Custom Skins for Dummies?

Hello all,

I'm new to these forums...didn't even know they were here. What a great resource!

My question is regarding creating a custom skin for myself. I'm no computer genius...but can be quite determined. There seems to be a ton of information out there, but navigating through all the old information, broken links and dead ends has been quite frustrating. I really don't know where to start.

Can anyone point me to some basic information about how to get started with this project? Thanks a million in advance.

--Jo Ellsmere

Narrow your search to the "Texturing Tips" section of the forum and/or key word search "Eloh".

The rest depends upon how "do it yourself" you want to be.

I'd suggest starting by downloading some of Eloh Eliot's fabulous free source skin textures, collected at http://www.vintfalken.com/free-full-perm-female-skin-textures/ (I know it says "female" but there are male ones, too). Those clearly show what's involved, and make a good base from which to start playing.

Depending on one's pre-existing background in textures, the Texturing Tips forum at may be worth a visit, especially the stickies at the top.

(Oh... while I was hunting links, Namssor gave much the same suggestions; I'll just post anyway in case the links are useful.)

I'd suggest trying to make some clothes before trying to make a skin. Skins are amongst the hardest things in SL to do well. There's a reason why they sell for thousands!

I use the CMFF templates for making clothes and I have been working on a skin, as an exercise, although I intend to keep my CS Coral skin on my avatar. These 3 templates (head, upper body and lower body) are free downloads from CMFF - I use them in Photoshop.

Doing a skin does take a long time, I agree. The one I've done looks reasonable and I send alt to log in to the Beta Grid to test download it - texture downloads effectively cost nothing on Beta - They still cost L$10 but you get a whole wadge of pretend L$ on Beta Grid that can't be exchanged with RL money or with real L$ on main grid.

Thanks for these links I will havig a shot at moding them myself.

Having just begun my skin making with-in the last month...I would have to disagree. The skin templates I have....both from Eloh and Splendor.....are amazing in that the layers are broken down and once you get the 'gist' it's really not difficult at all to tweek the templates and add your own details and touches.

I would not even know where to begin with clothing. I have a few basic clothing templates.....but in terms of shading....wrinkles....texture and creating a seamless flow for clothes....fuggetabowdit. I just don't even want to bother.

But again.....the skin temps make it so clear and because the layers are defined, it was not at all daunting to edit and re-invent my own skins. If you've got any kind of experience with a photoshop program (I use Elements which is slightly different, but not by much that counts)...then you can navigate your way thru skin making. If you have a logic based sense of things.....then you'll be fine.

Most of all....don't be afraid to try! It took me THREE years to get gutsy enough to try skins.....and now that I'm doing it I'm kicking myself for not trying sooner. I know photoshop well....have worked with other editing programs....I don't know what the heck I was so worried about.

Thanks for all the great replies. There's plenty to get me started here, for sure.

--Jo Ellsmere

Oops Jo, I've probably come in too late again living in the quiet hemisphere, so I hope you find this....All above is good advice, but also google Sezmra Svarog. She also released full perm skins with matching photoshop files which you may find helpful to look at.

Thanks, Tiffy. I'll check them out.