Pink materials, misaligned outfits, console errors: troubleshooting free asset imports
Written by VRC Free Watch · Last updated
The problems people hit most often after importing a free BOOTH asset, and the order to check them in: pink materials, Missing Script, misaligned bones, blurry textures and upload errors, each with its likely cause and fix.
Before anything else: change one thing at a time
Most "it broke after I imported it" problems come from installing several things at once and not knowing which one caused the error. Make it a habit: back up the project, import one asset at a time, enter Play mode right after, then move on. When something goes wrong, Unity's Console is your first clue; red errors matter more than yellow warnings, and the topmost one usually explains the rest.
Pink materials
Pink (magenta) is how Unity shows a missing shader. The usual cause is that the shader the asset needs, such as lilToon or Poiyomi, isn't installed. Check the readme, install the shader (the stated version if one is given) and re-select it on the material.
With Poiyomi you may also meet locked materials: a locked shader is generated for the machine it was locked on and goes missing in another project. Unlock the material in its inspector and lock it again. After switching to the Android platform, PC shaders also look wrong; that's expected, and the Quest version needs mobile shaders.
Missing Script or missing components
"Missing Script" in the Inspector means the prefab uses a component from a tool your project doesn't have. Common ones are Modular Avatar, VRCFury and various optimizers. The readme normally lists them; install them through VCC or ALCOM and the components usually come back on their own.
If they are still missing, the tool may be too old or too new; try the version the readme names.
Outfits that are misaligned, clip, or lag behind
Check three things first: that the outfit was made for your avatar, that it matches your avatar's version, and that you did Setup Outfit or the bone merge the readme describes. Many misalignments come from using the wrong prefab when one package contains versions for several avatars.
If the outfit follows the body but clips in places, you probably need to turn on the avatar's shrink blend shapes or adjust the outfit's own blend shapes. If the overall proportions are off, check whether the avatar's or outfit's root scale has been changed.
Blurry or off-color textures
Unity compresses textures according to their import settings. If a texture looks blurry, select it and check that Max Size isn't set too low. If colors look washed out or too bright, compare the sRGB option and the shader's color settings with the creator's example. Normal maps must have their type set to Normal map, or shading will look strange.
Errors when uploading
The SDK panel's errors are usually explicit; work through them one by one. Typical ones: a component or script that isn't allowed (remove it or use an allowed version); a Quest build over the hard mobile limits, which can't be uploaded even though PC has no such block; an outdated Unity or SDK (update the SDK in VCC). When they're fixed, run Build & Test once more before the real upload.
Tried everything?
Go back to the product page and re-read the description and update notes; the creator may already have released a fix. Many creators include an FAQ or a contact method. Send your Unity version, SDK version, avatar name and a Console screenshot; a polite, specific question is much more likely to get an answer.
General information, not legal advice; follow the creator's instructions and VRChat's official documentation. Not affiliated with BOOTH, pixiv Inc. or VRChat Inc.