Working with Templates

The graphic Program you use to work with templates will have to offer a working environment with layers. In some programs, these 'layers' are called differently. But they all have the same function: To let you work on each layer separately, so that at the end, you can convert all your work in just one layer.

It's also necessary for you to be familiar about file types. Not only the proprietary file type which is the output of your program, but those file types that you can upload into SL and their features. For example, if you work with Photoshop, your output file will be a *.psd file, or a file with a *.psd extension format.

Therefore, you will have to convert your output files. This is what you usually do when you “Save As” [another file type]

You can upload these types of images into SL

As you see, only two of these types store alpha channels, *.tga and *.png. So those are the final images you need to upload into SL.

For further info please go to http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Uploading-assets/ta-p/700165

All Text and Images Copyright 2011,Eme10 All Rights Reserved

Clothing Layers (Mesh layers)

Layers in clothing are those related with the textures that wrap the avatar. They are applied inside SL environment while in Appearance mode.

Most used in clothing are :

• Undershirt, Shirt, Jacket, and gloves for upper part avatar and
• Underpants, pants and socks for lower part avatar.

They stack on top of each other in a certain order. These are the areas they can cover to their full extent, in plain colors:

In the Upper Template:

* Undershirt layer, Shirt layer, (in orange and green). Keep in mind the same order for your designs, so you can play a bit with different pieces. Usually, the same piece of clothing is offered in those versions, and it is up to the avatar how to wear them. It's part of the fun, the mix and match process. 

The Jacket layer (in blue) mixes the upper avatar and the lower avatar. Therefore, the bottom part of the jacket has to be done on a pants or underpants layer, but defined in the jacket layer.

The amount of space for an open jacket can also be defined

in Appearance mode, while creating the jacket.

 Gloves layer belong to the same 'upper' body template.

All Text and Images Copyright 2011,Eme10 All Rights Reserved

Designing and Templates

For templates to work you need a graphic software that uses layers. Many people use Photoshop, but there are more options. The Gimp is a good option as well as Corel Photopaint and even Photo Shop. Whichever your software of choice might be, It's imperative that you know your software fairly well, manage your tools appropriately, and work easily with layers.

The basic 'set' of templates for clothing comes from Linden Labs and it is based in those true-sets we've been talking about (mesh). SL Residents Chip Midnight and Robin Sojourner made extremely useful improvements to all templates. They are available at

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Creation_Portal

Both sets of templates come layered in *.psd format. They add many useful reference points at the design process: where seams should match, how stripes change from 3D to 2D and so on. A nice way to work with them for me, is merging both (Chip's and Sojourner's) so that I can have all the advantages together.

The pic to the right is an avatar just wearing those templates. It's a very recommended way to know where every point or area is. (Head, feet and hands have been left out) 

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Mesh and Templates, Head

Speaking of meshes...If we dissect the mesh we can see what a template really is and where it comes from.

The Mesh

As almost everything you see - or do not see- in SL, a mesh is comprised of triangles. Their varied angles, coordinates and forms, determine the 'bumps' that mimic surface, as this example shows.

Here we go :-) 

Head 

UV texturing permits polygons that make up a 3D object to be painted with color from an image. The image is called a UV texture map, but it is only an image, that's all.  

Unwrapping the UV map is pretty much like extending a map onto a flat surface. 

Thus, the map for the head becomes this template:

It's in this template where make-up, and the very skin of the avatar's face is done. It's rarely used for clothing.

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Understanding Mesh Clothing for Avatars

SL is made up mostly by meshes, covered or wrapped by digital images called textures.

All avatars come from only one mesh, so basically, everybody is one and the same. That mesh is the foundation for clothing, and some other important stuff, like your skin. 

How to design clothing for an avatar

To design clothing for an avatar you will have to use the so called 'templates'. Templates are nothing more than mappings of the mesh. They give you the exact areas in which you can trace, apply color and add a bunch of effects to simulate volume.

They are a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional object. Light and volume is lost in the templates...That will be for you to apply.

Copyright 2011,Eme10 All Rights Reserved

About this blog

SL is a world inside another and, even thou its ways of presenting itself vary greatly, one comes to realize that somehow it's an extension of our daily lives. I was attracted by SL for the very reason Fine Arts enticed me: The real opportunity to learn and express beyond what we see.

I entered SL fresh from digital Art, and wanting to know more about '3D worlds'. In fact, Raytracing and modeling surely provided me with the thrill of creating a world -literally- from scratch. I wanted to know how would it be 'to live' inside one. And decided to start from Zero...And here I am!

There are many areas to explore and create, to share and enjoy and all of them are never ending endeavors. One of those was to make 3D textures I really like, and another, trying to find by myself how to design clothing. In the same way we carry with us our inventories in SL, we get to relate, and connect, with all of what we have lived in our lives. A 'feeling good' experience :-)


First entries of this blog will have to do with where we -as avatars- come from, hence the name : We are All One and the same:-)

See you in the next post!




Copyright 2011,Eme10 All Rights Reserved