Morgaine Christensen

Taking the plunge into SL layered clothing creation not that my photoshop skills have increased and I better undertand the SL AV. LOL...yes, I am behind the times with all the mesh going round, but eventually maybe. Anyway, I am horrible at drawing in Photoshop (I use CS6). Are there any tips and tricks to make the neckline of tops have a more finished look? I have played around with the pen tool some for shapes and strokes, and have worked a bit with Transform > Warp, but to make it look even around the neck...then...make the same with be back neckline is...well, is bad. Are there any tutorials out there that anyone knows of to assist in this finished look? I found a really nice one for creating the actual necklines for the shirt/top, but not one that finishes it well. Thanks Everyone! Happy Thanksgiving a little early.

Personally, I have yet to find anything about mesh clothing I like. They never fit without an alpha layer for my AV, and my AV is not that out of proportion. If I have to wear an alpha layer that makes my AV fit the Creator's idea of what I should look like, forget it. I spend a long time getting my AV the way I like it and am not going to hide it for some work around. Also, most of the mesh I have seen is the same over and over again. While there are issues with layered clothing not having depth between the layers, mesh just looks like some dried clay mold that has been left to dry waiting to be peeled off. Most mesh I have seen on makes the AV have big butts and omg, pants are awful. I have only seen 1 or 2 pieces of mesh clothing on a couple of different AVs that even looks decent. I have seen some mesh clothing accessories that I wouldn't mind purchasing to spruce things up, full body mesh clothing is out. I think I will stick with layered clothing awhile longer till hopefully the deformer comes into existence.

Umm...this is a nice thought, but what are you going to do about the US sizes? Or, sizes not part of the European rules?

Sadly, LL has done this to themselves with a number of foolish decisions along the way as the RL economy took a dump. They need to reinstitute real mentors at Orientation Island as they did years ago to help new folks. I think it is crucial the first hours of a new person have contact with other real residents or a Linden for retention. The more new people newer dollars are invested. I also belive LL needs to stop focusing on the Teen crowd and start catering to older clients, who basically have the money, stabilit,y and staying power. That is not to say, that younger residents don't have the same just statisically, most young people move around to different things while older people tend to stay focused on one.

While I an no expert , when you overlay on white, the overlay is going to be lighter or even non-existent. Try using "Multiply" or one of the other options instead of overlay. Then, if it is too dark, work with the opacity for the layer. Another option would be play around the adjustments for the layer from the image menu. Also, try adding the pattern stripe to your actual T-Shirt layer by adding as an FX rather than a separate pattern fill layer. You can always adjust the opacity of your creases/wrinkles as well. If they are too light, duplicate your creases/wrinkles layer several times and merge them so wrinkles/creases are much darker/more visible. This will give you more flexibilty and allows you to adjust the wrinkles/creases layer opacity. AND, you can actually use this newly created creases/wrinkles layer with flood fill for a light or darker color to match your clothing better and still have the capability to adjust the opacity. Hope I understood what you were needing, if not, simply ignore this post.

Thank you, Maeve. You gave me the information I needed. I am strictly looking at using Poser for making static poses and animations. Mesh, I will leave with Blender for now. I think one of the most confusing things about Blender for me has been the multifuctions that it performs, and trying to sort it out. Just opening Blender is daunting and makes you want to close it down quickly when first encountering it. Give me old-fashioned, single focused programs first then lay multifocused ones on me. I hope the interface is user friendly, oftentimes user interfaces are not. I may give it a whirl then since the price is not bad at all. Be my Christmas gift to myself. I appreciate the info, thanks again.

I noticed that Poser 9 is available for $69.99 USD, which probably means they are getting ready to release a new version. So am I am seeking advice whether I should purchase it or not. While I am not completely new to the idea of making my owner poses/animations, I am a newb. I have fooled around with QVAnimator in the past, but had so many other projects I gave up on it. I run a Mac and understand QV won't allow you to save files without crashing with Lion. Blender animation...well....not ready to go there and DAZ just confuses the crap out of me..so am looking at Poser. Like anything I know there will probably be a huge learning curve. What I would like to know from more experienced and even new users: Is it easy to learn from a complete newb perspective? Is there a huge set-up for SL? Does it export/save .bvh files to upload to SL. Are add-ons required? If so, what would I need? Are there any newb related, SL specific tutorials to help me learn/create at least static poses? Thank you for your patience and time.

Yes, an exceedingly small sample size. Makes me wonder if this wasn't for someone's master's thesis or doctorial dissertation. I thought SL was out of favor with gamers these days?

I have to agree with you Kwakkelde. Most people are clueless as to the costs of being creative/ I can't even type a fitting response because the attitude of "gimme, gimme, gimme" just makes me ill. People want it all for free. They think SL should be free, nice idea but not happening. Maybe people should go and visit TurboSquid, or Renderosity and see what prices are charged perhaps they will have a greater appreciation of what little bit is being charged in SL. If you don't like what people charge, then create your own stuff.

I am not a QV pro, but do run a Mac. Have head that it does freeze up when saving. I haven't used it in a long time so can't verify. You might look at using another product other than QV. Sorry I have none to suggest other than maybe trying Blender.

Just because you see something you like someone else is wearing, and buy it to wear is not copybotting. Copybotting is copying the intellectual property creations of another person and claiming it as their own work when it isn't. It is sort of like virtual plaguarism with virtual items instead of words. Buying clothes, shoes, skins, hair, and accessories to wear, which have been set for sale by the creator is not copybotting. Wearing the same thing as another AV is not copybotting. We buy and wear the same things off the rack in RL as others do all the time. You might be thought of having no style of your own if you constantly buy and wear the same things as people you know by the "Fashion Police" or "Fasionistas". I think the person mispoke when they used the term copybot.

Many of us are learning Blender and/or other 3D modeling programs so we are all in the same boat, more or less. Try checking out the classes at Builders Brewery. Also, this guy has great beginning Blender series on Youtube so is free.

If they do a Ctrl+Left Click to select only their clothing bases shape (i.e. shirts, pants, etc), they should be able to just do a pattern fill on a new layer and make an overlay. Or, the easiest would be to add a pattern FX on your clothing layer so the pattern is confined to the base only. I find this a little less versatile than the first method, but it works. You wouldn't need to flood fill the whole layer and erase it doing this way and the pattern seems to match better IMHO between back and front. Hope this makes some sense.

Honestly, you do not have to house your patterns, layer styles, brushes, or other presents in Photoshop. I am sure there is a technical reason why you should, but I don't. The Tech folks will have to pipe up on that subject.. I save all mine on my desktop in a special folder so I can always find them easily. You should be able to go into your pre-set manager and load any of your brushes, layers, patterns, gradients, etc. Also, you can load them via the brush tool menu as well by changing from burshes to patterns, then find what need and load.

I use the shadow maps (ambient occulsion maps) with my own or composite textures for overlays to give the shadow effect with sculpts/mesh. Or, you an apply them to the object and tint the with the color picker in edit mode under the texture tab. Then again, you don't even have to use them.

Yes, I would welcome the ability to be about to rate in-world merchandize. I read reviews before I buy on MP and I DO rate items. I prefer shopping on MP because it is much more convenient than In-World. If I am buying a big ticket item, I will look for it In-World but buy it on MP EVEN if it cost more...because I want to be able to rate it. I am not sure about that, there are quite a few merchants that sold prior to SL promoting MP. I actually think I did better on MP prior to it being promoted. And, most of my sales are on MP despite the fact I have an in-world store. I am thinking of closing the in-world and going back to MP sales only. Will still have a demo area but tear things down and get some prims back on my sim for other things.

I have tried more temp rezzers including Titan. The one I use currently is via Caspervend. It is easy to set up and deal with. However, unless he has updated recently, you have to slog through the offerings. You might try contacting him and tell him of your issue and explain what you are looking for. He might upgrade his holovender in the process.

Umm you may want to edit your post as well since the is still showing up.

Thanks! It looks still borked and little if any appraisals from LL. Between the heat and drought where I live and no sales, makes me wonder why we put so much effort into SL. LOL...it is certainly not for the money.

I have waited till the last days to migrate after hearing too many horror stories and MP mess up, although my newer stuff is via DD. I don't keep up much here because I just worry too much and makes me ill. Has some of the major issues been resolved? I need to migrate, but am in fear that my product pictures and descriptions won't move with. I had a bad system crash and doubt I still have the old ones to post. I don't have time to take new photos and recreate listings (I know no one does). Can't recall when I sold something on MP last. I won't be migrating all my stuff though some I am taking down....may end up not listing any of it.

I like the sour cream ruffles personally, with or without French Onion Dip. As far as ruffles for SL clothing, look at using flexis, mesh ,or sculpts. You can do mesh so sounds like you are ahead of the game. Like Chosen stated, you have to decide what you want to use and are comfortable working with. I don't think there is a best way to make ruffles. The Seer has some great flexi prim ruffles for wrists, neck pieces, arms, etc. There are a couple of sculpt sets on MP for things like chest ruffles that are static. Stella Gravois at Trendy Template has a flexi generator for shirt ruffles. Also, consider the consumer you may be selling to if that matters to you. I won't buy any shoes, clothing, hair, etc. if it is made out of mesh. So when I design, I create items for those like me; my clientele may be small but ti is what I am comfortable with. When/if the deformer comes out and most use a mesh viewer, then I might change my old way. Till then, I will buy from thoses who don't use mesh. Really, it is up to you what you think is the best.

Welcome to the wonderful, and often frustrating world of SL building. No question is ever lame! Ask, and someone will surely try to help you. Personally, I don't like to use megaprims since they require some special handling and I can never find the right size I need, but I know a number of builders that still use them....if it all seems one wall it is probably a megaprim. There are some on on Marketplace and I believe Builder's Brewery has some for Free in their main building. If it is not a mega, it is probably linked pieces with an excellent texturing job. Me, I build nothing over 50 x 50 meters. I try to build my buildings realistically speaking (or, as best as you can in SL) and per floor is never over 6 meters tall (okay a bit taller if doing cathedral ceilings) nor 50 meters long/wide....generally nothing over 30 meters. But, this is my personal preference. You will develop your own style as you go along.

Yes, the question was answered and I thank you both very much. I have been away since the original question was posted. Just to clarify, I was asking if there was a way to combine the upper an lower AV templates flat 2-D in Photoshop. Peggy confirmed what I already suspected, but I do not always think outside of the box nor have as much skill with photoshop as others may have. I asked because I wished to confirm what I was thinking is correct. Working in 3-D is a good answer and alternative. Unfortunately my skills using that method are next to nil. I need to find the time to learn the 3-D method in CS-5 Extended. I have read/watched the tuts by Robin Sojourner (?sp) but they don't make a lot of sense to me. I have looked at others that made it perfectly clear but have not had the time to delve into it further. Anyway, thank you both.

I have been premium since day one mainly to own my own land. But, as the years have gone by, I see my monthly premium as a way to support SL and do my part as a resident of this great world. I also feel that because I am a PAYING voice, LL should sit up and take notice...LOL...they haven't yet and doubt they will start now. I think people should support places they play and call home.

I think making SL clothing has got to be worse than anything I have ever tried to do other than scripting. LOL, some things simply do not click well. The question I have is...is there a way to stack the upper templates and the lowers & shirt where you can draw from one to the next without having the postions screwed up for upload? Would seem to make alignment between the two layers easier. Example: Making a Jacket...would need the lower/pant layer convering with the bottom of the shirt. I am not even sure this makes sense.