Diff. between shapes

I don't think I've ever seen anyone who makes this claim post a picture of the shape they made.

.

*giggles*

Yes, I moved the head from one shape to another body the other. I had to use most of the appearance tabs to capture the slide numbers and move them over. Nose, eyes, ears, etc.

Took me a lot longer to do that than I thought. Since the numbers were right there and I was just moving one head to another body. heh

heh, I do not actually use furniture so . .well, I won't call it a waste of money, but I have no need for it. Though I did make some furniture. Looks better than any of the shapes I made.

Just hit the [Randomize] button for true individuality. (^_^)y

Every time the topic of shapes comes up, someone says they "can't understand someone PAYING for a shape."

I've made shapes AND bought shapes. I think I've bought more than most people - for the simple reason of wanting to see how other people have solved some specific problems.

But I didn't make a shape the first day I got off the boat.

Of course I *could* have - theoretically, anyway.

Even now, that I have a lot more practice, I have to recognize that even though I know what proportions are correct, I don't necessarily have the imagination, creativity, or "eye" to make a really nice face.

There are people for whom shape-making is a business, or a hobby, or they happen to have the right set of skills and/or talent to be able to knock off a shape without problems,

BUT

Just because it's easy for one person doesn't mean that the entire universe of SL users has the same facility and skill.

I mean, we can ALL play the violin -- but the results won't always be pleasing.

I spent a week on a shape - the body was just what I wanted, but the face never really looked right. So I went and bought one and was instantly happy. Go figure!

.

Plus there is a market for everything..
I mean some people don't come here to create shapes or want to create at all..For people to say it is a waste of money they need to only be speaking for themselves..

I may say it is a waste to buy whatever products they make because to me they may be easy to make..
For some to not be able to understand why people would bother buying a shape just shows they didn't put much effort in looking at the whys before posting..

It doesn't matter if something is easier or harder for some than other..If people think it is money well spent then that is all that matters..
Not everyone has all day to mess with these things ..Some have only hours a week..
Just be glade we have many markets that people can go into ..Because if everyone started creating all their own stuff because everything was easy to them..everyone would be out of business..

Prim toes, say?

i love my prim toes.

hmmm. I think the word "shape" is used here in 2 different ways: 1, the specific variables that determine the proportions of a standard SL human(oid) avatar, and 2, the apparent topological form of any SL avatar or object.

Technically, the prim toes i've seen were avatar attachments, not shape (definition 1) adjustments. But the principle may not be dissimilar with other avatar features on my tiger avatar that gives me a definite feline "shape" (definition 2)

I think I had shape creation licked even before I left Help Island. I know the first thing I did was to go into Edit Appearance and I spent ages tweaking my shape. Of course it ws a while before I had a decent skin and when I did, I changed my shape all over again.

Not so long ago I found the info about proportional shapes, and I was pleased to find that mine was almost spot on, except for the head size being too small. I briefly put that up to where it should be (about 80) but I got tired of having to edit every hair to fit, so I put that back to where it was.

I was surprised, when I first found out that not only were people buying shapes, they were doing so because they found shapes hard to make. (I guess its like the surprise on first discovering that some people are incapable of whistling). I suspect it's a skill I've learned through my training in fine art.

Maybe I should market a range of male shapes (or even give them away free) so that guys don't have to walk round with teeny tiny heads and massive shoulders and t-rex arms. I feel sorry for those guys, the ones with a prim "attachment" that's bigger than their pelvis, and they can't even reach it.

As a newbie I didn't realize either that there was nothing more to shapes than sliders in Appearance. I thought actual body meshes could be uploaded to SL. Had I known, I would not have bought my shape. (It cost me very little and I modded it entirely, but still.)

I personally don't feel shapes are worth over L$100. It takes some skill and good judgement to make a realistic shape, but ultimately I think it's something most people could do. And when I compare shapes to other SL content, I don't feel some of the prices out there are justified. Granted: some people add additional info to their shapes, like where to get the clothing and accessories the av is wearing. Still, it's probably more meaningful (and in the end more fun) to find your own style.

When I first got into SL content creation, a friend suggested making shapes. It wouldn't sit right with me. I think a lot of people in fact don't realize a shape is nothing more than manipulating sliders. It's only when you try making something that you learn its worth. I tried pose making as well before I started sculpting (which is now what I do), and there too a lot of stuff in SL is overpriced in my opinion. Having a pose cost L$100 and then a pair of sculpt shoes L$400 (or even L$600 for that matter), makes little sense to me. I mean static poses of course, not animations (which is a whole other ball park).

Not to say shape makers don't make valuable content, because I'm sure a lot of them do. But personally I wouldn't be able to sell shapes in good conscience, unless at very low prices.

Since I started this thread, I began to work on my (female) shape. The thing that drove me craziest were the stick insect legs with the tiny pinched knees. I liked everything else. Well it seems that the only way to get those knees looking even remotely realistic is to increase body fat. I'm still not 100% sure what the diff is between increasing body fat and body thickness, but body fat seemed to have the most effect on the knees. Well horrors, as you all know, that means increased body fat everywhere else. So I had to adjust a lot of sliders. I was never totally satisfied with what I ended up with...the legs are still just a little thinner than I would prefer, but they are much improved.

Because it isn't true.

It also takes time and talent.

Of course. It does take time and good judgement, like I said. I just think a lot of newbies don't realize that, purely technically (which is what I meant), it's nothing more than slider work.

I'm just saying I don't consider it as labor intensive as some other SL content, which is why I don't understand people selling shapes for L$500 or more. Personally, and I can only speak for myself, I don't believe a shape is worth that much.

It's fine: In a competitive market driven economy, even in a virtual world, we all decide what is worth the money being asked.

I have tried other shapes, from freebies to paid shapes - I paid 350 for a shape once. It was poor quality.

Some shapes though are really eye catching. It's like artistic talent - one sketch might be recognisably human but another is a da Vinci. I hear what you are saying but to me part of the price asked for anything created is the time and effort and talent.

I think those with a natural eye will find it too easy to do and will look askance at anyone charging for the final result. I've seen some really bad shapes though. Maybe it's precisely because a lot of shapes are modifyable - unlike skins or hair or clothing - that no one can spot a shape and say, "wow, where did you buy that?" or "that must be a Redgrave." There is no brand name, no logo, no particular style that can stand out.

Ironically the person may have messed with the sliders on a modifyable shape just enough to ruin its balance or attractiveness - to anyone except themselves or a few sharing their taste. Of course, the reverse is also true - the person may have improved or eradicated the shape's flaws, making a plain or ugly face a beautiful one. Or at least, a balanced one. So, even asking where someone got a shape might not lead anywhere. As such no shape maker can build a brand of recognisable quality by word of mouth.

I made my shape, but it's seen a lot of changes - I kind of liked being a stringbean for a while, and I'd get compliments on looking 'like a real person.' But then I just wanted to wear the more fashionable clothes once I had a few Lindens in my pocket, so I made a slightly curvier shape and a more classic face.

Along the way there were some flaws that took a while to iron out - fixing one part would lead to other problems. So making a good shape, a really good one can take months. I'm still not completely happy with mine, but I keep it because A. it's free and B. I have not found a demo shape that I like better.

I just noticed this freebie "fake hips shade" courtesy of BareRose that some of you might be interested in if you're having trouble tweaking your shape. http://toriheart.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-releases-today-barerose-tokyo.html

I agree with this.