Rigging and uploading 'custom' avatars to Second Life and where to start?

[colewolf99]

I spent more time then I'd like to admit scouring the market place and asking around for recommendations when trying to make an avatar that fit the "nardoragon" style which is popular in vrchat, but eventually I just decided that I'd be better off actually learning how to do things myself. I can get a model easy, and it's already rigged though from what I can gather that rigging will not work for second life. Where should I start with trying to learn how to import my own avatar into second life? I'd like for it to be decent quality and I'm prepared to put a substantial amount of work into it if need be. The baseline I'd like to achieve is moving eyes, mouth, tail, and HUDs to adjust those features (ie: being able to raise and lower eye lids and open/close the mouth) but before I commit to anything monetarily I'd like to know it's at least doable. Eventually I'd like to be doing my own texturing and modeling but I need to start somewhere and I feel like rigging and importing a pre existing model is a good place to start.

Any pointers would be massively appreciated, be it communities that can help or tips and tricks.

[Pierre Ceriano]

Hello Cole,

To upload your own avatar needs to accomplish several steps :

• First, if you did not create the avatar by yourself, using modeling tools, you might check if the creator allows you to use it in Second Life, to modify it, etc
• Then you will have to learn the process and as usual you will start by reading the "Knowledge base" tab just up here on this page. Or here.
• In the knowledge base, there is a section "Uploading a mesh model" from which you will have other links such as "Model Upload UI reference" and then "Uploading and wearing a rigged mesh".
• It will be long and laborious to explain the entire process in a thread because many explanations will depend of the specifics of your avatar ; a good idea is also to find a learning community in-world, just search for dedicated groups.

Good time creating !

PS : Ags Falconer started a thread named "My journey making myself a mesh avatar".

Edited January 3 by Pierre Ceriano

[colewolf99]

15 hours ago, Pierre Ceriano said:

Hello Cole,

To upload your own avatar needs to accomplish several steps :

• First, if you did not create the avatar by yourself, using modeling tools, you might check if the creator allows you to use it in Second Life, to modify it, etc
• Then you will have to learn the process and as usual you will start by reading the "Knowledge base" tab just up here on this page. Or here.
• In the knowledge base, there is a section "Uploading a mesh model" from which you will have other links such as "Model Upload UI reference" and then "Uploading and wearing a rigged mesh".
• It will be long and laborious to explain the entire process in a thread because many explanations will depend of the specifics of your avatar ; a good idea is also to find a learning community in-world, just search for dedicated groups.

Good time creating !

PS : Ags Falconer started a thread named "My journey making myself a mesh avatar".

thanks! that threat helps put the basics into perspective. the model I'm looking at is open for use so long as it's properly credited which i planned to do regardless. uploading an avatar to vrchat is similar to secondlife just more streamlined because of unity integration so rights shouldn't be an issue. thanks for the help! hopefully here in the next few weeks or months I'll be able to update this thread with some progress. 

[PHOENIX2145]

I too am looking to have my Nardo in SL, and I don't have the skill or knowledge to do so. But if someone here is already wanting to do so, may I inquire that I have mine done as well or have a working copy of it? Maybe I can import my own textures and maps to have my Nardo in SL.