How do I save different avi configurations with clothes?

[Annetta Susanowa]

Hi.

Config - using Maitreya mesh body (non BOM).

I use 'appearance' to save clothes combinations, but 'appearance' doesn't seem to save the differing avi configurations needed for the clothes.  

For example, if I save one set of clothes (Set 1) with lower legs turned off for the boots, then another set of clothes (Set 2) with the lower legs turned on, when I go back to 'Set 1', The lower legs are no longer turned off - I guess because 'Set 1' didn't store the necessary avi configuration..

Am I making a mistake or is this a limitation of 'appearance'?  Is there another method I should be using to be able to switch from one complete configuration of avi, avi configuration and clothes all together in a single operation?

I'd really appreciate help with this one!  Hopefully I explained that clearly.

Thanks all.

[Skell Dagger]

The Maitreya folder contains a Save Stick. Make a copy of that, save the alphas for one outfit on that copy, then include it in the outfit folder. When you re-wear that outfit you can change the alphas with a single click.

[Annetta Susanowa]

Thanks for that.  I'll give it a go.  I put off switching to Mesh for so long but once I have this detail sorted out I am nearly there!  I appreciate the help.

[Nalates Urriah]

Making a mistake... sort of. It may be more of an understanding things gotcha. I'll explain what is happening.

Your mesh body is an SL Object, a prim. Prims have attributes. When you change the alphas on a mesh body you are changing its attributes. When you take it off or log off those attribute settings are saved to the asset system. Next time the prim is rezzed it is rezzed using the last save attributes. This is why you Outfits with and without legs showing get messed up. The body is always using the last saved attributes.

An Outfit is NOT a thing... not a prim. It has no attributes. An outfit is a collection of things. The things have attributes. All things/prims will rez using their last saved attributes.

Skell's pointing to the Save Stick is the system devised in the Applier era of bodies. It works pretty well. Most non-BOM mesh bodies have some form of this.

There are several other solutions too. I think 2 are common, less so then the Save Stick. The new solution is to use BOM and system alpha layers. The bad thing about that is you would likely need to use a different body. You can probably update your body to BOM for free. Another negative is most BOM bodies do NOT accept Applier stuff. So you may end up with a lots of unusable stuff. Otherwise the BOM bodies are way simpler to wear and save as outfits. Because BOM outfits use system alpha layers they never change. You only mess with alpha once per outfit.

The alternative is to use copies of the body for your outfits. For all my outfits where I am wearing pants/jeans/etc I need a body with the legs alpha'd out. With dresses I need for them to show. I have several choices. I bought a body, Slink in my case. When I unpacked it I put the body and all its stuff in a folder name original-copy. That is my backup copy. I made another copy of the body and the parts I wear. That I put in a folder named starter. 

When I start a new outfit I wear the body from the starter folder and build my outfit. Once I have things as I want, I take the body off. I make a copy of the body I just changed and put it in a folder with a name that tells me what it is, i.e., body-no-legs. I wear that body and then save the outfit. I do this with each outfit where the body needs a special settings. I am saving a copy of the body with the settings I want for use with that outfit. My starter body was changed too and I have two copies the same, for now. Next outfit I will change the starter bosy, change it, and save a copy to wear. The starter is only ever worn for a few minutes and is constantly being changed.

Sound like a lot of copies? It is and updating bodies saved that way is a pain. So I have started including the body's HUD as part of the outfit. This way it is WAY easier to update outfits when the body updates. I use one working copy of the body in all outfits. When I wear the outfit the body's HUD loads and I can adjust the alpha to suite the clothes. I'll point out that BOM allows me to wear the alpha layer as an item in the outfit. Once worn I do not have to use a HUD to mess with alpha cuts.

I also make any Applier HUD that contributes to the outfit a part of the outfit. When I wear the outfit all the HUDs I need to get it looking right are there. 

Edited January 3, 2021 by Nalates Urriah

[Annetta Susanowa]

Phew...  I'm sure once it has been done a couple of times it is simpler than it sounds.  Luckily I don't expect too many sets of clothes!

Thanks for taking the time.

 

[Skell Dagger]

14 minutes ago, Annetta Susanowa said:

Phew...  I'm sure once it has been done a couple of times it is simpler than it sounds.  Luckily I don't expect too many sets of clothes!

You stated in your original post that you're not using BoM. So the Save Stick option is the simplest one for you to use. It's really very easy, and Maitreya have simple instructions on their website detailing how to use it.

[Rowan Amore]

31 minutes ago, Annetta Susanowa said:

Phew...  I'm sure once it has been done a couple of times it is simpler than it sounds.  Luckily I don't expect too many sets of clothes!

Thanks for taking the time.

 

Instead of being verbose, I'll agree 100% with Skell. 😁

[Eva Nova]

Instead of having to read stuff I'll agree with you all 😄 xx

 

[Annetta Susanowa]

Skell....  Thanks so much for your advice.  It is working perfectly.  I had a bit of trouble renaming the Sticks, but now I have that sorted, I have done a few trials and it works perfectly.

Thanks for your help too Nalates but I didn't want to switch to BOM.  The advice was great though, if not suitable for my situation.  I hope it helps someone else.

Thanks again.

[Nalates Urriah]

10 hours ago, Annetta Susanowa said:

Skell....  Thanks so much for your advice.  It is working perfectly.  I had a bit of trouble renaming the Sticks, but now I have that sorted, I have done a few trials and it works perfectly.

Thanks for your help too Nalates but I didn't want to switch to BOM.  The advice was great though, if not suitable for my situation.  I hope it helps someone else.

Thanks again.

Understandable. I still use appliers for my makeup. 

I chose BOM because I wanted the lower ACI and script weight. Since the Slink update to BOM was free it was an easy choice.