BEWARE: Stolen Textures In Second Life!!!!!

One additional point... the more photographic the quality of the final skin and the more closely it matches the source without degradation of fine detail, the more work it is to do. Things being changed noticeably from the source isn't necessarily an indication of more work. It can just as easily be a sign of more shortcuts being taken.

When I first started doing photosourced skins the best I could do was to end up with about 50% photo/50% hand painting. After three years of practice and adding in a lot of extra steps I can do a skin that's about 90% photo/10% hand painting, and it is most definitely more work.

Yeah, those are shameless ripoffs -- Lost, email me the name of this thieving piece of shit and I will post it on my website -- along with those pics, with your permission -- to make sure this is made as public as possible. I've been getting fairly good traffic on my site and alot of people don't read the forums so they won't know this happened.

[email]merlyn-bailly@hotmail.com[/email]

haha, the work put into photorealistic skins takes FAR more effort than simpley "Copy and paste" ....I have made painted skins in the past, and I find photorealistic to be far more complicating and time consuming. Another thing, I charge less than 4k for a package of 8 skins (makeup choices, optional mapped hair). The reason why it took me months to create the finished product is because it took trial and error to get to where I was finally satisfied.

ummm Sorry but I am ripping no one off, nor is any other photorealistic skin maker in SL who buys or creates their reasources fairly. It takes a lot more than pasting and moving around a few pictures. These are payed resources, money from my own pocket, and resources I created with my own camera.... this was a very ignorant comment.

It doesn't matter if it took Lost 1 hour or 400 to make the skin. His work, their theft.

Actually this was a very ingornat comment made on your behalf...

This has been going on a very long time... and your comment here is what made me feel very little sympathy for you... did you ever comment when 50+ other designers work was being cloned? Do you post concern in the forums when it happens to others? or just when it happens to you or you are releasing a new product?

ummm I don't think Lost ever hid the fact he is a dude so I am not disclosing anything other people already know. now i'm done replying to ya.

It's like rally around the flag! But better!

And I for one am shocked that Lost has a penis. Bravo Lost! It's about time one of you guys has some style sense.

Pfft, nothing wrong with self interest. it's not practical to take notice and interest in everything going on around you. Some of us definately have more tunnel vision than others. I can't really fault Lost for failing to give much lip service before having a personal experience.

Sensual, you don't know me. I am very offended. how dare you deny the months of work i spent learning as I progressed creating the skin. I started SL with very little experience in photoshop and computer skills. Months it took me to learn how to create a smooth looking photoreal skin. I learned through experience. i dont know what your deal is, i find the prices of my skins low compared to how much work it has taken me to create them. Ambyance would also know how long and how much of a perfectionist i am as she has been by my side through every modification of the skin.

As others have indicated, this is a great market opportunity for you to go in and make a killing selling those same type skins for 3K. You should stop posting about this immediately and take action.

Market forces will eventually determine the fair price for such a product.

Of course I have heard about this problem in the past. I'm sure others would feel the same way until it does actually happen. The intent of this thread was to warn others out there that this is really happening and it can happen to them even if they dont expect it.


Also. No i was not aware of the actual evidence that they had posted in the forums about there skins being ripped off..... i was told by people and was shocked and felt badly for their loss.

Of Course....

Omg , great idea!
umm no!

Ahh yes you are right.. being self centered is part of human nature...

*hugs*

Sensual, I never once made any comment about your products taking less effort than you actually took to make them, simpley because I dont know.

You completely twisted this thread around ....which sounds to me like some sort of jealousy or grudge against me?

It took me over an hour to make my first chair. So I figure about 8000 L$ is a fair amount for it. I only need to sell one.

*sighs* I have already posted my thoughts on this matter, if that doesnt explain my feelings on this, then I can draw you a picture about it later.

LOL 2 years for that rocking chair I have been trying to make... still not done yet, maybe when I happy with it, it will be worth around $500k

Sensual, look for attention elsewhere please.

Well, i don't know about chairs but L$ 4000 for 8 options of high quality skin is indeed a very nice price when single option skins from established makers seem to have L$ 1 k price tag on average ^^;;

There you go again with that "self interest" that Rickard was talking about...

The thread is for the interest of others. Designers in sl need to see something that actually happened with their own eyes and be aware of it. I was not shown this kind of evidence, nor was I aware of the past posts you are speaking of.

Sensual, you're coming off as quite catty. Your comments have given this thread a tainted feeling which doesn't quite seem like your normal behavior, based on the posts I've read in the past in general.

I've never purchased one of your skins although I have checked them out. On the other hand, I own more than one of Lost's skin packs. Perhaps it's my self interest that keeps me from purchasing things I don't see the level of quality in that I expect.

I think you're being particularly harsh against Lost, when you could have just not said anything at all.

I skimmed this thread, so I hope that I won't be posting something that is already suggested. The only solution I can think of is some kind of group monitoring. It could be a general SL Better Business Bureau or guilds for different types of work (skins for example). Those who signed up would agree to a set of standards and recieve some sort of sign to display. Any complaints against members would be available to view, and substantiated breaking of the agreement would loose you your membership.

I know that I would be more inclined to buy from such a group or groups. Not the best of solutions, but something we as citizins could do for ourselves.