What about this then, Mr Linden?

I was just playing around with these sculpties when all of a sudden it hit me!

No, the sculptie didn't hit me, but I had an idea how to use the technology even more usefully than creating sculpted prim's. What I was thinking is why don't the Lindens allow us to use sculpt-maps on our avatars? Just imagine, we'd be able to sculpt the shape of our avatars exactly as we want them instead of trying to get close with the sliders we are currently using.

EDIT: Poll added, be sure to vote

You've got my vote!


After thinking about this suggestion a little more I've decided it's a pretty good idea. Each body part would be able to have its own sculpt map. Clothing designers would then be able to add shape to their clothes.

Wouldn't placing a scluptie over your avatar, require it to be scripted to create animations (I don'y know for sure, just asking).

Some years ago, in a previous life (Adobe Atmosphere), you could (and can in SL) upload a texture based on a RL pic that can be applied as a tattoo to your face.. some were quite scarey LOL... and matching the skin tones would be hard I guess.

Anyways, sounds like you may be onto something there.. keep us posted.

OT for this thread, but you;'ll see why I'm posting it here.

Anyone else having troubles creating new threads, replying via a quote, or editing old posts?

Mari

Short answer is that there is a lot about standardizing features of avatars that greatly reduces the already huge burdens that Second Life places on your computer resources. The standardization of avatars also allows standardization of the way clothing and animation work, making those features more sane to use.

If you absolutely want to completely sculpt your avatar, though, look up the procedures that people use to make their custom furry or robot avatars. A lot of that has to do with making certain body parts completely invisible, and then attaching a prim to the body part that serves as the replacement body part.

Yeah, I'm quite amazed they haven't done it already - sculpted avatars!

I'm no expert, but I think it would be easy for them to add the ability because they already have it working on the sculpties. The only difference is that instead of loading a sculpt-map to your prim's - you load it to your avatar instead.

It gets better as well, because it would also make 'morphing' avatars possible by uploading animated sculpt-maps. I'm not really bothered about morphing to be honest, but I 'really' would like to see sculpted avatars - that would be excellent!

Now that makes it interesting, doesn't it? I mean, in theory, one could use the .bvh files from existing avatar animations (if one had them or could snarf them somehow) to animate the 3D model (in, say, Maya) and make gazillions of snapshot sculpt-maps, then script the "sculptie avatar overlay" to push on all the different sculpt maps in sequence.

Of course the big problem is bandwidth, both between sim and viewer (to download all the sculpt textures) and within at the sim's CPU (cycling through the sculpt textures at something like frame-rate, without any tweening).

At first, it might be somewhat challenging to make "skin" textures that behave properly across all animations... but--again in theory--they could be much better at that than current skins, given the limitations of the existing avatar mesh.

None here


I thought about that, but just thought I'd mention sculpted avatars because it seems like a good idea, and an obvious way forward for avatars. I keep meaning to have a go at the technique you describe, but never seem to get around to it.

I like this idea and have edited my earlier post.

Incidentally--and much less ambitiously--wouldn't there be a market for sculptie prim "shoes" that looked like well-shaped bare feet? Texture would have to be a gradient to full alpha to blend-in with the leg, and would have to be mod-able to size and skin tone, but--wouldn't it be nice to get rid of those "flippers"? (I actually started working on something like this, pre-sculpties, and then realized there are already nice 3D models of feet for somebody who has the knack for sculpties.) Or... maybe this already exists?

Great

I'd start a poll if I knew how to do it.
Is there any way to add a poll to this thread?

EDIT: Ok, I found out how to do it - now go vote

I think it's in thread tools, but don't quote me on that. Sculptie avis would be cool; we wouldn't be limited to the basic humanoid form; a bird could really be shaped like a bird, a dragon like a dragon, etc. Fun!

Sure is, done!

Wow, I expected to see 100's of votes for this when I logged on!

Still, it looks like it's a popular choice so I hope the Linden's will at least give it a thought or trial, or whatever. Maybe in that beta browser they put out?

Good concept, I hope something Comes of it.
Using a third party program like Poser to generate Faces for the Sculpt Maps would be a Fantastic idea.

Good Luck.

Angel.

There are already avatars that use sculpties. The new Aventity foxes have sculpted legs and ears. They look much better than the primmed ones.

I thought we could already use the sculpties for custom Avies like we do with regular prims.

Yes, you can do that, but imagine being able to sculpt the actual mesh of your avatar in any 3D program that supports .obj

Animating Sculpties sucks.. 2D is just years ahead.. it has had development and so much more input.. Lindens went the voice route before even considering what might be possible with sculpties, even though sculpties were a prime output and decisional process before voice even got a look in.. if one considers that.. then there is good reason that sculpties or scripting for 2D is still not possible.. if there were money in it.. Voice would have waited.. unless one thinks that Lindens really are not in control of their own destiny.. or know something you dont.....

ok it is possible.. but unless it can be made to work exactly as 2D scripting can.. then why make depth in something that doesnt need it? If i could script 2D clothing for example to change what i look like.. on my demand.. that would be my first choice.. right now i cannot script clothing changes.. i cannot wear what i want on demand.. only by manual change.. not by script..implementing user scripting would be the first thing i would consider.. since it doesnt appear to require a lot to be done.. that it isnt done now.. should tell anyone interested in sculpties something.. why jump the stream if you can use the stepping stones.?. not unless someone is chasing you..
why isnt avatar sculpty possible?.. why cant i script 2D clothing? its not coming while voice is the predetermined focus...even Torley has only been sounding out stuff anyone in the know already knew... if its not touched by the linden prerogative... its not coming...

Those are Avies Built up from Attached Prims, How would you like to be a Furry who's mouth Expresses because it's the base Avatar NOT a series of Spheres stuck to your head? That is what we are talking about. Not sculpting Prims, but sculpting the Avie it's self.

Angel.

Why require everyone to switch to sculpt maps to make an avatar shape?

I suppose something like this would be optional.

Experienced users sometimes need more control. While new users just want to twiddle with a few sliders. So the old appearance settings would still stay.

You would have complete control over the shape of the Avatar mesh. At the moment, you have to make do with what you're able to reach with the sliders. You could do just about anything really, sculpted avatars would be a good thing.

Obviously, it should be optional. Let's face it, there's nothing to stop even the sliders working in conjunction with the sculpt map. We already apply texture-maps to our avatars while still being able to use sliders, so why not sculpt-maps

It would be possible to use either sliders, sculpt-maps, or even both! But to be honest, I can't imagine anyone wanting to use sliders if they're able to create a sculpt-map. Sliders would become the newbie status you put up with until you sort out a good sculpt for your avatar. Women will be able to shape their asses and breasts exactly as they want them, and finally be able to define genitalia in their meshes if that's what they wanted. I know that's something wanted by the females because I've seen a whole thread about it.

Sculpted avatars would give you the power to do that - and more!

<traditionalist rant>

I don't think people should be labeled a noob just because they prefer using the sliders and/or cannot afford/don't want to go through the trouble of obtaining expensive 3rd party software just to alter their avatar appearance. Furthermore I think LL should add an in-world mesh editor if they choose to implemt the ability to create/use sculpted avatar meshes. I believe making it harder for average people to create their own things while others are calling them noobs just because they don't have professional-level software costing no less than $500 goes against the whole "Your World, Your Imagination" thing.

Your World, Your Imagination*

*provided you have full registered versions of Maya, Poser, Etc. and at least enough graphic design prowess to work for the game industry, lest you be ridiculed by your fellow residents as being foolish and inexperienced and/or underage.




</traditionalist rant>

Why not just make individual body parts - arms, legs, head, torso, etc.?


" When I looked in the box of chicken nuggets, I asked the clerk, 'What part of the chicken is the nugget?' He replied, 'Hey buddy, parts is parts.' "