PSO2 Shape Studio

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PSO2 Shape Studio is a Windows desktop tool for users who fine-tune PSO2 and PSO2:NGS character body shapes with outfit shape-adjust AQM files (_sa.aqm). It provides a model preview and sliders for applying, editing, and saving those post-adjustments without using Blender.

Current version:1.3.5. Download the latest self-contained Windows x64 build from the release page.

Features

• Open PSO2 model files from .aqp, .aqn, and .ice sources.
• Load character appearance files for either gender and every race (.fdp, .fnp, .fhp, .fcp, .mdp, .mnp, .mhp, and .mcp) and their unencrypted variants, then apply their body proportions and colors. Male and female characters use their own body proportion tables.
• Load and save outfit shape-adjust motions (_sa.aqm).
• Adjust sole height through body_root Y scale from 0.500 to 1.200 in 0.001 steps and compare it against a toggleable floor grid with a solid translucent surface that reveals intersections below world Y=0.
• Edit scale, position, and rotation with sliders or direct numeric input. Use the mouse wheel over a numeric field for fine adjustments; position uses 0.001 steps, and rotation sliders snap exactly to zero near their center.
• Undo and redo shape edits with Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y, or Ctrl+Shift+Z.
• Use the Options window to configure the game-data folder and default main/sub skin colors, and to show or hide the built-in shape groups.
• After loading a model with an AQN skeleton, add editable bones as L/R pairs or single-bone groups selected from an alphabetically sorted list. Built-in and added groups are shown together in one scrollable list.
• Resize the sidebar by dragging its divider. The sidebar width is restored on the next launch, and its scrolling area keeps the file buttons accessible.
• Select a local PSO2 game folder, validate its data layout, and rebuild the model-search cache.
• Search wearable models by name, ID, file name, or MD5 and filter the results to Basewear, Setwear, Outerwear, and classic Costume/Totalwear.
• Automatically load Outerwear and Innerwear linked to a selected Setwear item.
• Use English (Global) and Japanese item names where catalog data is available.
• Select Type 1 and Type 2 skin textures from the local game data.
• Choose from eight viewport background colors for better outfit visibility.
• Show or hide the ornament parts included in supported Basewear and Outerwear models.
• Switch the application UI between English (Global), Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
• Add or override interface languages with contributor-friendly JSON files. See Localization guide.

Requirements

• Windows x64
• .NET 9 SDK when building from source
• A local PSO2 or PSO2:NGS installation for model search and automatic texture lookup

Extracted model files can be opened directly without configuring a game folder.

Basic workflow

1. Start PSO2 Shape Studio.
2. Select the game installation folder, pso2_bin, or pso2_bin/data from the main panel or the Options window.
3. Refresh the cache and search for a wearable model, or open extracted model files directly.
4. Optionally load a character file or an existing _sa.aqm adjustment.
5. Edit the available S/P/R sliders or enter values directly. The Options window can hide built-in groups or add bones from the loaded model. Use undo or reset whenever needed.
6. Save the resulting shape adjustment as an _sa.aqm file. To make the game use it, follow the repacking steps in the next section.

Applying a saved _sa.aqm to the game

The _sa.aqm written by Shape Studio is a per-outfit shape adjustment. The game never reads it as a loose file: it only takes effect after it replaces the original ..._sa.aqm entry inside that outfit's ICE archive. The steps below repack the archive with the community ICE tool Zamboni.

1. Save under the original entry name. Load the outfit first, then use Save _sa.aqm… — the dialog suggests the correct name derived from the loaded model (for example pl_rbd_201630_bw.aqp → pl_rbd_201630_bw_sa.aqm). Keep that name; a file saved under any other name will not replace anything.
2. Locate the outfit's game file. Hover over a search result to see the full path of the ICE archive it resolves to (a 32-character file name under pso2_bin/data/...). The loaded-model list shows the same path as a tooltip. Copy that file into a short working folder such as C:\work — never edit files inside the game folder directly.
3. Extract the copy with Zamboni. Drag the copied file onto Zamboni to unpack it. Model data lands in the group2 folder, which contains the original ..._sa.aqm.
4. Replace the entry. Overwrite the ..._sa.aqm inside group2 with your saved file. Do not keep backup copies inside the extracted folders — everything in them is packed back into the archive.
5. Repack. Repack the extracted folder with Zamboni, and make sure the result carries the original 32-character file name before installing (rename it if needed). Very long working paths can make repacking fail silently, which is why the short folder in step 2 matters.
6. Install. The safe route is a mod manager such as PSO2NGS Mod Manager, which backs up originals and can restore them later. Installing by hand means backing up the original game file yourself, then overwriting it with the repacked archive.

Notes:

• The adjustment only affects the outfit it was repacked into.
• Game updates can restore original files; reinstall the mod afterwards.
• You can preview the result by opening the repacked ICE in Shape Studio before installing it.
• Modifying game files is at your own risk.

Camera controls

Input	Action
Left or right drag	Rotate the character
Ctrl + drag	Move the camera vertically
Mouse wheel	Zoom in or out
Middle click	Reset the view

Build from source

Clone the repository with its submodules:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/gesori-pro/PSO2_Shape_Studio.git
cd PSO2_Shape_Studio

If the repository was cloned without submodules, initialize them separately:

git submodule update --init --recursive

Build and test the x64 Release configuration:

dotnet build Pso2ShapeStudio.sln -c Release -p:Platform=x64
dotnet test Pso2ShapeStudio.sln -c Release -p:Platform=x64

Run the application from source:

dotnet run --project src/App/Pso2ShapeStudio.App.csproj -c Release -p:Platform=x64

Build the release package:

./publish.ps1

The script takes the version from src/App/Pso2ShapeStudio.App.csproj, runs the tests, and writes a self-contained archive to dist/.

Game data and privacy

PSO2 game assets, extracted models, textures, and character files are not included in this repository. The application reads files selected on the local computer and does not upload game data.

Dependencies and credits

• PSO2-Aqua-Library is the required source dependency for PSO2 formats and ICE data.
• The embedded English and Japanese item-name table is generated from PSO2NGS Mod Manager item data.

Acknowledgements

This project stands on years of reverse-engineering work that others chose to share freely.

• Shadowth117 — author of PSO2-Aqua-Library, Aqua-Toolset, and Zamboni. Every PSO2 file this application opens is understood through his work. Boundless thanks.
• dummycount — author of blender_pso2_tools, which showed how PSO2 models should live inside a modern toolchain. Boundless thanks.

License

PSO2 Shape Studio is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3. See LICENSE for details.