learning to create

[luke1direction]

I wanna learn how to create stuff , gadgets , clothes , and sell them. So how would this be possible and what programs would i need if i wanted to create a kitchen maybe.

 

[Rolig Loon]

That would be possible if you learn how to use a 3D modelling program like Blender (free) or Maya ($$) and a graphics program like GIMP (free) or Photoshop ($$). The first thing to do, though, is to learn how to use the building tools that are already in your viewer and to learn how the SL system for creating basic items and determining permissions works.  I suggest visiting places like Builders Brewery and seeing what beginning classes and tutorials they have to offer.

Most of what you need, however, is not tools and techniques.  The most important things you'll need are time and talent.  A man with a hammer is not a cabinetmaker, and can't learn to be one overnight or by taking a few classes.  If you have artistic/creative talent, you will still need a lot of time to learn and to practice. It will also help to have a ton of patience and determination.  There's a lot of frustration and disappointment ahead, mixed with some genuine periods of elation.  I suggest not even thinking about selling things until you have been at it for quite a while.  The competition out there is fierce, so you don't need that pressure on top of everything.

Most of all, start creating things because you love creating, not because you expect to get rich or even pay the rent. This is fun time.  

[So Whimsy]

In addition to Rolig's great answer; if you do not wish to actually learn these programs or find them too hard to handle you could go the template way. There is quite a few full perm mesh makers on the marketplace (and in world) who create items such as kitchens and sell them full perm. You can purchase these templates, texture the mesh, add on to it (decor, animations etc) and then sell the finished creation in your own store.

If you go down that route make sure to follow the template makers TOS, these are usually posted on their product page.

[luke1direction]

Thank you guys for th help <3

[Penny Patton]

I just want to add that as you get further and further into content creation, there's some best practices you can follow to get the most out of SL and not end up lagging yourself with your creations.

1. Memory is a limited resource. Try not to use up too much of it on textures. As you go you'll be able to pick up tricks for more optimized texture work such as

• creating UV maps that don't leave huge parts of individual textures as unused space.
• not using huge textures on small/minor details.
• reusing a texture across multiple faces rather than wasting memory on separate, yet nearly identical textures.

2. Just because avatars don't have to worry about Land Impact costs does not mean you should go crazy with polygons. Optimize here as well, utilizing specular and normal maps (usually referred to in SL as "materials") to add detail instead of making the model itself more detailed.

3. Space is also a limited resource! The larger you make things like buildings/furniture/etc the smaller the space you have to work with relative to your content. For example, if you make a refrigerator that is twice the size of a real refrigerator, it takes up 4x as much area.

4. Don't be afraid of selling items with the modify permissions. There's a lot of people who think modifiable content is somehow easier to pirate than no-mod content but that's just not true.