# Boomboxheads V2 Dev Log: Extra Metadata

> The making of a CC0 avatar collection that aims to raise the bar for 3D NFTs with open source software and extra rich metadata

**Published by:** [Metaverse Makers](https://paragraph.com/@m3org/)
**Published on:** 2023-03-29
**Categories:** cc0, 3d, glb, vrm, nft, boomboxhead, metadata, standards
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@m3org/extra-metadata

## Content

M3 is a like a virtual hackerspace where we teach / learn / build, so collaborations happen frequently and organically. I’ve been helping boomboxhead with his upcoming NFT drop, a collection of 420 CC0 avatars, and can say for certain that there is more than meets the eye - especially so if you share an interest in things like 3D avatars and wearables systems, and new methods for supporting various public goods.The Avatar MachineDo you believe owning your tools is important? There are a number of tools that can be useful when creating your own 3D avatar, but not many of the creation programs themselves are open source. Some might feel this can limit self-expression due to the limited range of choices that the programmers allow you to use when designing your avatar. For close to a year now Boomboxhead has been working on a powerful open-source tool called boom-tools, a Unity project which generates 3D avatars from 3D traits and exports them as VRM, a 3D avatar file format based on the glTF 2.0 and integrated across hundreds of applications. It began as a learning project that overtime grew into a powerful production ready tool used in batch assembly of 3D avatars for big projects like ByWassies and more recently for the upcoming drop Boomboxheads v2.Preview of an immersive version of this blog postBoom-tools can also export HD images, posed glb files, and JSON metadata for various other use cases like NFT metadata. This is where it can get interesting, because from a collection of 3D assets we’re able to synthesize new things into many formats at once.Many of the traits were contributed by various other M3 membersOn day 1 Boomboxheads V2 will have metaverse ready avatars that you can drag and drop to use in applications like Hyperfy, a web based avatar chat platform, seen below.Walking art piece3D NFTs TodayFor majority of 3D NFTs, the art feels like it’s trapped behind glass and there’s a lot of friction to import said assets into other places for display / interaction.The 3D files are often separate from the NFT, requiring many hoops for owners / platforms to accessWe and others think there’s a better way. For example, here’s an excerpt from an emerging effort in our industry to standardize extensible token metadata aka ETM:Here's an example of the current method by which a user might bring an NFT representing multiple assets, including a 3D model, into a game: Existing Ingestion Path ExampleUser purchases an NFTUser navigates to NFT creator's websiteUser downloads the associated assets for the NFTUser interacts with game-specific tooling to upload these assets to the gameThis procedure necessitates a lot of manual interaction by the user, because there is no standard way by which an automated system can access all of the assets associated with this NFT. This approach also requires trust that the user actually owns the NFT that they uploaded.Multi-format TokensFor NFTs which adhere to our proposed metadata standard, the path to ingesting assets into a game world looks like: Proposed Ingestion Path ExampleUser purchases an NFTGame verifies that the user owns the NFTGame parses NFT's metadata to ingest appropriate assets into the game worldThe clear benefit of this approach is that with no custom project-level support from the game developer and no manual action from the NFT owner, the user is able to use their assets in-game. Source: ETM_MULTIASSET extension of the ETM standardLayers of MetadataOn-chain MetadataThe on-chain metadata for every boomboxhead NFT includes fields for multiple different file types such as:vrm_url: File path to the VRM avataranimation_url: The collectible glTF figurineimage: HD resolution imageThe metadata shown here is an early version, we're still tweaking a few thingsThe blockchain acts as a neutral infrastructure for projects that support crypto wallets to read and ingest the various supported asset types from it like an inventory system.Off-chain MetadataCurrently we stand to lose many of the benefits of blockchain such as attribution if the platforms don’t support the ability to connect your wallet or read from the chain. Since that information only exists on the token layer for most collections, the files lose their magic and become well, just jpgs with no authorship information about them.If a platform doesn't support crypto, your data loses its magicIMO the blockchain should be seen as a buff or extension rather than as a replacement to the many awesome existing open technologies and standards we have today for preserving information like attribution and licenses for digital assets.Boomboxheads V2 NFTs have links to multiple files and each file combines metadata into them for extra strengthEven if you took crypto out, your files can still have some attribution and license info in them via metadata standardsEven without blockchain our files will still retain information about what they are. This is better than nothing when it comes to non-crypto enabled platforms.ImagesEXIF (Exchangeable image file-format) is a standard that specifies formats for images, sound, and ancillary tags used by digital cameras, scanners and other systems handling image and sound files recorded by digital cameras. It was initially release 28 years ago. Source: WikipediaMajority of first and second generation of PFPs have issues with centralized metadata and lack EXIF dataBoomboxheads V2: More resolution + Extra metadata about artist + license + infoYou can view the metadata using many image editing software or file browsers (view properties of the image)glTF 2.0 Figurine ModelYou can use sites like gltf.report and glTF sample viewer or CLI tools like gltf-transform to inspect the metadata. If you convert the glb into glTF using a tool like gltf-pipeline, you can see the metadata in plaintext via the glTF file using any text editor.glTF is often described as the jpg of 3D models, it's now an official ISO standard formatVRM AvatarsThere’s something to be said about a metaverse avatar format that was designed from the ground up to be interoperable put into the design spec decision to standardize the inclusion of metadata about the file. You can read more about it here.Viewing the VRM in Hyperfy.io and https://github.com/saturday06/VRM-Addon-for-Blender pluginBy the way, the multi-format NFT thing has been an ongoing thing for awhile. Notably, pioneering VR artists like emotionull have been minting multi-format NFTs by attaching vrm_url as a hidden trait. This is all achievable, right now, using platforms like manifold.xyz where anyone can launch their own smart contracts with no code. emotionull @em0tionull I went ahead and took a step forward with this edition piece. I have decided to begin attaching the VRM (Avatar file) within the metadata of my character-related NFTS.. What does this mean in the long run? Thread emotionull @em0tionull GM Yesterday I released a new edition piece that comes with a virtual VRM Avatar file as well as a physical toy of the new Phettaverse character called "Yoki!" There are still 11 editions remaining 64 7:31 PM • Dec 15, 2022 ConclusionWith boomboxheads V2 we are creating multi-format digital assets at a larger scale we’ve ever done before, open sourcing all our breakthroughs along the way. Lets raise the standard and lift all boats when it comes to digital ownership.3D NFTs no longer have an excuse to be stuck behind glass, it's time to break free 🕊Wen Drop?We’re aiming for around 2-3 week of April to do the drop. The assets are CC0 and the project is open source under MIT license, so mainly this is a way for people to support the project and to also help us foster a community around it. The website is almost done, and is worthy of a post on it’s own. It is made with Playcanvas, an open source game engine for the web. 3D mint page for 3D NFTs 👍We would love to collab with other artists and create new 3D NFT collections using boom-tools - so reach out! Lastly, I really appreciate if you took the time to read this, please share and consider collecting this post - every bit helps.See you in the metaverse 😎 - jinSubscribe

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