Question for all you designers

I was just wondering how you all got started. If you dont mind telling. I love the clothes in SL and have wanted to make my own, but let me say, that ain't gonna happen! Don't know why programs just won't click in my head, but I am always amazed at how shoes, clothes, and hair look! I just have to give it up to all the designers! But back to my question, was design something you just picked up and did, were you taught how, or you still don't know but you know you can lol. Sorry, I know it is a bit nosey but I had to ask! I would love to learn how to make clothes, but until then I'll just shop!

Jeni

Hi Jeni!

What a brilliant question. I am really looking forward to the replies.

For myself, I've been a professional artist for over 30 years (painting, stained glass, drawing....etc), and have designed and created my own clothing since I was a teen which I've sold at the occassional boutique. It has come natural for me and took a few design courses in college, but it was mainly my grandmother who was a well known artist who guided me through my younger days.

SL is simply another way to express my creativity and it's a lot of fun.

I've taught art class for all ages (grade school through adult) and I see two sides of creating art: the technical (the how-to), which can be taught and the creativity, which I've always felt was more of an innate ability and can be guided (kind of like those people who just *get* math!).

Using programs such as Photo Shop was a struggle at first since I am use to paints rather than pixels...but now I've grown to love it as just another way to make pretty things

I truly believe that anyone with the commitment and the desire can express themselves through art, and if you have the drive and are willing to give it a go....I bet you can make things which please you.

The best way to start is to look at the things you wish to emulate. I mean REALLY look. Mentally take things apart to understand how color can create depth or how shapes relate to one another in an object.

Well...that's probably more info than you wanted But I hope you give it a go if that's what your heart desires.

Best,
~Ari

I design and sell some clothes, and do a lot more work selling textures for people to use in building their own stuff. I also do large-scale building projects, up to the level of designing and building multiple sims.

I started by learning Photoshop and similar products, long before I ever heard of SL. In RL, I like doing art, and I do it semi-professionally. A commissioned piece here or there, done in Pen and Ink, or Photoshop, or in a 3D app like DAZ|Studio or Poser.

When I started in SL, it became obvious that a lot of the things I would like to do would cost more money each month than I was willing to pump into it via my own credit card. T-shirts seemed to be a popular selling item at the time, and as clothing goes, seemed fairly simple to create. So I found some good templates from Chip Midnight, and started making and selling shirts. My goal at the time was merely to cover expenses, and earn back what my first 3 months of playing had cost me.

I wanted to do more, so I spent a lot of time and learned to build, using my Photoshop skills to make custom textures. I got active in the forums, learning from others and offering advice where I could.

Eventually I got a good enough reputation that the owner of Textures-R-Us asked me to start making textures to sell via her store. I still do, and it's my steady income in SL.

Some custom texture work that I did brought me to the notice of a sim owner, who gave me a chance at building several sims. That was the start of Fox and Ground Construction Company.

I still sell t-shirts. *grins* Much better ones than I used to make a year ago.

I am always trying to learn to do new things, like scripting, and to make new things.

I've been doing business in SL for over a year now, and while I think I am moderately successful, I know I still have much to learn.

Hi Jeni,


For me, I didn't learn to make the clothing until I was in SL. My in-world partner taught me how to use Photoshop and I pretty much went crazy designing, Lol! I started making gowns with just plain flat textures. They weren't bad, but lacked the detail that you can do in PS. Now I've got inventory out the ying-yang. Oops can I say that on here? >.>

As far as real life...I've always loved clothing, but am not a designer, nor an artist, not in the sense that I've done it for a living or taken any classes. I grew up in a very creative family, so my love for anything creative (music, art, design, crafts) stems from that.

I build in SL as well, commissioned pieces (my biggest was torn down due to an unfortunate button clicking accident *sigh* - good bye forever Castle Bran). I make shoes and the occassional hair. I love the creative things I can do and make in SL.

All this takes a lot of dedication and practice and TIME! I sometimes wish I was independently wealthy and stayed at home and worked on my ballgowns. But oh well, real life happens and I have to trek to my JORB everyday.

Anyway, that's my story. Not anything exciting, just a person who loves to be creative!

Have a great day-

Elle74

Hi Jeni - I think I fall under the category of, “If I can design clothing, anyone can.” I am not an artist. I am a 1st grade teacher. I didn’t know Photoshop before coming to SL. My experience with graphics programs was doing a few pictures and artsy crafty things for my classes and classroom bulletin boards.

I started making clothing because I didn’t have the money to buy them. I was also, dissatisfied with most of the freebie clothing that was available at the time. I wanted to help other newbies by giving them clothing that didn’t look like freebie clothing.

I had to learn Photoshop and the templates. I read the tutorials and read this forum, almost daily. I practiced and practiced but I never thought of myself as a designer. Then Katerina hit New Orleans. Linden Lab and some residents decided to make a copy of the city in SL and hold a fund raiser.

My SL boy friend was asked to help with the construction. He commented that I was a clothing designer and, I was asked if I would make a design to be auctioned off. I did and I think it was pitiful. But, it was displayed with my name along side of clothing made by “real” designers.

I have been making clothing ever since. I am not nearly as good as many of the real artists but, I think I am an example of what can be done by an amateur.

Jen

in the words of Yoda: No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.
i just kept doing till i got better, youll never figure it out till you Do
oh and read a lot search for tutorials lots of them around.
i learn new stuff everyday.
-LW

I started off making skins (which includes all clothing, not just the skintone base) for the Sims. I did that for YEARS and my first ones looked really embarassing...eventually I got better, of course. It seemed a natural step to take that into Second Life, and I have I also knew Photoshop from doing graphic design and photo retouching... however... they're not really the same tools used for SL texturing. It's taken me years of practice (that's including the Sims texturing) to get where I am now with handdrawn clothing design in SL.