Basic clothing design for the non-graphic artist

It seems that every week we have one or more new SL residents looking for answers on how to start making clothes in SL.

With help, advice and permission to use materials from Robin Sojourner, Chip Midnight and Chosen Few, I have put together a course entitled, “Basic Clothing Design for the Non-Graphic Artist.”

The course objectives are that by the end of the session new residents will understand:
SL Avatar model and use of UV maps (templates)
Making a template suit for avatar and taking photos of avatar for reference
Where to get UV Maps/templates
Using layers
What is and using the Alpha channel
Using patterns & textures in the design
Saving to the correct format
Uploading texture file

Please note: This is not a course on how to use your graphics program. Student must already know the basics of PhotoShop, Corel Paint Shop Pro or GIMP.

URL’s to some basic clothing templates/patterns will be provided to help the new designer get started.

I am planning on holding the course on Saturday morning of Jan 14th. The course will be posted in the Event calendar.

Jen

Very cool, Jennifer. This is something that's sorely needed and I'm sure will be a big help to those who attend. Good luck and I hope you get a great turnout.

Great, Jennifer. Thanks for doing this. As Chip said, it's certainly something that's needed, and it has tremendous benefit potential for a lot of people. I'll try to stop by to watch if you don't mind. I'd love to see what you've come up with.

Oh, and by the way, I've recently placed an amphitheater in Indigo, intended to be used as a classroom. I don't know if you have your own land or not, but if you'd like to use the amphitheater, you're welcome. Let me know. It has seating room for up to about 150 (not that a sim can hold that many), all within audible distance of the instructor.

Of course you are invited Chosen. I would be honored to have you and any other designer present. I know I don't have all the answers. So it you come and are willing to help answer questions, I will introduce you to everyone. If not, you don't need to and can remain incognito.

I will be holding the course at my home in Rustic. We have a huge patio area that can hold more people than lag will allow. The sim is basically water and isn’t heavily populated so lag isn’t usually a problem.

Jen

Please say you will host after 4:30 PM **EST** on the 14th! Clothing design has been the bane of my existance, and i'm tired of wearing breathless leather pants all the time, and stupid cotton shirts that i made myself! I want to live!! I want to live!! This class would greatly further my emursion into clothing design as i have set out from day one to make male clothing. This is partially my fault as i haven't utalized the messages boards as much as i should have. There is so much more content now though since june when i started. I want to break free of the oppressive mold of leather pants and muscle shirts! damn it i want sweat pants and wife beaters!!

Grayson

Hi.. I Was Wondering If You Guys Can Help Me With the Making my own clothes For Secondlife? i know about the course but was wondering if theres another way u guys can help me cuz i might not be in down that date..

Hi Grayson, I am trying to make sure I hold it early enough for our European friends. I guess I can make set it up for 2:00 SL time. That should be 5:00 EST and 4:00CST (where I am), I think that is 8:00-9:00 Pm in Europe.



Janessa, the only other way I know of is to read the tutorials floating around on this site. Do a search on “clothing tutorial” and you will find several god tutorials. Some have examples that will help you.

Once you gasp the UV maps and how to match the 2d clothing item to the 3d avatar and uploading to SL, you have the basics. The rest is your ability to produce something that is pleasing to the eyes.

Jen

Hi Jen!

I'm so glad to see you doing this! I've read your course (as you know) and it's excellent. I highly recommend it to everyone who is interested in the topic.

2pm SL time is 11pm here in europe (10pm in UK), but that's a good time for an event. Please post the final date(s) and time here or on SLBoutique's event list too.

The Clothing for the Non-Professional has been posted on the events calendar. The date and time are Saturday 2:00 SLT or US Pacific time. The location will be at my home:
Rustic (209, 219).

i offer private 1 on 1 lessons for clothing design i expect the people i teach lessons to to be able to upload a sellable tattoo (provided in lessons by for use) basic editing skills are taught if needed as well. i do however charge a minimal fee of 250L but it is a 1 on 1 basis and i keep a support system going for future reference or questions. if interested contact me in Game

Just to remind anyone who is interested in coming to the clothing school, it is tomorrow at 2:00 SLT. Feel free to IM me for a LM.

Jen

I'll make sure i am there for it. Im very thankful that someone is doing this. I'm sure i missed classes on this, but it doesn't seem like classes are about clothing any more, it seems like its all about prims, and making this and making that. up with clothing!!!



Gray

5pm ET will hoipefully work for me - I'm working at my retail job tomorrow. If for some reason I can't make it, is this something you will hopefully hold again?

For some reason, creating clothing is just elluding me and I'd love to have the extra help...

I just read this thread and realize that I missed the class (even though I couldn't have made it anyway). Is there some way I can get transcript from it or something? This sounds like just what I want. I had just opened up Gimp and was looking for a tutorial to start figuring things out. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Baron

Jennifer, I'm so sorry I missed the class. I had really wanted to attend. I haven't been feeling very well for the past week or so, and my sleep cycle has been very eratic. Today I slept from about 10 in the morning until about 8:30 at night (7-5:30 SL time), and that was after having gotten a full night's sleep last night. Needless to say, I feel bad in more ways than one right now.

How did it go? Will you be holding any repeat sessions?

Hi Baron, yes I can get you a copy of the material. Based on the attendance I do plan on rescheduling the class. I want to get the critiques back and based on them and my observations do a little refining or tweaking.

Chosen, the class went very well. I had close to 30 people there. It was enough to cause some significant lag at times. In trying to cut & paste the script, change slides and clothes, I managed to crash once. Oh well, everyone was nice enough to wait for my return.

Jen

Gald to hear it went well. I'd imagine you were probably in panic mode when you crashed out, but I'd take the fact that everyone stuck around for you to return as a huge compliment. Clearly they were all very interested in hearing the rest of what you had to say. Congratulations.

Once agian, sorry I missed it. I'll try to have a chat with the gods of good health before the next one you do, and see if they can cut me some slack next time.

Yes, if you hold it again that would be so awesome. My time online is a bit variable... something called our RL... hmmm... priorities but would so love to attend if there is another one.

I design and getting back into it... I am not an expert or anything and need classes... I can't believe I miss this

Anyway to get transcripts or can you do another class or something? Let me know... Thanks

I'm really glad to hear you had such a great turnout for your class!

Congrats, Jen! I'm so glad it went well.

Chosen, I'm sorry to hear you've been bitten by "the sleeping bug." We've been kicking that one around, too. It seems to last about a week or so, if that's any help.

Hi Jen
I am very interested and taking your class I live in est and weekends seem to be best for me so please let me know of any new times and days.

jemster hartnell

I plan on rescheduling the Clothing class for this Sunday. Most likely 11:00 SLT.

Jen

This SUN 1/22/06?
Sounds like just the class I have been looking for...
I would love to attend.
~Jephers