Linden Water vs. Scripted Water

With the introduction of windlight it is not possible to create scripted prim water to match Linden water so i dont bother. However there are a cool things you can do with prim water to make it look interesting. layer 3 or 4 prims, each 10m x 10m x 0.010m thick. Apply the texture 'waterfall - medium overlay' from your library to each prim. Add a texture animation script to each prim. Rotate the textures differently on each prim so the water flows in different directions. Create a base and position it 1 meter below the water. Use a nice blue texture on the base. Then apply a 'glow' approx 0.05 - 0.10. Then make the base full bright. The end result should be misty glowing water that looks very cool. try different coloured textures for the base or apply colours to the water to you liking. Increase or decrease glow on the base. Also play around with the transparency settings on each layer of water and try adding more layers of water flowing in different directions to make te water look more active.

Ok, I just couldnt resist. I've just put on the market probably the most realistic skybox environment ever created in SL. The water carefully matches the photographic 50 meter dome surrounding a tropical island. Using animated sculpties, layers and animated texture waves, the effect is strikingly realistic.

A few pictures can be found at:

http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=978879

Or visit BARTLETT & NIELSEN store for a closer look.

If you are still looking for a place to buy well-made prim water, I like the water at Las Arenas Rosadas, Las Arenas Rosadas (169, 195, 23).

The OP originally asked about reflections, and we've all seen stores with shiny reflective floors that simply copied the build upside down and made the floor a bit transparent...

Since water is already transparent, if you have the extra prims (and you have the space obviously in a skybox), why not simply put a few items below upside down to mimic them being reflected (if not refracted)? If you want to save prims, perhaps make 2D prims with pics of the objects above as reflections? Oh! Even better, take pics up from the water, then use them as textures on a layer of sculpty water so it appears rippling on the surface?

(LOL, of course I've never worked with any water other than in a bird bath, so I have NO idea if any of this will work, just dreaming a bit I guess... )

So many good suggestions!

I did buy some water, waves and foam at Las Arenas Rosadas. That's produced the best effect I've seen so far — haven't yet shopped at the BARTLETT & NIELSEN store.

Thanks for the background info too. It always helps to understand some of the history and development.

Blaze, that's lovely water!