dh.avatar

Extension: .dh-avatar — Type ID: dh.avatar

An avatar is the top-level definition for a wearable character. It extends dh.object — meaning it has a patches list — and adds avatar-specific properties.

Properties

Property	Type	Required	Description
$type	"dh.avatar"	no	Type identifier
name	string	no	Display name
description	string	no	Description
inherits	string	no	Barcode of the avatar to inherit from
properties	object	no	Key-value pairs of float properties (e.g. mass, height)
patches	array	no	List of patches to apply (see below)

The type is inferred from the file extension — $type is not needed in source files. The compiler adds it automatically during builds.

Example

avatar.dh-avatar

{
  "name": "Custom Mayu",
  "inherits": "tech.azuki.mayu:avatar.dh-avatar",
  "properties": {
    "height": 1.42
  },
  "patches": [
    {
      "$type": "dh.import-model",
      "path": "models/body.glb"
    },
    {
      "$type": "dh.set-rig",
      "target": "Armature",
      "path": "rigs/humanoid.dh-rig"
    },
    {
      "$type": "dh.set-material",
      "target": "Body",
      "slot": 0,
      "path": "materials/skin.dh-mat"
    },
    {
      "$type": "dh.import-object",
      "path": "accessories/glasses/glasses.dh-obj",
      "parent": "Head"
    }
  ]
}

Patches

Patches are the building blocks of avatars and objects. Each patch applies a specific operation — importing a model, setting a material, linking an armature, etc.

Here’s a quick overview. For full details, property tables, and examples for each patch, see dh.object — Patch Reference.

Patch Type	What it does
dh.import-model	Import a 3D model (GLB/FBX)
dh.import-object	Import another dh.object definition
dh.remove-object	Remove an object from the hierarchy
dh.set-material	Assign a material to a mesh slot
dh.set-blendshape	Set a blendshape/morph target value
dh.set-transform	Set position, rotation, or scale
dh.set-parent	Reparent an object
dh.set-rig	Apply a rig definition to an armature
dh.armature-link	Link armatures for bone-to-bone matching or attachment

Relationship to dh.object

dh.avatar extends dh.object. The only difference is the properties dictionary for avatar-level metadata. Everything about patches, hierarchy, and inheritance works identically.

Think of it this way: an object is a reusable building block (an accessory, outfit piece). An avatar is the root-level thing that represents a complete character.