Why am I having such trouble getting my skin to work?

As a very new person to Secondlife (two days), I've been going around looking at and testing out demos of shapes, skins and the like trying to find the one I like the best. I figured out a good shape, but the problem is that it seems almost none of the skins I can find work properly without "seams" showing at my avatar's neck. For instance, I really like this Dante skin I found at the Naughty mall, but every time I scroll out just a bit you can see those wierd lines on the neck under the chin.

I've linked two screenshots to illustrate the problem. As you can see when zoomed all the way in the lines pretty much disappear, but scrolling out at all causes them to appear.





How do I go about fixing this? I don't want to give up on this skin, but am not sure if this is a skin problem, video problem, shape problem or what. Please help!

It could be an avatar detail problem. Check your preferences for the graphics and make sure your avatar detail slider is set all the way to the right. Maybe try to rebake your avatar too.

Well I just checked the avatar detail slider and it is all the way to the right as you suggested, and I also rebaked the textures, but unfortunately the problem is the same as before.

I personally don't see the seams but sometimes I have experienced this with
certain designs or might be graphic card too.
Have you went into presences tab look in graphics tab and increase avatar slider?

Update:

I've found that if I use the "rebake" option under the advanced menu the black lines/seams disappear and everything looks perfect...for about a second...at which point all the textures on my avatar get really blurry and slowly reload, once they finish loading the problem is back the same as before!

Any ideas on how to make this fix last longer than the one second before the textures reload?

Looking at your snaps I don't see them either.

There seems to be a tiny change in shade at the point you complain about, but you have to look very carefully to see it. This makes me wonder if the problem is that the colour settings on your monitor are exaggerating this. Have you tried looking at your snaps on another PC or laptop?

I sometimes see little black lines on the neck with skins that have a hairbase like the dante skin in your pic, could it be that? maybe try a skin with a bald head.

Honestly....you're probably expecting too much out of the skin. There's some really beautifully done skins in SL.....but we're still at the mercy of tiny flaws in people's artwork. One of the easiest solutions is to use a face light which will eliminate a lot of shadows and make the skin appear smoother.
Also...as you are new to SL.....you probably haven't yet messed around with the environment settings....but that can have a huge impact on how an avatar looks. You have to have your custom box checked in graphics and then you'll be able to go to the top menu...world....environmental editer and there's an entirely new and amazing menu that allows you to edit your sky and water.

Also....I know the skins your referring to.....but you might want to take a look at ARS Nova skins.....the male skins are absolutely beautiful....

Don't get too caught up in the details.....SL can be buggy at times.....and depending on your operating system and graphics card you might not be seeing the absolute best of SL. Take some time to explore and learn.....there's so much to do and see....and you'll have your avatar squared away eventually.

I don't see any seams either...just the typical results of (*shudder*) default lighting.

I like to use this preset, with a few minor tweaks: http://secondsoigne.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/optimising-windlight-for-avatars-20/

The strange part for me is how the problem disappears when I hit "rebake" only to immediately reappear as soon as the rebake is complete. I assume that means it's a graphics setting, game, or videocard problem rather than a problem with the skin, I just wish I knew how to fix it.

What are your system specs? It would help a lot if we knew your operating system and graphics card. Also internet connection has a lot to do with how much you lag....how long it takes things to load.
There are many variables that will effect SL......and sometimes it's SL itself that behaves a bit sketchy...especially during peek hours. Again....take some time to visit more skin shops.....I'm betting you'll find some better options. Also...you're showing us the demo skin which may or may not be a true example of the actual skin. Just the other day I tried a demo skin that showed the template grid...eek! But...the actual skin was just beautiful.

If you're not sure of all your specs....then while you're in SL....go to the top tab.....I think under world....click 'about second life' and it will bring up all your specs. With that info we might be able to pinpoint what's going on.

I'm not seeing it either.. Did you get a premium hair that has a face light built in? It could be a shadow effect from it since it changes with zoom..

I see what you're looking at. They are not in the bottom close-up picture, but in the top one, there is a tiny black line under your chin. If that's what you're talking about, I think you may be stuck with it.

I'd try two things (other than what you have already tried) - first, try other skins to see if it's an issue with the skin, and just for giggles, go into edit appearance and shrink your neck - make it shorter. That should not work, but stranger things have happened, and it might make it less noticeable. You can barely see it as it is, and I suspect it's more of an irritation to you than something others are noticing.

I think I finally solved it, it seems to have been an issue with skins that already came with 'hair' as part of the texture. By using a bald skin with added hair the problem goes away.