#omichron

Beginning Phase

First, I made a document using ideas I wanted to include. I design UTAUs based on tropes and qualities I like and want to see more often in characters. Here’s the list from 2019 of some qualities I wanted to give Lycoris. Some are subjective while others are specific.

monster qualities(three eyes/horns)

intimidating looking

bob haircut

modern clothing

Unique but not super dressed up

square jaw

broad shoulders

Thinking of what you want to see in an UTAU can help with the design process. Find different ways to put those elements together or add new ones!

Naming Conventions

It is extremely common for UTAUs to have Japanese names which are filled with meaning. Using the “Ne” kanji (which can also be read as oto) was common from 2008-2012 and is still used sometimes today. Using “-loid” or “-poid” suffixes is common, but may make your UTAU seem more like a software than a character.

I chose to give all my UTAUs non-Japanese names in order to make it easier on myself. Japanese naming conventions can be difficult to learn if you’re a beginner. Lycoris is a Greek name, Omichron is a made up name that’s Greek-ish, and Alta Maha’s name was inspired by the Altamaha-ha, a creature with roots in Indigenous Muscogee tradition. From the start I wanted all my UTAUs to have lore, and for them to be mythical/fictional beings of some kind. Making all your UTAUs in the same art style and theme can be fun, but don’t feel obligated to. Having a single UTAU with many updates and appends is also common.

Speaking of appends, the most straightforward way to name them is by voice type (Solid, Soft, etc) but unique names are fun too! I named all of Lycoris’ vbs after phases of the moon and have stuck with that choice.

A good tip is to not give your UTAU a name that already exists in UTAU land. Looking at Vocadb and UTAU wiki is an easy way to check for that. UTAUs are all part of the same “category” of vocal synths, so having a name similar to another can make it hard for people to find info about your UTAU.

Designs

Choosing to not give your UTAU a design is feasible, but that’s also a conscious choice. UTAUs may get more publicity than your OCs that aren’t tied to some other known property, so many want to give them good and memorable designs. Character design is subjective and a very complex topic, so I’ll just sum up some tips for UTAUs that I kept in mind.

The best advice for designs is to not trace any other art, official or not! If you trace, say, a Kei art, people will notice and their view of your UTAU may sour. Even using a picrew or a free to use base is better than tracing(as long as it’s allowed). In fact, there’s quite a few UTAUs in existnce who started out as picrew OCs. Commissioning another artist may be an option if money is no object.

Many UTAU designs were/are inspired by existing Vocaloids or the Macne series. The best advice I can give for these is to add some defining feature that makes them unique from their inspiration. There isn’t anything wrong with being inspired by an existing vocal synth as long as it’s not a blatant ripoff. My Omichron was loosely inspired by Macne Papa, but you probably wouldn’t guess that immediately!

I went through many, many concepts for Lycoris before settling on my final one. One of these eventually became the basis for Alta’s design! Other times, I find a design I want to settle on quickly. 

This is the Lycoris concept that eventually became Alta. I largely was inspired by irl fashion.

I personally start with color palettes before drawing out an actual design, and when I settle on a design I adjust the colors further until they’re exactly how I want them. Colourpod is a good place to find palettes. Sticking to a limited set of colors means I’m not struggling to find some that look good together.

Creating a Pinterest board for your UTAU’s overall aesthetic can help to take inspiration from! It constantly gives new suggestions and ideas base on the images you add to it.

Standing Art

Deciding on a pose for your standing art can be tricky. My general tips here are to plan it in a way that shows off most of the design. Perspective shots are great but not for default standing pictures which may be reused for covers/other material. 

You don’t have to make every standing picture perfect...I tend to do that and it makes them take forever, haha. Sketchy/simple official art can be just as pretty. And there’s all the time in the world to re-draw it.