How to create a VRChat avatar
A step-by-step guide for creating an avatar for VRChat.
Shaders
A shader is a set of instructions that tells the GPU how to change the lighting, darkness, colors, etc. of what's in a video game.
For a VRChat avatar that means changing how your avatar appears such as making it glow or sparkle or even rendering something in another player's vision.
Shaders are popular for avatars because they make them look better in all lighting conditions.
Popular Shaders
One of the most popular shader for VRChat avatars is the free Poiyomi Shader as has an extensive list of features for your avatar.
A full list of popular shaders is coming soon.
Using a shader
Switching to a different shader is usually as easy as inspecting the Material and clicking the dropdown menu for "Shader" (such as in the image above).