Modifying No Mod Shape

I have searched for a thread about this without success, but I'm sure it has been addressed by now, so forgive me for repeating.

I have been using the same freebie no-mod shape for almost 2 years. I got very lucky with it, and am quite happy with the way it looks, but I do have trouble fitting clothes sometimes. I know the official answer to this question is, "Duh. No." But I wonder if there is way around it. Is it possible for me or somebody (without tediously tweaking a new shape from scratch) make a modifiable copy of my shape? That is, is there some way to access the appearance numbers so I can replicate them? Surely some shape designer out there has figured out a way around this by now.

Um, so you're asking someone to cheat your shape's designer?

ETA: If you're female, I can give you the numbers on my shape, that I've tweaked...but you may not like the face...because it won't look like your's.

Write the creator of the shape. Since it was a freebie, perhaps a mod version is available for a price, or maybe they'd just give you one. But, you'd have to ask them.

Or, maybe it's time to tackle those sliders on your own.

No, I'm not asking anybody to cheat anything. I got this shape as a freebie almost two years ago. I have tried to find a mod version of it but the designer doesn't even exist any more in SL. I would willingly pay for a mod copy.

Geez, people jump to conclusions a lot around here.

Well, assuming the original creator won't give you a mod shape, you might be able to see where the settings are set on the no-mod shape and duplicate them on your own, then adjust to taste. It's not terribly difficult to do.

Asking how to circumvent a creator's permissions is never a good idea, especially around here

The problem she has is that no mod shapes don't show the slider numbers, so she can't copy them to create a new one.

She might be able to find a shape designer though who might be able to come close.

Talk to Colette Meiji. She's a great shape creator, and she's reasonably priced.

Bah, I knew there was a catch. :/

At this point, all you can do is make a similar shape.

Find a friend (or an alt, or a bot) who will stand on a posing stand for you. Then, give them the shape (or wear it yourself).. now put down 2 posing stands. have your alt (I'm assuming you'd rather us an alt) get on one.. then you get on the other. one of you wear the shape, one wear a full-perms shape. Now each of you wear a differently coloured skin (red/green perhaps)... Then move the posing stands so that they're both in the same place (overlapping).

Now, with the no-mod shape visible, adjust the other person's shape until the shapes are close.

Odds are, for a skilled shape maker, you're looking at perhaps 15 minutes to half an hour to make a reasonable likeness of the shape. The face may take longer.

"Surely some shape designer out there has figured out a way around this by now"

Well those were your own words, wanting to know if someone has a way to make a no mod item modified. So ya, it does seem like you want to be dishonest about it.

No modify means no modify...so the short answer is no.

You can contact the creator.....who may or may not be willing to help you out. Or you can be brave and try some different shapes that ARE modifiable. I have free shapes available at 'House of Body'.......all are modifiable....so if you're feeling experimental....grab a few to mess with. Shapes are tricky...but the only way to get a handle on creating a good one is to practice....if you have a few modifiable ones to play with.....you'll eventually get the hang of the process......And, you probably will ditch the no-mod shape in favor of one you've created yourself. Just have fun with it.....there's so many possibilities with shape making...it's silly to cling to one you're not 100% happy with.

Learn how to make a shape, using the one you have as a model.

You might get a friend to help you, or make an "alt" account so you can do it by yourself. Using an alt will be best from a learning point of view.

Put two pose stands almost on top of each other.

You stand on one, your friend stands on the other. This will make you overlap almost exactly.

Tweak the sliders until your shape is "close enough". It won't likely be perfectly exact, since there are different combinations of sliders that have similar effects, but it won't be far enough off that you should notice.

In the process, you'll learn how the sliders work, and how shapes work, and it could be you'll end up with a shape you like better than the original.

Make a red skin for you, and a green skin for your friend.. that'll make it easier to tell whose mesh is sticking out when they overlap.

I guess nobody read the part where I said the creator of the shape I have (the FREEBIE shape) isn't in SL any more. So I can't ask them.

I know how to modify an existing shape, and I have tried that, but I have been unable to get it exactly right. If that's the only option, then I'll keep working on it.

But I didn't. It seemed that way to you because you assumed it. If you were going to assume something, you could just have easily assumed that I wasn't trying to do anything backhanded.

Thanks to those of you who offered advice.

Selling/distributing no-mod shapes is one of the worst crimes in Second Life.

And actually...I have to agree. I went through my first year wearing a no-mod shape. Never again.

The point is that it doesn't matter whether the no-mod shape is a freebie or whether the creator is no longer in SL or one of the biggest shape designers.

You are asking if it's possible to break the permissions on an object. If there were a way to do it, you would be putting shape makers out of business. There was a reason the shape was made no-mod.

I appreciate that your motives aren't nefarious, but understand that if there WERE a way to do it, there would be JIRAs posted to try to stop it

Yeah, a -bad- one.

do you have a photo of the shape? Maybe someone can help you to come close

Best to go shape shopping and find a better you

It's definitely possible to match a shape VERY closely if you pay close enough attention to detail and take your time. I was able to do that for a friend's shape... in particular, their face. All I did was use a couple of pictures - front and side... yes, it took a while but the results were pretty spot on. You'll need to use the same skin to do this too, of course.

I guess this didn't really address the original question, because it does involve "tediously tweaking a new shape from scratch." Sorry.

One of my pet peeves... the attack of the Clones.... I would encourage people to NOT buy no-mod shapes.... instead, dare to be different!

best way to avoid looking like one of the cookie cutter crowd, is to roll your own.
This is second life hon, dont be afraid you will look a little diffrent. Most of us strive for that. You also get the advantage of a diffrent butt for every outfit. And suddenly skirts are fun again.
Experiment, dare to be diffrent, most of all, have fun doing it!!!

Well from my perspective it sucks. But if you make them, it is the one thing in SL that is impossible to no-copy, if it's not no mod. All you have to do is replicate the slider settings, and Bob's yer uncle. So I get that.

I'll probably just stick with this one, and live with the clothes issue. I got really lucky with this one, just out of sheer luck and a little good taste, and I'm very happy with my look. And I have never seen anybody else use this particular one (that I know of) so I don't think I look like a clone.

Thanks for all the good advice, everyone.