Step by Step for Skin making please?

I've searched here and read many of the links to websites on templates, etc. But I'm not really finding anything that's a simple step by step on how to make an avatar skin from a template. I've d/l the free body templates that comes in three parts for the head, lower & upper body parts. I've edited the templates to my taste, changing the lips, etc. So far I've got one gothy one, one fairy type one, and one for myself. I've got them all ready to go but right now they're all psd format at 1024 x 1024 ... I think it's suppose to be 512 x 512 and another format (tga?). Can someone please clarify the questions below for the last steps (after you've got the skin ready to u/l) so I can get my *new skin* into SL and try it on LOL ... thanks ; o}

1) Is there a best way to reduce the size without loosing the quality of the graphic as often happens when reducing? I have both PSP (Paint Shop Pro) and PS (Photoshop).

2) How to save the file for uploading & use in SL?

That is correct. You want to save a separate file as TGA at 512x512. Keep your PSD file as a layered 1024x1024 master file.

The best way to reduce a file in Photoshop (post CS2) is with the Bicubic w/Sharpen interpolation. prior to CS2, your best bet is to use Nearest Neighbor interpolation, or to run Unsharp Masking after Bicubic interpolation. I don't use PSP, but imagine the process incorporates similar interpolations since they are not proprietary algorithms.

If you work with transparency, as you will need to for the head texture (eyelashes), you save the TGA as 32 bit. All other flat textures need only be 24 bit unless you are making tintable skins. Simply upload your final 512x512 TGA files using the SL client menu (File/Upload Image).

More questions ... sorry LOL ... and thank you for your answer ; o}

Is there a particular way to name the skin files, like a *proper* naming format that identifies the maker/person that did the editing ... like samarra_skinhd, samarra_skinlw, samarra_skinup or something?

Is there a limit to the number of characters a filename can have?

BTW I have PS 7.01, not sure if that's related to CR2?

I also have PSP 9.0 (and 10 but didn't install that).

Thanks again!

If you create the skin asset (the file you drop the skin textures into) within your inventory, your name will show as the creator under the file properties.

Probably, although I have never tested this. Keep in mind that you want people to be able to read the file name, and your inventory window will cut it off if the name is too long.

7.01 is an older version of Photoshop. The reason I mentioned CS2/CS3 is because they are newer versions of Photoshop (Creative Suite 3 being the latest) with additional interpolation algorithms. PS 7.01 will not have Bicubic w/Shapren interpolation in it (just Bicubic).

OK I don't have either CS2 or CS3, so I take it my skinz will be lesser quality? I have to work with what I have LOL Is there any specific settings I should set in PS 7.01 for best quality on that version? Thanks for your help!

Just use Unsharp Masking after reducing image size. The differences between PS 7.01 and PS CS3 in this regard are so fractionally minimal as to be a non-issue. You'll need to be conservative in your Unsharp Mask settings (Amount= 100%, Radius= .3 to .5, Threshold=0).

There is also an oddity with tga transparency layers in either Photoshop 6 or 7, I forget which, I bought CS1 last year. But I do remember fighting with it to get proper alpha channels. As for compression, you can use a 1024 image for a skin. I have done so for things like a tattoo skin where higher resolutions were necessary. Just be aware of loading times.

As for lesser quality, no, that is not how Photoshop works, contrary to what most people think. They just add and combine existing features in the new versions. They are cross platforming into video a lot more as well. With a lot more undoable filters and now temp filters that can be undone at any point, irregardless of how the image is saved. That's the real differences.

PS 7.0, but not 7.01.

As it turns out, on my new computer I've only installed PS 7.0 (not 7.01 like on old computer). Also I'm on Vista so getting 7.0 in was a chore let alone messing with the update also. I can't afford a couple of hundred bucks for new software LOL

So, in PSP9 (Paint Shop Pro), I've resized to 512 x 512 and Merged Layers (flatten). That in mind, what would the above settings be in PSP 9 for Unsharpen Mask settings? The options in PSP9 are: Radius, Strength, Clipping ... and check or not for Luminance only?

Thank you so much to all of you that have so far replied! I suppose I really shouldn't be so concerned since it's my first skin and I'm sure I'll quickly outgrow it as my creativity *flourishes* LOL Help is much appreciated none the less!

OK I got anxious and u/l what I've done so far, looks pretty good except the pix in SL shows transparent at the pubic (pelvis) area, and my eyelashes are white LOL ... anyone know what I did wrong? I saved as TGA at 512x512 for each and using the PS settings for unmask assuming similar for PSP. Input would be appreciated ; o}

I am going out for a few hours but I'll check back here for replies when I get home! *waves*

Well, maybe you did nothing wrong, except to use Photoshop 7.0. As Atom said, that particular version had problems with transparency. It's a matter of time before Chosen Few chimes in here and explains the issue properly. The solution is to use any other version of Photoshop instead.

Samarra, you're better off using PSP 9. Upgrade from PS 7.0 as soon as you can!

She said she has PS 7.01, not 7.0. I believe 7.01 was the upgrade that fixed the abnormal way that 7.0 handled alpha channels in the tga exporter.

Your white eyelash issue is a transparency problem, check out this post for the process to correct it /109/53/257568/1.html

Thank you all so much for your help! I got her done ; o}

Here's some pix, also did an outfit to match her eyes LOL I'm not showing the actual skin, it turned out nice btw but too lazy to cover the *private spots*. I won't be runnin round SL without clothes on anyway LOL





Thanks again for your help! Hugzzz

Samarra

Looking good! Glad you got it sorted

When saving in TGA, for options on that, should Compress be checked or not? It's on 32 bit by default and Compress is UNchecked at the moment ... is that correct for the head texture?

Also, as a side note, I do only have PS 7.0 on this computer ... it was my old one that I put 7.01 on but not this one, too much fussing for Vista 0.o

Aside from that I have one other comment, regarding PSP ... it does not have 32 bit in TGA settings so if you use PSP you can save the body (upper & lower) at 24 bit, which is the PSP 9 default (Compress is checked for PSP by default).

So because Compress IS checked by default for PSP but not for PS, can someone clarify whether it should or shouldn't be checked? Thanks ; o}

You can still download the upgrade from 7.0 to 7.01 form the Afobe site here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1851

Yes I've got the upgrade but having issues trying to install it (probably Vista related). Quite frankly it is old tho, so I'm not going to worry about it. I'll use PS 7.0 to save the head since it has 32 bit, and will save the lower & upper body with PSP 9.0, which saves as 24 bit. I'm just not sure whether to check Compress or not. I suppose I should just use PS 7.0 to save the TGA files since it does save in 32 bit and PSP only saves in 24 bit but apparently only the head needs 32 bit due to lash transparency ... or that's how I understand it anyway LOL I do need someone to clarify should TGA have Compress checked or not.

Also, should I save all three textures as 32 bit in PS or does it matter if it's 24 and saved in PSP? And, for texture resolution settings, I'm saving them at 200 or 300 pixels rather than the standard 72 or 90 ... is higher better or not? I know to save size wise as 512x512, but I'm asking about pixels per square inch here, not image size.

Thanks!

Pixels per square inch makes absolutely NO difference. Ignore that setting unless you are creating a design for print media. I suggest that you take time to read the sticky on file formats, sizes, etc. at the top of this forum very carefully. A lot of your questions are answered there.

Thank you, I have read the posts as I already stated. I didn't find answers to what I was looking for ... perhaps I just didn't understand since I'm not proficient at PS and am not using specifically those programs mentioned in those posts. That being said ...

I've redone my skin again and am still baffled by a couple of things

1) Compress checked or no for .tga? I don't see that it does anything to check that but I wanted to know if it should be or not. Could someone tell me what that's suppose to do?

2) Note in the pix below that my head skin seems to be darker than the upper/lower body. I'm colorizing them the exact same ways on the psd, in PS 7.0 (which is all I have to work with at the moment besides PSP 9.0 which doesn't save in 32 bit for tga). I'm saving all parts as .tga 32 bit (Compress checked this time).



I don't think it's world lighting, nor any lighting on av parts as it seems to be that way no matter what I check/uncheck in world or what direction I'm facing ... for what it's worth it looks fine and right in PSP and PS.

Advice would be appreciated! Thanks again ...

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm using Eloh Eliot's "le.psd" for a base ;o}

Sorry, had collar shading on 0.o ... I think it's fixed ... looks better with that off anyway but may have to mess with her more yet. Thanks again!

I am hoping to create a skin also. What I'd like to know (concise and to the point):

1. How would I fill the colour within the templates? Would I have to select the area in sections at a time and work from there?

2. How do I apply a layer mask (using Paint Shop Pro 8.0) so that I could get an authentic skin?

Unpatched PS 7.0 works just fine as long as you take precautions to work around it's faulty automatic alpha creation. The problem with 7 is that it gives you white halos around areas of transparency when it creates the alpha channel. This is because it flattens the image against a default white background when it saves causing white to bleed into the opaque areas due to antialiasing.

To avoid that happening simply merge your layers so that you have a single layer with transparency where you want it and everything else opaque. Load that layer's transparency as a selection and then save that selection. That will become your alpha channel. Then run Flaming Pear's free Solidy filter on the layer which will fill in all the transparent areas with color blended out from the opaque edges. This will prevent white bleed-in caused by PS flattening against a white background. Save your file as a 32bit TGA. You won't have a white halo in SL. Now there can be compatability problems if you need to use that TGA in other apps, but it'll work just fine in SL.