# KardMesh — Complete Technical, Product & Pricing Reference

> KardMesh (`https://kardmesh.com`) is a cloud SaaS platform and Blender addon that transforms a single 2D character image into animation-ready 3D hair cards (`.OBJ`, `.GLB`, and rigged `.VRM` avatars with spring bones) using GPU inference powered by HairDeck.

## 1. Entity & Architecture Summary

- **Brand Name**: KardMesh
- **Primary Domain**: `https://kardmesh.com`
- **API Domain**: `https://api.kardmesh.com`
- **Support Email**: `support@kardmesh.com`
- **Merchant of Record**: Paddle.com (handles global VAT/sales tax, invoicing, and 14-day refunds)
- **Underlying AI Model**: HairDeck (Apache 2.0 open-source model; paper: `https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.40599`, repository: `https://github.com/hyz317/HairDeck`, weights: `https://huggingface.co/hyz317/HairDeck`)
- **Reference VRM Mannequin**: Procedural humanoid body released under CC0 1.0 Universal (Public Domain)
- **Language**: English

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## 2. How KardMesh Works (2D Image to 3D Rigged Hair Cards)

1. **Upload a Character Image**: Provide a single PNG, JPEG, or WebP image (up to 10 MB; larger images are compressed automatically in the web browser) where the hairstyle is clearly visible.
2. **Configure Generation Parameters**:
   - **Variations (`seeds`)**: 1 variation for guest trials; up to 2 variations for free registered accounts; up to 4 simultaneous variations for any paid pack or subscription.
   - **Priority (`steps`)**: Choose **Quality** (`50` inference steps) or **Speed** (`10` inference steps). Both modes cost the exact same: **1 credit per variation**.
   - **Image Adherence (`cfg`)**: Range `1.0` to `4.0` (step `0.25`, default `2.0`). Lower values give the model more creative freedom; higher values follow the input image silhouette more strictly.
   - **Seed**: Integer `0` to `2147483644` for reproducible hair generation.
   - **Image Colors (`colors`)**: Enabled by default to extract hair colors from the input image; disable for monochrome output.
   - **Animation Bones (`chains`)**: Available to registered and paid accounts. Adds spring bone chains to the exported `.VRM` avatar for real-time hair physics. Static `.GLB` meshes do not carry spring bones.
3. **Download ZIP Archive**: Once GPU inference completes, download a `.zip` package containing `.OBJ`, `.GLB`, textures, and (when enabled) the rigged `.VRM` avatar.

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## 3. Supported Output Formats & 3D Pipelines

| Format | Type | Animation / Rigging | Typical Use Case |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `.OBJ` | Static 3D mesh + textures | Static geometry | Universal import in Blender, Maya, ZBrush, 3ds Max |
| `.GLB` | Binary glTF 3D mesh | Static hair card mesh | Web 3D, Three.js, Godot, Unity, Unreal Engine |
| `.VRM` | Humanoid 3D avatar | Rigged with spring bones (hair physics chains) | VTubing (Warudo, VSeeFace), VRChat, Unity UniVRM, Godot VRM |

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## 4. Blender Addon & Engine Integrations

- **Official Blender Addon (`kardmesh`)**:
  - Installable ZIP/folder via **Edit > Preferences > Add-ons** in Blender.
  - Set the API server to `https://api.kardmesh.com` and paste a personal API key generated from the KardMesh account menu (**Create addon key**).
  - Open the **KardMesh** sidebar tab inside Blender's **Image Editor**, pick a PNG/JPEG/WebP file, configure seed, variations, steps, CFG, colors, and bones, submit the job, and download the output ZIP directly.
  - API keys are stored hashed (SHA-256) in the database and can be revoked at any time from the account modal.
- **Planned / Placeholder Engine Integrations in Repository**:
  - Dedicated integration folders exist in the KardMesh repository for Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, VRChat, and Warudo. Currently, assets exported from the Web Studio or Blender addon (`.OBJ`, `.GLB`, `.VRM`) are already directly compatible with those engines and VTuber tools.

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## 5. Pricing, Credits & Licensing

### Credit Consumption Rules

- **Flat Cost**: **1 credit = 1 generated variation**, regardless of whether you select Speed (`10` steps) or Quality (`50` steps).
- **Multi-Variation Jobs**: Selecting 4 variations uses 4 credits.
- **Automatic Failure Protection**: Credits are reserved at job start and settled only on completion. Technical GPU or server failures automatically release the reserved credits back to your balance.

### Free Tiers

- **Guest Trial (No Account Required)**: 2 free generations (1 variation each, default settings, Turnstile anti-bot verified).
- **Welcome Bonus (Free Account)**: Sign in with a passwordless email magic link (5-minute expiry) to receive **5 free non-expiring welcome credits**, unlocking up to 2 simultaneous variations, advanced settings, and `.VRM` spring bone rigging.

### One-Time Credit Bundles (Never Expire)

| Bundle | Credits | Fallback EUR Price | Max Variations / Job | Addon API Keys | Expiration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pack 25 | 25 | €8 (localized in Paddle Checkout) | 4 | 1 | Never expires |
| Pack 120 | 120 | €32 (localized in Paddle Checkout) | 4 | 1 | Never expires |
| Pack 250 | 250 | €60 (localized in Paddle Checkout) | 4 | 1 | Never expires |

### Recurring Subscriptions (Monthly or Annual via Paddle)

| Plan | Monthly Credits | Annual Credits | Max Variations / Job | Addon API Keys | Target Audience |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Starter | 35 / month | 420 / year | 4 | 1 | Indie creators and hobbyists |
| Pro | 160 / month | 1,920 / year | 4 | 5 | Freelance 3D character artists |
| Advanced | 320 / month | 3,840 / year | 4 | 10 | Studios and high-volume character teams |

- **Subscription Credit Semantics**: Monthly subscription credits accumulate while the subscription remains active and lock if canceled or past-due (without affecting one-time bundle or welcome credits). Annual subscriptions distribute monthly credit quotas that accumulate across the 12-month billing period. Subscriptions can be canceled anytime via the Paddle Customer Portal.
- **Refund Policy**: Full refund available within **14 days** of purchase through Paddle.com.
- **Commercial License**: Users retain ownership of input images and receive full personal and commercial rights for generated 3D hair cards (`.OBJ`, `.GLB`, `.VRM`), including use in commercial video games, animations, films, VRChat worlds/avatars, and VTuber streams.

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## 6. Privacy & Data Handling

- Uploaded 2D images and generated `.zip` archives are processed in isolated temporary environments and **are not used to train AI models**.
- Generated `.zip` archives are available for immediate download and are not stored permanently; users should save local copies promptly.
- KardMesh uses only essential authentication/session storage and Cloudflare Turnstile anti-abuse protection—no advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

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## 7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

### What does KardMesh do?
KardMesh converts a single 2D character image (PNG, JPEG, or WebP) into 3D hair card meshes (`.OBJ`, `.GLB`) and rigged `.VRM` avatars with spring bones using HairDeck GPU inference.

### Does KardMesh export rigged hair for VTubers and VRChat?
Yes. Registered and paid users can enable animation bones (`chains`) to receive a rigged `.VRM` avatar complete with hair spring bone chains ready for VTuber apps (like Warudo or VSeeFace), Unity UniVRM, and VRChat workflows.

### How can I use KardMesh inside Blender?
After purchasing any credit pack or subscription, create a personal API key in your KardMesh account modal, install the `kardmesh` Blender addon, set the endpoint to `https://api.kardmesh.com`, and generate 3D hair cards directly from Blender's Image Editor sidebar.

### Can I use KardMesh assets in commercial projects?
Yes. Under the Terms of Service, you receive full personal and commercial rights to use the generated `.OBJ`, `.GLB`, textures, and `.VRM` files in commercial games, films, animations, and VTuber projects.

### Can I try KardMesh for free before paying?
Yes. You get 2 free guest generations without creating an account, plus 5 free non-expiring welcome credits when you sign in with an email magic link.