Cathy Foil

Hi Vivienne. I use an older version of Maya which all the new Collada plugins don't work with. My work around is to export out of Maya as an FBX then I use the Autodesk FBX Converter which is FREE. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?siteID=123112&id=10775855#section7 There are versions there for Windows, Mac and Linux. If your program can not save in FBX format the converter can take OBJs and convert it to FBX then convert it a second time to Collada DAE using the same program. You will lose your normals and have to generate them in the upload window. If you are able to export out of your own program as an FBX, as I do with my older Maya, you will not lose your normals when you use the Autodesk FBX Converter to make your Collada DAE files. The Autodesk FBX Converter can also convert other formats to FBX as well. 3DS, DAE, DXF and of course OBJs. I have only tried it with OBJs. The FBX files and DAE files end up being bigger than when I export out of Maya as a FBX and then use the Autodesk FBX Converter but after I upload them to the open beta test grid and rez them they end up with the same prim costs and shape. I haven't tried textures yet. I hope this helps.

Darien brings up a good point about not having a standard UV set new mesh human avatar bodies. What will make a good selling point for those who do make human avatar meshes is to make sure the custom UVs for the mesh are compatible with the standard avatar UVs. Yes this is possible just more work. I am guessing that one would have to attache several meshes layered on top of each other to simulate the different clothing layers. The biggest draw back would be that clothing and skin designers would have to sell the clothes and skins with the textures included so that the individual mesh owners could apply them to their meshes. Another posibility is that the creator of mesh jackets, pants and tops would be smart to make available Photoshop file templates of the UVs for those things they make so that other clothing designers could design new looks for those mesh. Why let another designer make textures for a mesh you create? As long as the person who bought your mesh to wear continutes to wear that mesh and not get tired of it because they can update the look by buying a new texture for it they will continute to be a walking advertisement for your mesh. People who like the mesh they see on another avatar will right mouse click on the mesh and see who created it. The longer some one wears the mesh the more likely it will generate a new sale.

Kwamey I read someplace that the Open Beta testing will only be for a few weeks. Something like 3 or 4 weeks before Mesh Import will be available to everyone on the main grid.

I am so super excited about mesh import. Yes mesh will probably shake things up in the economy to the detriment of some but mostly to the benefit of all. SL has to grow and evolve or it will die. Those worried about their businesses I ask would you rather not have mesh and have that business for just a few more years at best or would you rather add mesh and see SL thrive and be around for another ten years?