Sequence of creation of new avatars

[kidkodine]

After a week Im trying my best- for example, I have all the components for a high quality mesh avatar. We still have to start with a default avatar.

what is the sequence to break down and build up in order a new avatar?

 

thanks

 

[norajulian]

This question is confusing to me, but it might be possible that english is not your first language and i'm just pulling a blank. 

The default avatars these days are FAR better than they used to be a few years ago, let alone 10 years ago. It all depends on what you are seeking as far as appearances and species and etc. if you could add more info to what you are seeking, we might be able to offer better information. 

[angeoco]

As Nora says, it depends on what you have and where you want to go. It sounds like you have got a decent mesh body and head with hair and clothes etc. and want to get it set up.

First, strip your system avatar: open your inventory and go to Current Outfit where all the things you are wearing are shown in bold print. Double-click each one to detach it (though some basic essentials can't be detached). You will then be left with a naked body.

Now unpack all your purchases if not already done. The mesh body would include the body parts, a HUD, an alpha layer for hiding the system body, a default shape, and maybe a few clothes. In your inventory, start by right-clicking the mesh body's alpha layer and selecting Add, which will hide most of your system body. Then do the same with the main body section, the feet, and the hands, which will add them to your body. Also add the default shape, to make it look better. If you have a mesh head, then do the same with that - add the alpha and the head, and eyes if needed. Then add the hair from your hair package.

You will need to match the colours of the skin on your body and head. This can usually be done by opening the HUD that comes with your mesh body and selecting the appropriate skin tone. And if you have a mesh head, its HUD would also usually have the same facility. At a later stage, if the matching is not perfect, you will probably want to get a third-party skin package to cover the entire body.

You can then adjust your shape, either by right-clicking the shape in your inventory that you are wearing and selecting Edit, or right-click your avatar and select Appearance, Edit Shape.

Clothes packages often include a range of sizes, so pick the ones matching your mesh body if possible. When you have your clothes added, it is possible that you will find some patches of your body poking through the fabric, especially when you move. This problem can usually be fixed by opening your mesh body HUD, going to the "alpha" tab, and clicking on the regions of the body diagram corresponding to where the problems are on your body.

That''s just the basics to get you started. There is of course a lot more that can be done. If you need more advice, let us know as much detail as you can and people will be happy to try and help.

[Chic Aeon]

25 minutes ago, angeoco said:

At a later stage, if the matching is not perfect, you will probably want to get a third-party skin package to cover the entire body.

This is often the step stumbled upon for new folks. When SOME of us where new there was much less to learn -- and still it was confusing, so hang in there.

IF you have a mesh head and a mesh body, the only real way to get your total look compatible is to purchase a skin that will add that skin layer using an APPLIER to your head and body. That is the typical way of making an avatar these days. Depending on the body and head you may need to buy an OMEGA RELAY hud so that the skin applier can "talk to" the body and head. Yes, it is not simple. 

The good news is that you can get DEMOS for skins and try them on whatever parts you have purchased and then choose the one you like the best.

The rule is ALWAY DEMO DEMO DEMO DEMO - LOL.  Once you find your look you can stay that way for a long while OR buy other skins, bodies and heads if you like to change things up often.

If you have more questions just write the particulars here on this thread. Lots of helpful folks here. 

[Rhonda Huntress]

On 11/25/2017 at 3:48 PM, kidkodine said:

I have all the components for a high quality mesh avatar.

...

what is the sequence to break down and build up in order a new avatar?

If I am reading this correctly ...

1. Remove everything you have on that can possibly be removed.  Once done you should have 4 things that cannot be removed. Eyes, skin, shape and hair*.  That is system hair.  It is also often called a hair base or an eyebrow shaper.  See the icons below.  Those 4 can never be removed, only replaced.

1.1 (optional) Replace your body shape with one you want; go into edit (right click your avatar and pick "edit shape") an write down the values in the Body, Torso and Legs sections.
1.2 Wear the system hair that came with your mesh head.  No need to edit anything on it at this time
1.3 Wear the shape that came with your head.  Go into edit mode and Save As a new shape. With the new shape, edit the Body, Torso and Legs sections with the numbers you wrote down earlier.

2. Wear your full body alpha that came with your mesh body.  If you also have a mesh head, be sure to wear the alpha that cover your entire body, head and eyes that comes with your mesh head instead.  If you head does not have a full body+head alpha you will need to wear the body's alpha layer and the head's alpha layer together.  Do this by right clicking on the alphas and pick "Add" from the menu.  

3. From your body folder, add your body, hands, feet and the HUD to control them. 

4. From your head folder, wear the head, eyes(if included), teeth(if separate), plus the primary HUD.  Depending on the head there may also be a tongue included separately.  There may also be several HUDs but you want only the one that is the main HUD.

5. Add any omega relays you may need.  I wear my Maitreya relay 24/7 and have it moved off of the visible screen but it is not really best practice to wear a scripted item you are not actually using.

6. Set up your skin.  You can use the built in skins (for example, Maitreya Lara and LeLutka heads use the same skins so match perfectly) or wear your skin appliers.
6.1 Apply the skin option you want for the body.
6.2 Apply the skin option you want for the head.  Many head appliers have you start by picking the eyebrow color you want.
6.3 Add any additional makeup appliers and apply what you like.  Remove the makeup appliers when done.
6.4 With the head's HUD, adjust the makeup layers to blend each part for the right look.  Eye shadow should look heavy and painted on at first but when you blend it down, it becomes a powdery, slightly transparent layer.  Do the same with lipstick, blush, tattoos, etc.
6.5 With the head's HUD, set the hairbase color to match (or be slightly darker) the hair color you want to wear.  I also turn the scalp off so it looks like the top of the head is open but that is not a universal need.  If you have parted hair you will need the scalp

7. Add and tattoo appliers. Set these on the lowest body level (usually called tattoo).  Remove applier when done.

8 Add your AO.

====== (optional) At this point I would save the avatar as an outfit named !Base. 

9.  Add your hair. Add the HUD to change the color or other options.  Remove the HUD when done.

10 Add clothes.

11. With your body's HUD, toggle the alpha cuts anywhere your skin pokes through the clothes.  You will not always be able to do this correctly and the main reason you should DEMO EVERYTHING YOU PLAN TO WEAR!!!!!

11.  Move around any see if the clothes need any extra alpha cuts toggled.

===== (optional) If everything looks right, open outfits, right-click on !Base and remove from current.  Wait a minute for all the pieces of the body to detach and then save the outfit with any name you chose.  Once saved, right click on !Base and Add it again.