Texture Ripping to Fix Bad Clothes

I'm interested in views on the ethics of this (see subject). I haven't done it, nor do I intend to do it, but it's certainly crossed my mind, and I wonder if others do it. Basically, I'm tired of buying clothes that are so badly made that I realise I'll never wear them within seconds of buying/trying on. They generally look fantastic on the vendor image, but then it didn't display particular areas with appalling seam matching (particularly around shoulders), badly cut collars, halo effect around neck and arms, etc. -- which inevitably give the effect of something that fell out of a Yadni's box.

I sympathize with the complexities involved in making *good* clothes, but it bothers me that (i) I paid premium prices for clothes with (ii) issues that I can often fix in photoshop quite easily -- but of course I'm not allowed.

Yeah, I make my own clothes before anybody suggests I do so, but I don't think that justifies the sale of badly made ones. I spent around $1700L on clothes in the past four/five days, and approx. 700L of that on clothes I'll never wear. What's more, I've become accustomed to this pattern over the past couple of months: That 1/3 to 1/2 the clothes I buy will be badly made, and more often than not, a refund will be out of the question. Is this a guy thing? I sometimes wonder if many guys even pan the camera around their avatar, and notice the defects obvious to everybody else.

Unless we get a try before you buy facility, or at least a dummy avatar in store that could demonstrate clothes prior to sale, I guess these clothes will remain for sale...simply because they continue to sell.

If you break the copy-protection, its will be illegal. Simple as that. At least at the european union.

Just want to mention that I don't intend to rip textures, nor circumvent any kind of copy-protection. It had merely crossed my mind as a potential solution, and something others might have undertaken. I buy most of my clothes simply because I don't have time to make all of my own (never mind fix everybody else's).

This is why you find good designers or content creators with tallent, and continue to support them.

Unfortunately individuality goes through the window because everybody starts wearing their clothes. I don't believe guys have much choice, and this magnifies the problem. Others have disagreed with that POV of course.

But you said in the first post part of the problem is, these clothes keep selling because others apparently don't care. That means no, not "everybody will start wearing their clothes", only these few for whom quality matters. Which is fine, i don't really see people complain few other guys too happen to wear Armani suit, e.g. o.O;

While I believe your complaint is valid, your proposed solution is not. Texture ripping is theft. And, no, I do not believe that looking good is a justification for stealing. I will never support anyone who advocates texture theft. It is flat out wrong.

That said, I agree with you on some points. Box images alone are not enough to demonstrate how a product is going to look when you take it out. Vendors can (and do) edit the boc images in Photoshop before applying it to the box. For many the alterations are done purely for aethetic effect. For othes it may be to disguise flaws. Live models, store dummies, or even clothing demos (like they have for hair) are all things that sellers could do to improve the clothig-buying experience. However, the truth is that the designers most likely to implement such devices are the ones who already adhere to high quality standards. it is the the ones who do not that you seem to be running in to.

There are some things you can do before buying that may help you. The first is to read reviews of designers and products on SL fashion blogs. Admittedly, for men there are not a lot of resources (the newly created Second Man is a promising up-and-comer). Second, do not use price as an indicator of quality. I have seen many poorly-designed clothes for sale at the same prices as the best designers. Sellers can chanrge anything for their products. It important that the buyer do his homework and beware. Third, remember that not every purchase is going to work out. Some things look great on the person modeling it and look like ass on you. You can always use the sliders to alter fit (to an extent), but sometimes it just doesn't work out. This happens in RL more often than I care to admit.

I do it all the time, usually when I'm thinking or notice something when I'm trying to get a snapshot when my wife and I are out on the town. Mostly all I fix is clipping issues though (such as the right hand portion of my rear quarters poking through the lower portion of a trench coat, or moving a collar higher up so it's no longer having issues with my neck). Then again, most of the stuff I wear I paid less than a L$1 for or was free gift from a store I visited, the previously mentioned coat was the most expensive item of clothes I've purchased, at L$ 300 for the set it came with. If I regularly dropped big money on clothes though, I'd be peeved too if I found them to have a design flaw

Maybe that's why I so often get mistaken for a girl in-game, I primp as much as one.

Misquoted. I was responding to Beau's message in which he mentions supporting the good designers only.

Beau: "This is why you find good designers or content creators with tallent, and continue to support them."

Me: "Unfortunately individuality goes through the window because everybody starts wearing their clothes."

In other words, guys don't have much choice, so have to look further than the established, talented designers, if they want to avoid bumping into people wearing the same outfits. Girls have *so* much choice, that this isn't so much of a problem.

The RL/SL clothing metaphors really break down here don't they? It would be nice to have the option to fix somebody else's clothing manufacture mistakes if there was no chance of a refund after I bought it (I've customized clothing I own in RL after all), but I accept that the SL method involved in doing the same would leave that item wide open for reselling, which is obviously not good at all. Way too much trust would be involved in seller saying "yes, you can fix that texture, but provided it's only for your own use."

I'm trimming the rest for brevity..but some great tips there. Thanks. I do find most of the stores I use by following SL fashion blogs btw...and it interests me that some designers can churn out the most fantastic clothes...which prove they can match seams, etc., but then you buy another garment...and it's completely messed up. I wonder if some just leave their old clothing lines for sale...despite their skills improving dramatically over time.

OK, i understand because of limited amount of male outfit makers, you have to choose between either good looking stuff which (because of quality) is popular, and the not good looking stuff which (due to lack of quality) is not popular which makes you look original.

I can to a degree see point about wanting to 'fix' items (we certainly can tweak and fix the clothes bought in RL so they suit us better) ... but given the regular drama surrounding content theft and such, plus just the plain human factor involved --SL is smaller than RL so the chances of original creator to find out their items were changed by someone because they're found inferior-- ... it just feels like a really bad idea, all things considered. Or to use the cliche, "This can't end well" :/

LOL! Yeah...it depends how much you're paying out I suppose. To be honest, the loss I made this week on poorer quality clothes wouldn't bother me if it wasn't part of a wider pattern. I intend to sort the transferable ones and start handing them out at New Citizen's Plaza shortly, so not a complete loss I guess.

*nods and ponders* Here's the thing... a lot of the templates (No fault to any of the template makers, they are making do with what LL provides) aren't perfect either. Dramatic irony is that the Linden templates are the least perfect for clothing designers, but the easiest to get.

The templates look simple, but... they aren't, when you see them on the models. I thank Robin S for the UV suits, those have helped me immensely. Don't bother with the upload preview screen for anything other seam matching, since it doesn't seem to follow the in-game model either. I usually use the preview grid for testing textures, which is a double blessing, as I test their code and I get to test my texture at the same time. I've also reported many bugs this way. This is an alternative to uploading on the main grid and eating the costs (thus one of the reasons I can keep my costs low) of the test versions.

A lot of people balk at the amount of stubborn effort it takes to make them work well, not to mention the expense. I work around that and found a use for the preview grid that actually affects my use of the main grid!

I think texture ripping is by and large inappropriate, myself. To me, if it's clothes that dun look too good, I take it as Caveat Emptor and avoid them in the future.

That said, this is only what I would do. I also know I have my own gray areas (how many non-licenses Hello Kitty items have I bought in SL?). Others' mileage may vary

Mari

Ripping textures is never okay. There are no valid justifications for doing it. If you're unsatisfied with a product you purchased, contact the creator for a refund or exchange.

Hm, a guy who's concerned about his clothes and appearance. Let's totally make out.

I won't be. I don't have the time for a start, and I wouldn't disrespect the community by doing that anyway. My experience this week, however, suggests that creators don't always respond to IMs for refunds or exchanges. Two out of three failed to contact me after seven days*.

*It is holiday season I guess, so -- in fairness -- maybe that figure will change.

What a fantastic idea! Yes, I have Robin's UV skin/clothing and UV map templates too...and have found them invaluable.

I miss IM's now and then so sometimes it can take more than one try, but I think most people are pretty good about returns, and if they're not then it's a fair reason not to buy from them again. There's always a chance the creator might be on vacation too so maybe give them one more try.

That's brilliant. Thank you. <3

Read fashion blogs dillon.. Im sure there are plenty that deal with the metro sexual male...

http://pixelpinuponline.com/manfactory

Im sure there is more..

as for "fixing up textures" there is the old saying that you cant polish a turd.

Wow. Pigeonholed already.

(And I do. Mentioned it earlier in the thread.)

I disagree.

If you bought an item that was misrepresented and all you want to do is make a copy that looks like the advertisement then go for it. As long as it's for your own personal use I don't see a problem with it, after all you paid for the item already.

Just don't resell it, ever.

i don't think it's inherently wrong to tweak something you bought into something wearable provided you have the skill to do so. hell, the fact that you wouldn't wear it before, but now will, might mean you'll.....wear it. maybe someone see it and ask where you got it and the creator will make another sale. my personal phillosophy is that like a texture, you've bought a license...a personal copy of a texture (in clothing form) to do with (for personal use) as you wish. i understand i'm interpreting this losely.

in theory... i'll grant that 99% of the population wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to give out copies, or even try and resell them as their own work. i've met several who do sometimes touch up things they bought, and were mature about it though.

all ethics aside, if you see someone reselling copies of your shit, reporterate them! you gots ze original psd (at least i would hope) and earlier upload date on your in world item.

I don't think I'd ever find myself in such a situation but if I ever bought a bad shirt that I could see a way to fix in Pshop and if I knew how to rip a texture then yes I would probably do it without any moral conflict whatsoever. I sure as heck wouldn't resell it.