |
| Layer Effects | Post-processing effects applied only to this layer |
| Idle | VRM idle animations or Live2D Auto Breath |
| Tracking | Per-avatar Controller Movement, Live2D Whole-Model Movement, and Microphone Lip Sync controls (see Tracking and Lip Sync) |
| Parameters | Motion capture and controller parameter bindings |
| Motions | Motion groups or VRM animation clips |
| Expressions | Model expression presets and expression groups |
| Versions | Version history for custom models; bundled and catalog-downloaded models do not have this section |
These sections apply to the currently selected model. Global Tracking Sources and Automations sit at the top of the Control Panel. See The Primary Model for how default action targeting works.
Swapping Models
Choose Swap… from the layer menu to replace the layer's model in place while keeping its position in the layer stack (see Swapping a Layer). To add another model alongside the current one, click Add to Scene… at the bottom of Layers.
Swapping a model preserves your framing: position, scale, and rotation are stored on the layer itself, so the new model inherits them automatically.
Model swaps use the crossfade transition configured in the scene's Show and Hide settings. With Fade, both Live2D and VRM models fade as a single composited layer so internal meshes never show through one another; with Glitch, models dissolve with scanline tears and burn noise.
Shortcuts
Hotkeys for expressions, motions, and model swaps are saved per model and configured under Avatar Shortcuts in the Automations row of the Control Panel (see Avatar Shortcuts), or directly from any motion or expression button's dropdown menu via Set Shortcut…. Assigned keys appear as badges on the corresponding motion and expression buttons.
To switch scenes with a hotkey, add a Switch Scene action to an automation. Automations can target any avatar layer in the scene, not just the primary model.
Model Info
The model settings header uses the format Type · Name (such as Live2D · RAYNOS-chan), matching object layers.
Expand Info to view technical details and asset information when troubleshooting a model. The fields shown depend on the model format; see Live2D Model Info and VRM Model Info.
License notices for bundled models stay visible in this section even when Info is collapsed.
Last updated on November 7, 2026