Pictures from Kamida Delec
From RFL Healing, "Dinky sim, including the Crystal empire castle from MLP Gen 4."
"I found a Disney forest."
"And I went back to take a picture of my Dads memorial."
Pictures by Kamida Delec
Showing posts with label reader submitted. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reader submitted. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Reader Submitted: The Ertina Loopen Memorial Foundation
By Journey Texan
Before Relay weekend becomes too distant in our rear-view mirrors, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who reached out to me or to others near me to express how much they were moved by the Ertina Loopen Memorial Foundation at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Inspire/194/135/24 .
I'm glad that I could create something that resonated with those who stopped to appreciate it and to learn more about Tina. While every day is an opportunity for me to remember and pay tribute to Tina, few days have as much visual impact as the ones during Relay weekend, so I am grateful for having the opportunity to share something meaningful with you there.
If you missed the campsite, attached are a few photos to show that it presented the question "What do you do when cancer turns your life upside-down?" Fellow Relayers submitted answers which were displayed around the giant window frame on the ground.
In the sky, a recreation of the actual Ertina Loopen Memorial Home & Garden was built and turned upside-down. You can actually go up there to sit on the inverted furniture. Other areas featured the team tent with its patented giant foot and back massage area, and other areas were further away from the track for quiet reflection.
If you ever want to visit the actual Ertina Loopen Home & Garden, it is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kangean/62/76/1501 .
My thanks again to every individual and team that helped the Foundation contribute to the American Cancer Society during the season. It means a lot to me as well as to countless others whom we will never know.
Journey Texan for the Ertina Loopen Memorial Foundation
Design
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Reader Submitted: Digital Farm System
By Serenity Herold (SerenKitty Resident)
No matter where your interests lie, there are a lot of fun activities to do in Second Life. One of those SL activities that has been garnering a lot of interest is farming. Enter Digital Farm System (DFS), which started way back in October of 2016. DFS isn’t just farming, though. It is so much more.
DFS requires the use of a HUD, which is free at the DFS Main Store. The HUD keeps track of your energy. Most of the activities in DFS use a little energy. It’s easy to replenish the energy in the HUD by consuming DFS foods. Foods can be made by the HUD user by having the ingredients necessary for the recipe they’d like to make, or by purchasing the food they’d like to eat from one of the many DFS users that cook and sells their goods.
Those items can be purchased easily in one of the many DFS markets or at one of the many DFS auctions.
The HUD has an area that drops down when clicking the ‘Craft’ button of the HUD; this allows for recipe ingredients to be loaded. Recipes can be found directly on the DFS website at digitalfarmsystem.com
As far as farming goes, DFS has been masterfully set up to allow you to be as involved or apart from the farming aspect as you prefer. Would you like to raise animals, plant crops, and sell your harvest? You can do that! Would you prefer to buy the ingredients you need from farmers and just cook and bake? Done. Maybe you have always wanted your own vineyard and wine line. You can do that too. You can even focus on crafting and making dyes, rugs, and woodworking projects. The system is set up in such a way that you can really customize it to your own personal tastes. You can even role-play in DFS or choose not to. It’s all up to you.
For the sake of trying to fully understand this expansive system, let’s imagine that you wanted to role-play as a farm-to-table restaurant owner that is world-renowned for your desserts. For this example, we’re going to imagine that you prefer to do as much by hand as possible.
On this particular day, you plan to make some cakes for a special cake-tasting event that you’re holding at your restaurant later this week.
For this scenario, you tend and water your animals, harvest some milk and eggs from them, then draw some extra water from your well. Moving to your crops and trees, you gather some wheat, vanilla, and oranges. You realize that you’re out of butter, so you decide to churn some. Then, you get ready to start making cakes. Realizing that you’re out of one of the ingredients that you need, you decide to TP over to one of the many DFS markets in order to buy it. While at the market, you spot a bottle of wine with a beautiful wine label, so you pick that up too.
Heading back home, you make a couple of cakes, and then decide to start working on decorations. You make some dye and use it to dye some wool, which you then weave into fabric. You then take that fabric and a few more ingredients and turn it into a beautiful rug.
Your best friend comes over to visit. Your best friend enjoys DFS, too, but prefers to have just a couple of specific crops and to focus mainly on producing alcohol in their stills, making wine in their fermenters, and taking part in fishing tournaments. They also enjoy collecting DFS collectibles, such as some of the specially designed equipment that is only available at special events.
No matter where your interests lie, there are a lot of fun activities to do in Second Life. One of those SL activities that has been garnering a lot of interest is farming. Enter Digital Farm System (DFS), which started way back in October of 2016. DFS isn’t just farming, though. It is so much more.
DFS requires the use of a HUD, which is free at the DFS Main Store. The HUD keeps track of your energy. Most of the activities in DFS use a little energy. It’s easy to replenish the energy in the HUD by consuming DFS foods. Foods can be made by the HUD user by having the ingredients necessary for the recipe they’d like to make, or by purchasing the food they’d like to eat from one of the many DFS users that cook and sells their goods.
Those items can be purchased easily in one of the many DFS markets or at one of the many DFS auctions.
The HUD has an area that drops down when clicking the ‘Craft’ button of the HUD; this allows for recipe ingredients to be loaded. Recipes can be found directly on the DFS website at digitalfarmsystem.com
As far as farming goes, DFS has been masterfully set up to allow you to be as involved or apart from the farming aspect as you prefer. Would you like to raise animals, plant crops, and sell your harvest? You can do that! Would you prefer to buy the ingredients you need from farmers and just cook and bake? Done. Maybe you have always wanted your own vineyard and wine line. You can do that too. You can even focus on crafting and making dyes, rugs, and woodworking projects. The system is set up in such a way that you can really customize it to your own personal tastes. You can even role-play in DFS or choose not to. It’s all up to you.
For the sake of trying to fully understand this expansive system, let’s imagine that you wanted to role-play as a farm-to-table restaurant owner that is world-renowned for your desserts. For this example, we’re going to imagine that you prefer to do as much by hand as possible.
On this particular day, you plan to make some cakes for a special cake-tasting event that you’re holding at your restaurant later this week.
For this scenario, you tend and water your animals, harvest some milk and eggs from them, then draw some extra water from your well. Moving to your crops and trees, you gather some wheat, vanilla, and oranges. You realize that you’re out of butter, so you decide to churn some. Then, you get ready to start making cakes. Realizing that you’re out of one of the ingredients that you need, you decide to TP over to one of the many DFS markets in order to buy it. While at the market, you spot a bottle of wine with a beautiful wine label, so you pick that up too.
Heading back home, you make a couple of cakes, and then decide to start working on decorations. You make some dye and use it to dye some wool, which you then weave into fabric. You then take that fabric and a few more ingredients and turn it into a beautiful rug.
Your best friend comes over to visit. Your best friend enjoys DFS, too, but prefers to have just a couple of specific crops and to focus mainly on producing alcohol in their stills, making wine in their fermenters, and taking part in fishing tournaments. They also enjoy collecting DFS collectibles, such as some of the specially designed equipment that is only available at special events.
They have brought a beautiful DFS bouquet of flowers, a box of candy, and a nice meal to replenish your energy, all of which they picked up last week at a DFS auction in order to celebrate your special cake-tasting event.
As this scenario demonstrates, DFS is truly customizable to the interests of every single person that enjoys DFS.
Now to touch on the most important aspect of every system: support. I have found DFS support to be unmatched.
From the creator, Ice Dover, to the multitude of CSRs that are ready and able to answer your questions, whether that be via the incredibly active group chat or directly over IM.
The DFS team also goes out of their way to encourage farmers. From the monthly cooking contest, to promoting DFS markets on the main sim, to special events, to keeping the prices of equipment and collectibles low in order to keep DFS affordable, this team is top-notch.
DFS is also friendly with creators that have utilized DFS to build their own businesses. There are outside systems, texture packs, and rezzers that all work alongside the DFS system in order to make selling, crafting/cooking, and animal organization easier.
Now to touch on the most important aspect of every system: support. I have found DFS support to be unmatched.
From the creator, Ice Dover, to the multitude of CSRs that are ready and able to answer your questions, whether that be via the incredibly active group chat or directly over IM.
The DFS team also goes out of their way to encourage farmers. From the monthly cooking contest, to promoting DFS markets on the main sim, to special events, to keeping the prices of equipment and collectibles low in order to keep DFS affordable, this team is top-notch.
DFS is also friendly with creators that have utilized DFS to build their own businesses. There are outside systems, texture packs, and rezzers that all work alongside the DFS system in order to make selling, crafting/cooking, and animal organization easier.
DFS is also kept fresh by readily adding new and fun recipes to make. Cooking contest winners and specific Patreon backers even have the option to create their own special recipe.
One of the things that really stands out with the DFS team and community is their support of causes that are working tirelessly to help others have improved lives, such as the American Cancer Society, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, and Doctors Without Borders. Go around to the main DFS sim or any of the markets and you’re sure to find kiosks, special auction boxes, and events aimed at showing their support.
It’s easy to get started with DFS. The DFS community as a whole is extremely friendly and open to questions. It is not uncommon to see people starting out in the DFS system by offering their assistance as farm hands, volunteers, and hired cooks. It’s also common to meet new people learning about DFS by visiting some of the many auctions that are held each day.
All in all, DFS provides an exciting and customizable way for users to enhance their Second Life experience.
Serenity Herold
Design
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Reader Submitted: "Cheap Thrills" by La Performance
By Isabel (Alysabelle Resident)
La Performance started in 2007 by Jie Loon . She is by far the
creative inspiration and their mentor. "La Performance" the show is two to three
times a year depending. The following people were instrumental to me in writing
this article and a special thank you to Jie Loon , Aspen Wrigglesworth , Alazi
Sautereau, without them it wouldn't
have been possible.
.
'The opening of dance-show 'CHEAP THRILLS' was held on Sunday ...
December 4th 2016 Started at 2.30 pm PST at the Tai Location. Once you arrived
at 'La Performance' you notice a
few petal baths for petite and as
well regular avatar size.There is also a bee lounger and also a balcony swing
slightly in midair and the countless sofa and sofa chairs .I was privileged to
attend a couple of dress rehearsals and the final one Friday before the show on
Sunday . As an audience member the
last three years I clearly had no idea how much work was involved behind the
scene in preparation of La Performance . The backdrop scenes are extremely
creative and visually appealing.
Aspen Wrigglesworth is the producer of "Cheap thrills" and choreographed at least two
dances with the collaboration and input by all the dancers for this particular
show. The dancers don't use pose balls they learn how to move and memorize their
specific placement, each dancer has their own choreography. It truly takes
skills and the dancers rehearse three months before each show approximately
three nights a week for two hours.
The music this time is by Demi Lovato, Barei, The Weekend, Saint
Motel, ZZ Ward, Sergio Mendez, Sia, Toni Bennett/Lady Gaga, Giacinto Scelsi .
Each dancer as their own choreography to learn individually.
These are dancers this year Alazi Sautereau, Aminata Potez, Aspen
Wrigglesworth, Bia Nikitin, EchoDancer, Eva Bohemian, Falkon Wickentower, Feli
Ibanez, Janie Broome, JenniferMay
Carlucci, Kenny McDee, Lausard
Wildcat, Lulee Babenco, Marili, Randy Thor, Sue Trallis, and Zimp Rexie) . .
At the start of the show
Alazi Sautereau who is the MC narrates in local welcoming everyone and mentions as well
that its the 18th show by la performance . For that particular show 'Cheap
Thrills" is directed by Aspen Wrigglesworth choreographed by her and the teams
of dancers. Then she explains camera maneuver for best viewing:) and other
technical issues and of course she thanks everyone for showing up and to enjoy
the show. . I personally would as well recommend arriving twenty minutes before
the show begins for a choice of seating .There is a 30 second delay to regroup
between performances to change outfits and the scenery .The show itself " La
Performance last approximately one hour."
There is no tip jar
they don't ask for any Lindens they dance for the passion of dancing and for the
' Thrill ' of those who are watching in the audience.
At the end of the show it's important to note that once again the
wonderful Alazi Sautereau thanks
everyone for supporting ' La performance' and ask to remain in their seat for a
special performance dedicating the last dance to dancer Line Rayna who touched
the hearts of many and the dancers dance to Ave Maria by Scelsi. It was one of
her favorite dances. And a very
beautiful dance it was indeed. At the very end of the season they have ask the
audience if they would like to join the dancers to dance a sort of after party
event:) It last approximately an hour . I did so personally the last few years
and its fun , one of the dancers will send you a dance hud for you to accept . I
think it runs about an hour the after party . Next year 2017 is their 10th
anniversary as well. .I personally can't wait to see what the next ' La
Performance' will offer.
Bravo! Aspen
Wrigglesworth and all the dancers and the MC a job well done:). I have attended
'La Performance' for approximately three years now. I personally love dancing
and it takes everything out of me not to jump out of the chair and dance on
stage with the dancers each time I attend and there is no exception this time
around. And once again I have been
transported to a time that I knew someone that use to dance modern and classical
ballet passionately as you all do . And each time I am there I can't help but
smile of pure joy , Its extremely
creative and fun to watch ' La Performance' It doesn't matter what age you are ,
its worth seeing . On a personal note : Jie Loon I will never forget three years
ago you invited me on stage alone as we danced you explain the details that go
into a show for “ La Performance” . It was
a moment in time I will never forget . Thank you:)Pick up a Playbill at the show.
The following dates 12/4/16 till the 12/11/16 at the same timeline , 2:30 Pm PST will be held as well at the Tai
Location
http://maps.secondlife.com/
The second location will be from the 12/18/16 1/15/17 and 1/22/17 at 2:30 PST -- at the Mediterraneo Location . http://maps.secondlife.com/
And the last
show on the 1/29/17 at 2:30 PST
will be back to the Tai Location.
Below is the“ La Performance ' website
ÎsaЪeĻ (Alysabelle Resident)
Friday, May 17, 2013
Reader Submitted: Tiki Paradise
By TheonlyJohnny Resident
Tiki paradise was the very first sim that I ever really enjoyed. It also was one of the very first I went to. While there have been some rough times between me and the staff, I know that they are still great people, and even greater friends. The staff at Tiki Paradise are the best you can ever hope to find. If you're looking for a place to go where the staff treat you as if you're part of their family, then this is the place to be.
While it's a relatively small club, Tiki is still amazingly placed, on a beach. The decorations and the design of the entire club will really make you feel welcome there. Despite it being of simple design, upon first glance, don't count this club out. The detail put into everything here, makes this place a worthwhile place to be.
Of course, I can't forget to mention the owners of this amazing place, Ahoffman Philly and Apolo. These two are unlike a lot of sim owners I have come across. A good number of other sim owners will either not go to their sims, or will stay a very short amount of time. These two, however, are at this sim for most of the time they're online. They show great devotion to this sim, and should be praised for doing so much for it.
The music, despite the name being TIKI Paradise, is of all kinds. Each DJ at the club will play amazing music of their favorite genre, and the favorite genres of the visitors. It's fun to be at the club when the next dj takes over the stream, since the music they will play is a mystery. I have been at a lot of clubs, and most of them have DJs that will tell you their schedule of songs. While here, you can come and listen to music, and not know what's next. Not to mention, all the Dj's leave room in their schedules to take requests, and will make sure they play all the requests that are given to them.
I have visited Tiki enough times to get to know the reality of the club, and I can happily say, that I give this club the following,
Originality: 5 of 5
Design and Look: 5 of 5
Music: 5 of 5
Staff: 4 of 5
Owner involvement: 5 of 5
In total 24 of 25
TheonlyJohnny
Tiki paradise was the very first sim that I ever really enjoyed. It also was one of the very first I went to. While there have been some rough times between me and the staff, I know that they are still great people, and even greater friends. The staff at Tiki Paradise are the best you can ever hope to find. If you're looking for a place to go where the staff treat you as if you're part of their family, then this is the place to be.
Of course, I can't forget to mention the owners of this amazing place, Ahoffman Philly and Apolo. These two are unlike a lot of sim owners I have come across. A good number of other sim owners will either not go to their sims, or will stay a very short amount of time. These two, however, are at this sim for most of the time they're online. They show great devotion to this sim, and should be praised for doing so much for it.
The music, despite the name being TIKI Paradise, is of all kinds. Each DJ at the club will play amazing music of their favorite genre, and the favorite genres of the visitors. It's fun to be at the club when the next dj takes over the stream, since the music they will play is a mystery. I have been at a lot of clubs, and most of them have DJs that will tell you their schedule of songs. While here, you can come and listen to music, and not know what's next. Not to mention, all the Dj's leave room in their schedules to take requests, and will make sure they play all the requests that are given to them.
I have visited Tiki enough times to get to know the reality of the club, and I can happily say, that I give this club the following,
Originality: 5 of 5
Design and Look: 5 of 5
Music: 5 of 5
Staff: 4 of 5
Owner involvement: 5 of 5
In total 24 of 25
TheonlyJohnny
Friday, May 25, 2012
Reader Submitted: Vitabela Dubrovna Celebrating Four Years in Second Life
Fashion Designer Vitabela Dubrovna will on 17th July 2012 be celebrating four years as an SL Designer and yesterday (May 17th) saw the release of a stunning new Hollywood Glamour style ball gown which you can view here exclusively for this first time:
Image courtesy of The Best Of SL
This
brand new design shows just how far she’s come and how she’s moved on
as both a designer and an artist within the realm of Second Life. In the
four years she’s been with SL she’s built up a large following mostly
due to the strength of her design skills and the fact that her work is
timeless, yet still very modern. Her boutique “Vita’s Boudoir”, set up
when she joined in 2008 features an array of fashions and accessories –
and one thing is clear; her ideology is all about glamour, sexuality and
high femininity.
It’s
all here among Vitabela’s collection from the beautiful, bold burlesque
through to seductive lacy dresses with intricate detailing and clever
contrasting. She even caters for those amongst you who wish to have
ultra fluttery, floaty eyelashes or flowing hair extensions in her
accessory boudoir. Her hair extensions mirror her notions about fashion,
creating a “wild” unkempt look, which matches really well with the lace
on her clothes and also provides a wonderful background to the severity
of her catsuits and jumpsuits. This is serious Catwalk style fashion
for SL.
Vitabela’s Ethos and Ideas
This
really isn’t fashion for the faint hearted; throughout her career in SL
Vitabela’s designs have proved that she’s all about the sex kitten
within. Crisp, neat lines are, for the most part, out in favour of
layers of gauzy lace, feathers and leather, often forming elaborate
headdresses and accessories. Monochrome pieces play out in stark
contrast to flashes of vibrant primary colours and delicate designs such
as her Rose’s Thorn bikini/fascinator combination:
Image courtesy of Second Life Marketplace
Her
clothes always seem to have an element of the theatrical about them – a
contrast to other SL Fashion designers such as the house of Modavia,
which cater strongly for the “everyday” wearer, with contemporary
designs and muted colours in slouchy styles. Vitabela’s love of
burlesque is clear to see, particularly in her catsuits and jumpsuits
which (as she says herself) show off more than they cover up, not for
the more conservative amongst you! Though for anyone wanting to branch
out and try something completely different, her work might be just the
thing to tempt you into a new area of experimentation.
Her
fashion can also be viewed as high art, with the emphasis on intricate
detailing and solid patterning which represents nature and wildlife and
an intrinsically animalistic feeling. Her piece “Uprooted” is a good
example of this, with neutral shades of burnt umbers and delicate browns
used to create an “earthy” feeling. You can see that piece here (image Not Safe For Work).
One of her most daring recent artistic creations is without doubt “Ride” which you can view on her own blog here. (suggestive image)
A highly sexy, polished and severe look which lies in contrast some of
her lacier, floatier designs yet still exudes sexiness and glamour to
the maximum. There are elements of her previous works in there, with
subtle touches of leather and a loose fitting neck tie, there’s a strong
feel of Art Deco to it as well, as while it retains an eminent
femininity, there is an inherent sense of the masculine there – strong
lines, nipped in waist, the neck tie and jacket.
Not All About Fashion Now!
Vitabela
has now also diversified and has her own “Home And Garden” section,
which can also be found in her “Vita’s Boudoir” shop. Again, the
emphasis with a strong bent on high art; she uses muted colours
contrasted with bright splashes of vivid greens to create landscaping
trends that are really different, very up to the minute and on trend yet
classic and able to mix with a variety of other styles. Her “White
Winter Tree”, a beautifully stark and impressive garden design (which is
the sort of thing that provides a beautiful backdrop for photos) sits
delightfully juxtaposed with her “Spring Grass” collection – a
wonderfully bright, floral work which is uplifting and inspiring, yet
also similarly impressive for photographic work.
Here’s
to another exceptional four years of outstanding fashion and
inspirational design from one of SL’s most competent and highly sought
after fashionistas, Vitabela Dubrovna.
By "Imogen" (Elizabeth Heartland)
--------
Elizabeth Heartland is a freelance writer from England who writes primarily for technology and gaming blogs as well as an SEO company. Virtual worlds intrigue her particularly and the amazing fashion 'industry' that is developing online is surely a sign of things to come.
Elizabeth Heartland is a freelance writer from England who writes primarily for technology and gaming blogs as well as an SEO company. Virtual worlds intrigue her particularly and the amazing fashion 'industry' that is developing online is surely a sign of things to come.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Reader Submitted: A Few Notes on Mesh
10 Gooson sent Second Life Newser a few notes about her experience with Mesh, "I've tried to explain what meshes are, what is still unknown, the in's and out's for 'almost-noobs' to explain some more about meshes."
*Addition* 10's original article had been delayed, so she sent over an updated one which reflected her more recent experiences.
* Till this summer the avatars are the only existing Meshes in SL, but that has changed forever! by the implementation of meshes in SL.
* A mesh is a 3D object that can not be created or build in SL itself like ordinary prim builds as we're all used to.
* Like Sculpted prims they need to be created outside SL with 3D-software programs. Unlike sculpties, meshes can move with the avatar's body if they are 'rigged' (= attached to) properly to the bone-structure of an avatar. So 'flexible clothes' is possible, because they are made out of meshes instead of sculpties, which can not be made flexible or attached to a bone-structure of avatars.
* Mesh objects/3D-objects can be of any kind, a complete house or castle, avatars in any shape you can think of, trees, you name it. You can walk through them, on top of them etc, what can not be done by sculpted objects. (Sculpted prims are impossible to walk on or through if not made phantom guided by invisible helping prims, can not be made flexible, even if attached.)
* Mesh objects can be downloaded from the internet and be uploaded in SL gridwide. This will cause lots of copyright infrignements. Real life 3D designers will feel the effect of ignorant SL-residents who upload these mesh-3D-objects they've found on the internet, without paying any respect to license-agreements etcetera!!!
* Meshes can only be textured by using the UV-maps or Templates made available by the designer of the meshes and are not easy (impossible) to texture without any knowledge of graphic programs.
* Till now (end of september 2011) meshes imported to SL for the use of avatar-attachement (clothes and accessories) can not be resized and have to be sold in a few default sizes as Small, Medium, Large and extra Large. An extra big bum will be impossible to use with a mesh-skirt worn!! So for mesh-clothes residents will need to resize their shape and not much residents will be willing to. Their biggest complaint about meshes so far!!!!
* The forout spoken advantage of meshes primcount is unsure and still a big mystery (time of writing end of june 2011) while LL has tried to bring the implementation of meshes as being a prim count advantage. As a sculpted prim object, the shape can be 2 prims, imported as mesh-prim it can be 4, 6, 8 or 2 prims as well, even less as just 1 mesh object having a Prim Equivalent of 1!! So the only advantage till now is the incredible Level of Details for every 1 prim Mesh Object and for each 1 prim Mesh Object 8 texture faces. (A default prim Box has 6 texture-faces)
If a mesh-object is resized as a huge prim, it will be multiplied in primcount and still the primcount calculation isn't sure. If you add a script, the prim count will go up!! To script and or animate a mesh object, it is best to delink the scripted(mesh) prim and add it separately and use it as unlinked (coalesced) object. What will be difficult for mesh-clothes (again) and for the average user of SecondLife.
* Upload existing meshes not specifically build for SL means the following; LOD factor (Level Of Detail) needs to be adapted for the use in SL. The creator of the mesh needs to have adapted his mesh for the use in SL, this means the creator has to create 3 or 4 different meshes to establish 1 good mesh object inworld. From every distance such good meshes will be loaded properly by SL itself. If not, the object will look terrible from a small distance even if the standard LOD-factor is set to 4 or higher in your viewer's preferences. This is NOT known by the average user of meshes, creators of meshes or people who upload good looking meshes not specifically made for the use in SL. Only the 'happy' few are aware of this fact and it takes a lot of time and skills to create meshes with the good LOD-factors for the use in SL.
* The problem is and will be the coming months, is that, even in the Beta grid, nothing is sure, no conclusions can be drawn and it is all 'wishful thinking' for LL, skilled designers, business owners and residents who hope for good improvements...
*****Current experience:
Mesh-clothes are a huge disappointment for most creators and users! The resize-issue is an important part of the disappointment.
Big mesh-objects as rocks, caves, complete islands, trees etc have a prim-count problem. Even when the mesh is 'low-poly' (less tris as they call it) LL has decided to keep this stupid bug-like mistake and gives such bigger objects a primcount of a few hundred!!! or more. So the advantage of walking on or in such bigger builds without helping prims being 1 mesh object is gone and a huge disappointment for landscapers (ask Luna Bliss or Lilith Heart, Jubjub Forder). They look smashing but unable to use!!
So what's left?? Normal mesh-avatar-attatchements that don't need to move with the body of avatars, for example belts, helmets, armory, bags, etc etc. They behave the same as sculpted attachments, but again; much more room for details in the shapes themselves AND the multiplied texture-face-space meshes have compared to sculpties that have only 1 texture-face!!
For us, my hubby, it means we focus on furniture. Already awesome sculpted furniture, mesh furniture is 'fantastic', very very very good in quality and my experience; much more easy to texture because of the extended texture faces per mesh-part of a build!
I'll send you some of our own.
VIEWERS!!!!
Only the SL-viewer 3.0 and higher and the Phoenix-Beta viewer Firestorm V3 are supporting meshes. (last is extremely slow)
That means the 90% of SL-residents who use Phoenix or other third party viewers don't even see meshes as they are. Here some examples:
(pick taken with SL Viewer 1.23)
(pick taken with SL Viewer 3.0.3)
Well known is; Phoenix is working hard to support meshes, i assume (dangerous) that other viewers do the same.
The crow is a sculpted avatar, the cat is Sparky-me AND a mesh avatar!
*All stated above is written by mesh-noob herself, involved by an average 3D designer who is trying to involve himself into mesh-for-SL-use for 2 years. That the SL-mesh-forum is filled with questions, complaints, frustrations and unanswered questions will be confirmed if you visit all SL-mesh information sites available. It is all very technical, but even for the designers themselves no clarity is given or available.
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mesh
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mesh/What_is_mesh%3F
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mesh/Costs_and_fees
10
*Addition* 10's original article had been delayed, so she sent over an updated one which reflected her more recent experiences.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* There are prims, sculpted prims and mesh-prims, well known as the avatars as we all are inworld. yes, an avatar is called a mesh. A 1 non-linked object that can move, you can bump into and walk over! that has flexible (mesh)clothes and can be textured with a Template or officially called uv-Map.* Till this summer the avatars are the only existing Meshes in SL, but that has changed forever! by the implementation of meshes in SL.
* A mesh is a 3D object that can not be created or build in SL itself like ordinary prim builds as we're all used to.
* Like Sculpted prims they need to be created outside SL with 3D-software programs. Unlike sculpties, meshes can move with the avatar's body if they are 'rigged' (= attached to) properly to the bone-structure of an avatar. So 'flexible clothes' is possible, because they are made out of meshes instead of sculpties, which can not be made flexible or attached to a bone-structure of avatars.
* Mesh objects/3D-objects can be of any kind, a complete house or castle, avatars in any shape you can think of, trees, you name it. You can walk through them, on top of them etc, what can not be done by sculpted objects. (Sculpted prims are impossible to walk on or through if not made phantom guided by invisible helping prims, can not be made flexible, even if attached.)
* Mesh objects can be downloaded from the internet and be uploaded in SL gridwide. This will cause lots of copyright infrignements. Real life 3D designers will feel the effect of ignorant SL-residents who upload these mesh-3D-objects they've found on the internet, without paying any respect to license-agreements etcetera!!!
* Meshes can only be textured by using the UV-maps or Templates made available by the designer of the meshes and are not easy (impossible) to texture without any knowledge of graphic programs.
* Till now (end of september 2011) meshes imported to SL for the use of avatar-attachement (clothes and accessories) can not be resized and have to be sold in a few default sizes as Small, Medium, Large and extra Large. An extra big bum will be impossible to use with a mesh-skirt worn!! So for mesh-clothes residents will need to resize their shape and not much residents will be willing to. Their biggest complaint about meshes so far!!!!
* The forout spoken advantage of meshes primcount is unsure and still a big mystery (time of writing end of june 2011) while LL has tried to bring the implementation of meshes as being a prim count advantage. As a sculpted prim object, the shape can be 2 prims, imported as mesh-prim it can be 4, 6, 8 or 2 prims as well, even less as just 1 mesh object having a Prim Equivalent of 1!! So the only advantage till now is the incredible Level of Details for every 1 prim Mesh Object and for each 1 prim Mesh Object 8 texture faces. (A default prim Box has 6 texture-faces)
If a mesh-object is resized as a huge prim, it will be multiplied in primcount and still the primcount calculation isn't sure. If you add a script, the prim count will go up!! To script and or animate a mesh object, it is best to delink the scripted(mesh) prim and add it separately and use it as unlinked (coalesced) object. What will be difficult for mesh-clothes (again) and for the average user of SecondLife.
* Upload existing meshes not specifically build for SL means the following; LOD factor (Level Of Detail) needs to be adapted for the use in SL. The creator of the mesh needs to have adapted his mesh for the use in SL, this means the creator has to create 3 or 4 different meshes to establish 1 good mesh object inworld. From every distance such good meshes will be loaded properly by SL itself. If not, the object will look terrible from a small distance even if the standard LOD-factor is set to 4 or higher in your viewer's preferences. This is NOT known by the average user of meshes, creators of meshes or people who upload good looking meshes not specifically made for the use in SL. Only the 'happy' few are aware of this fact and it takes a lot of time and skills to create meshes with the good LOD-factors for the use in SL.
* The problem is and will be the coming months, is that, even in the Beta grid, nothing is sure, no conclusions can be drawn and it is all 'wishful thinking' for LL, skilled designers, business owners and residents who hope for good improvements...
*****Current experience:
Mesh-clothes are a huge disappointment for most creators and users! The resize-issue is an important part of the disappointment.
Big mesh-objects as rocks, caves, complete islands, trees etc have a prim-count problem. Even when the mesh is 'low-poly' (less tris as they call it) LL has decided to keep this stupid bug-like mistake and gives such bigger objects a primcount of a few hundred!!! or more. So the advantage of walking on or in such bigger builds without helping prims being 1 mesh object is gone and a huge disappointment for landscapers (ask Luna Bliss or Lilith Heart, Jubjub Forder). They look smashing but unable to use!!
So what's left?? Normal mesh-avatar-attatchements that don't need to move with the body of avatars, for example belts, helmets, armory, bags, etc etc. They behave the same as sculpted attachments, but again; much more room for details in the shapes themselves AND the multiplied texture-face-space meshes have compared to sculpties that have only 1 texture-face!!
For us, my hubby, it means we focus on furniture. Already awesome sculpted furniture, mesh furniture is 'fantastic', very very very good in quality and my experience; much more easy to texture because of the extended texture faces per mesh-part of a build!
I'll send you some of our own.
VIEWERS!!!!
Only the SL-viewer 3.0 and higher and the Phoenix-Beta viewer Firestorm V3 are supporting meshes. (last is extremely slow)
That means the 90% of SL-residents who use Phoenix or other third party viewers don't even see meshes as they are. Here some examples:
(pick taken with SL Viewer 1.23)
(pick taken with SL Viewer 3.0.3)
Well known is; Phoenix is working hard to support meshes, i assume (dangerous) that other viewers do the same.
The crow is a sculpted avatar, the cat is Sparky-me AND a mesh avatar!
*All stated above is written by mesh-noob herself, involved by an average 3D designer who is trying to involve himself into mesh-for-SL-use for 2 years. That the SL-mesh-forum is filled with questions, complaints, frustrations and unanswered questions will be confirmed if you visit all SL-mesh information sites available. It is all very technical, but even for the designers themselves no clarity is given or available.
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mesh
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mesh/What_is_mesh%3F
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mesh/Costs_and_fees
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