Templates?

Hey all. Quick question, I'm interested in learning how to make clothing and I've found a tutorial that I think would be really helpful, but there's just one problem. I downloaded the templates from the main site, but this tutorial calls for a UV map layer, with all the contours, and that wasn't included in the templates I downloaded. This tutorial seems to center around this layer, and without it I don't feel like I can do anything.

Could anyone point me to another tutorial, or even better point me to where I can get these UV maps? It'd be much appreciated.

Hi Lyra. Welcome to SL.

Are you using the templates from the downloads section of this site? There is a UV map layer on each of them. By default it's turned off, but it is there. To toggle layers off and on, click the little eyeball icon to the left of the layer's name (assuming you're using Photoshop).

Thanks. =)

So far as I can see, they come with a background (Which is partly a UV map layer, but doesn't have -nearly- as many contours), some alpha's, a working layer and overlay. That's all I can see. *Frowns* The UV map that this tutorial seems to have a white and black UV map that has many many more contours then the background does.

You don't have a layer called UV_Map just above the background layer?

I sure don't. Not on any of the templates from this site.

Sorry it takes so long to reply. Distracted in game by shopping. This is so addicting.

Are you absolutely certain that the templates you're using are the ones from the downloads section of this site? The ones from http://secondlife.com/downloads/templates.php? I just re-downloaded them to see if anything had been changed since I first downloaded them nearly 2 years ago. Nothing is different. Each of them has a layer called UV_Map directly above the background layer.

If you'd prefer to use Chip Midnight's excellent high res templates, the UV's are all over them. The background layer and the layer called Shaded Grid both show the UV lines. However, I'd highly recommend starting with the official templates until you've mastered the basics. When you feel you've got a good handle on things, then upgrade to using Chip's templates. It's kind of like learning to play the violin. You don't start on a Stratavarius. You start on a student model and then you upgrade only when you've mastered it.

Anyway, here's a picture of the Layers Palettes, as they should look in each template.

Not to start an argument but i just did the same thing and there is no UV_map in the ones I have downloaded either. From the pic you posted the layer in question looks like the shading for upper and lower body.

If that's what it is I have been looking for those since day one and never found them. If anyone knows how to get those, please email me a copy. If by UV_map you mean the grid thingie that shows areas of equal illumination, then those aren't in there either.

Robin (Wood) Sojourners templates have excellent UV grids in them and are far better than the Linden ones. That's what I use.
(Chips are great also)

Okay, I seem to have found the answer to the mystery of why some people have the UV_Map layers and some people don't. If you download the whole package from the first link on the page, the templates contained within have the UV_Map layers. If you download them one at a time, they don't. Looks like a big mistake on LL's part. I'll mention it to the content team.


Not sure why it looks like shading to you. It's labeled "UV_Map" for one, and what it is is white lines on a black background. I realize the lines are not clearly visible on the little thumbnails in my pic, but download the template package and you'll see. I've attached an example of one of them at the bottom of this post.


I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "shading", but if you look in your Second Life\characters folder, there are a great many helpful images in there, some of which will help you determine where to apply shadowing to your templates so they work best on the avatar.


I have no idea what "grid thingie that shows areas of equal illumination" means. Simply put, UV's are the lines where polygonal faces meet. They don't have anything directly to do with lighting. To what are you referring?

(edited a lot of crap that makes me look bad for no particular reason and points out how Chosen did not actually read nor understand what I said)...

Well Duhhh,

Because I havent got them to look at other than your little thumbnail postings.

Don't know why I thought I could have a civil conversation with you.
I swear no one else I know has as much trouble understanding what I mean as you do, mr. teacher/preacher. First rule of helping people is not to crap all over the words they use to describe thier problem, and not to treat them like they are two (unless they are two).

To show you the difference I will resort to a typical two year olds position...

Dianne, I'm not going to fall into another one of your troll traps. I don't know why you're so fixated on me, and on disrupting my efforts to help people on this forum. All I'm going to say is get some counseling, please. It's very unfortunate that you think when I explain things in detail it makes you "look bad". I don't know why you feel the need to interpret things that way or why you see fit to react to it as you do. In 30 years on this planet, you're the only person I've ever come across who acts like this. I really wish you'd take it somewhere esle. It's your problem, not mine, so kindly leave me out of it. I trust this will be our last communication. Good luck.

Wow, well what an odd little mystery that was. Chosen, thank you -so- much for helping me. I never would have thought that the two downloads would have contained different templates. I -really- appreciate all the help you've given me. Thank you.