Skins

My rl gf and I r trying to start a small SL business. We want to create affordable avies for noobies. However, neither of us r into photoshop. We r in need of a generous designer(s) who could donate or sell us full perms male and female skins as well as clothing. If it's possible, we'd like to get skins that use the sliders for skin tone, makeup, facial hair, etc. The avies will b not b sold full perms. Also, any designers that can help will b recognized at the shop.

I'm a bit confused here. You want to sell another creators work as your own?

hahahahhahahaha

It's probably easier to use the glintercept tool to grab other peoples textures.
Oddly, I find people who steal less irritating than those who ask politely here for free donations.

I'm not asking for only freebies, hence the word sell.

There's nothing wrong with going to somebody, and asking them to make something for you to resell. It's done all the time in RL. If you make the deal, who gets hurt?

I really doubt you'll get someone to give you a skin...unless it's a pretty bad one. Buying one with rights, though, that's different. Don't expect a low price, though. The one who makes the texture will want to get paid now, and you'll have to recoup your investment over time. You're going to be the shop owner, so you're the one taking the risk.

At any rate, if you find someone, and can make a deal, go for it. I wish you all success.

TY Ran for your encouragement. We realize we will have to pay now. We dont want the best skin out there, just something better then the default. No fancy makeup, etc. I honestly see nothing wrong with asking somebody to create things for u to resell. Some of your top designers in SL ask scripters for scripts that r resold with their merchandise.

you can look under find for SECOND LIFE WHOLESALE NETWORK, it is a group of designers and resellers, however I dont think any would be willing to give you full perms...

Ok, I'll look.

Why not just offer skin dealers space in your shop and you get a commission from any sales?

If you choose to go the commission route I make multivendors and holovendors set up for a commission basis. There's a bit of set up work that I'd have to do, but the whole package could be ready in about 30 minutes of meeting you and would only cost $500. That will buy you full perms vendors and copy transfer scripts for them.

If want to see them in action, check out ONE in Honawan, or my minimall in Dimidiata (both in my picks) and feel free to ask the people selling there about how easy they are to set up and whether they work or not.

Or you can look under the scripting library and get those scripts for free.

To point out, most skins made in sl are opaque, so you are not able to use the sliders for skin adjustment of the skin, and the facial hair is likely to be drawn on your face and the skin has its own facial expression that can standardize their looks. Only few are made somewhat transparent and allow slider adjustment that shines through though they look rather outwashed.
In my eyes, every newbie (like me) is better off with a selected skin than with an all in one kit that many people wear. Better to be able to adjust the avatar in many ways and to wait for being able to afford the real thing than be stuck with a standard look with only somewhat improved quality.

Wishes,
Leff.

That's a markedly bad suggestion, both from the standpoint of ethics as well as the complexity of actually doing it. As I understand it, you end up grabbing a low-res 512x512 copy *without* alpha channels (eyelashes anyone?) using any kind of gl hack. You still have to know what you're doing or you'll end up with a piece of crap that's easily spotted as an illegal copy.

Actually I've been thinking about creating some original low-res skins for newbies that would be low priced or even free. I've seen a couple of others running around somewhere, but the newbies I've been encountering lately don't know where to find them. I wouldn't mind passing out my own (cheap) work for free just to get people started. Of course, such pro bono work would come with a landmark to my store

But a full-on 1024x1024 layered PSD skin file requires 50+ hours of work in the hands of a competent Photoshop artist, so I don't see how prices can legitimately be much lower than they are on the SL skin market right now without making the whole effort NOT worthwhile.

Yes absolutely, I'd forgotten there was a free set there.

Adriana Caligari's Judy skin probably fits the bill already, as far as cheap skins go. It's not 100% seamless but for L$1 it's hard to beat (and looks quite nicer than the preview picture would make one believe)

Found it packed along with about dozen others in a 'skins for newbies' freebie box in a shop with newbie stuff, so would say it's not hard to get them.

That's a great find, Joannah! I'd be happy just giving the landmark to newbies who ask -- you wouldn't happen to remember where you saw it, would you? I have one freebie female skin I found,but I haven't seen any for males -- who, as always in SL -- seem to be an afterthought.

I think it was "Odds&Ends" store... name along these lines anyway, had ton of newbie stuff packed in L$1 boxes so probably good spot to point people too if they're starting, indeed ^^;

I would like to add my beliefs or philosophy on skins. I think that a newbie should wait before buying a skin. Other than specialty products, skins aren’t like shirts; to be changed with mood. Your skin is your identity. I think you should find a skin that fits your SL personal.

I fiddled with my avatar for two months before I even thought of buying a skin. I then looked at over a dozen before I found the one that was “me.” I bought it and have been very happy with my skin. Recently, I invested in several makeovers for my skin to add to its versatility.

I suggest to new residents that they take there time before buying a skin. There are many talented skin artists out there. Do yourself a favor and try out demos from several designers.

BTW- There are free skins out there, at least for women. I have one, I sometimes give out to newbies and there is the Jinny Fronzarelli skin provided in her templates.

Jen

The extra effort aside, the real fun part of it is that most people think its a bad suggestion and seeing them whine about is in itself a form of entertainment.

But here, you have people suggesting Lou to get a free 1L skin, so he/she can resell it to newbies for a profit.

Hmm just to clarify, i was merely pointing out such skin exists, in case someone wanted to point new people to them, not that it's something that should be resold at higher price for profit...

I'm glad you're so easily entertained. Personally I think it says a great deal about someone that they enjoy watching other people's hard work get ripped off.


I wasn't among those at all. In fact, I want to offer newbies free or cheap skins to help them get started.

PS - I found a place, "PixelSpa" which sells decent-enough skins for $250L - both male and female. I have the bookmark now and will be passing it out to newbies. I think that's a more than fair price to upgrade over the beginner's look.

I'm glad you're easily entertained. But I have to wonder about anyone who would be amused at seeing other people's creative efforts ripped off.


You'll note I wasn't one who suggested that. If anything, I think there should be free or very cheap skins available for newbies so they don't feel so out of place before they can raise their first extra $4,000L. That's why I'm hoping to create some quickie skins that are an upgrade over the beginner version, and offer them for free.

Joannah, last night I followed your tip on Adriana and found her store where there are a number of free female skins available (but no male!). Then I went to PixelSpa and discovered a full line of both female and male skins for $250L. I'm going to be passing out both landmarks now. Thank you!

A quick addendum: At the Hair Fair, I saw that HoseQueen offers a selection of skins for $350L, so we can add another name to the list of inexpensive resources we recommend to newbies. HQ has always had quality stuff.

I change my skin (and avatar) to go with my mood. (Look, now I'm Asian! Now I'm Indian! Now I'm Pyramid Head!) But more power to you if you don't.



On the subject of inexpensive skins, I'll note that I couldn't find any demos for PixelSpa's skins. Buying demo-less skins is a bad idea for anyone, really, but especially for newbies, who aren't likely to have as much money. So I'd be very hesitant to recommend those skins to newbies.

However, when I was new, I did get a few relatively nice skins from The Free Dove, which offers free things for newbies. I'd definitely steer newbies in that direction.