Specifics on matching top with skirt layer

Hi, all -

I've created a couple of medieval dress designs, which believe it or not have come out fairly well thanks to all the great information on this board, and Robin's templates.

My first bodice (blue, attached), matched up perfectly with the skirt when I resized the layer on the skirt template. However, the second design (green, attached) uses a patterned cloth. I can get the satin inset to match up, which runs down the middle of the bodice. But, getting the pattern on the outer cloth to match up all the way across the waist seems to be a bit of a challenge.

I'm wondering if it is actually possible to get a perfect match by just scaling down the overlapping section when you transfer it to the skirt layer. Or, do you have to warp the fabric on the skirt layer to match the seam lines perfectly? Another option is to slightly blur the overlapping area on both the bodice and skirt, so the slight mismatch is not as visible. Or, am I just being way too picky?

Last -- even with my non-patterned blue dress, I notice a seam across the waist. Is this avoidable? Is it because I'm doing something wrong? Am I just being too really really picky?

Please see attached for examples, comments, tips...

Welcome to the challenges of SL. I short answer is no! At least, I haven't been able to find a solution.

The problem is with the difference in avatar sizes and moment of the avatar. You are working with two different pieces of material. Imagine if you had a real life skirt that stretched when ever you moved or, would stretch to fit you and your larger sister-in-law. The pattern would stretch to fit her more ample waist and look different, than on you.

Remember the material is pinned (or in contact with) to your avatar only at the intersections of the lines defining the individual polygons. Or, where the vertices/points meet. If those points move further apart or closer together, the material will change. Patterns will get distorted.

I once spent days trying to get a dress with a long sash that went from the breasts to the skirt hem to match up. I never could get a perfect match. I could get it to match standing on the posing stand but, as soon as I moved, the sash moved at the junction of the top and skirt. I finally gave up.

This is an area, like the thin straps over the shoulder, where you have to often settle for less than perfection. Most people probably won’t notice the problem. Remember they will be moving around a lot.

BTW - The dresses look beautiful drop me a LM in-world and I will buy one.

Jen

I wouldn't say you are being too picky, but honestly, your green dress looks wonderful to me...we are our own worst critics, so always keep that in mind XD If I hadn't squinted and really tried to see the nonmatching seam, I wouldn't have noticed it.

Thanks very much for the encouragement, both of you. I guess I am just nervous about putting out something that is "newbie-ish." It helps to know that it's more a limitation of the system than something I am just missing.

I will be sure to send LMs as soon as I get a shop or stall set up. These are my first two pieces and I'm hoping to get at least 4 or 5 done before I set up a vendor. Working on finishing the template for the prim skirt right now, but it's almost there. (crosses fingers)

So, on a side note, is there anyone out there who knows (and is willing to share) the exact percentage to reduce the top template so that it matches up with the skirt template? Having that magic number would be a huge timesaver for sure...

Cheers,
Rachel

I will also agree that I could barely see the flaw. And that you did an awesome job. Honestly, as much as I would like to, I am staying away from complex stuff until I get what I am working on done.
So I don't know, but from the look of it, I would stay where you are already.

In my honest opinion as a designer that see the flaws in most cross over designs from the upper to the lower UVmaps you have done rather well and if I were buying a dress of this kind, well your is very well wxwcuted in my opinon. Well done, by the way where can I get the blue one

There will always be a visible seam betwee the body and skirt due to lighting. They are separate objects so the polygons aren't smoothed between them. It is possible to line up the textures perfectly, but takes a large amount of effort (I'm not sure my previewer is accurate enough to help there) and as others have pointed out, you've already matched them up pretty well. Besides, real clothes have pattern mismatches at seams.

Rachel, I think you have done remarkably well!

The junction of an SL Skirt and Bodice will always have some matching issues. It will shift as they move, it will shift as you fit it to different avatar shapes... Not much you can do about it. Shoulder seams also shift like this - very annoying.

Another issue you'll soom find, with the style of dresses you are making, is that the center front and back of SL skirts has a triangular area that is horribly distorted, especially as the avatar moves their legs apart. This panel roughly matches the position of the slit in the front of a period skirt that revells a brocade underskirt (or fake partial one, in RL) beneath. Unfortunately, the SL skirt gets almost all of it's "streach" at the hemline from that narrow triangle at front and back. So on a full-length skirt, it will go from about 4 inches wide at the hem with feet together, to over two feet wide when feet are spread. The triangle extends up to about the hemline of a miniskirt, which is why really short skirts are popular with clothing designers.

Thanks again for the compliments! I'm excited about getting them out there. I finally finished the coordinating pieces and prim skirts, and I think they really came out well after I got done fussing around

Right now I am just finishing up the Ad boards to put on the vendor system I purchased, and am installing/testing. I expect to begin selling by this weekend at the latest. I will be placing them first in a few vendor malls, so I don't invest in building a store until I have several more in various colors and slightly differing designs. I think I'm also going to place a classified...the label to look for is "Milady's Fancy," by Rachel Darling.

If anyone has thoughts about good avenues for medieval-style dresses or costumes, would love to hear your advice. (I've asked for a sales/business/shopping forum a few times, but I haven't seen on yet...)

Cheers, all!

- Rachel Darling