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custom body shape, skin, and hair needed

PengAng Parx
Registered User
Join date: 30 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
08-01-2008 15:08
I'm doing some shopping around for someone who can make a skin based on my photos. I'd prefer to have all three elements as a package deal, but depending on cost, I may prioritize to doing skin first, hair, and then shape. Let me know what all is involved of me and what i can do to make this a smooth process. Thanks. Email [email]pengang@hotmail.com[/email].
Namssor Daguerre
Imitates life
Join date: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,423
08-01-2008 15:20
Here's my service package:

http://www.secondskinlabs.com/Portraits/portraits.html

I usually bake the hair into the avatar skin textures if it is short enough. Prim hair could be worked out separately, since it is not included in my normal service.
PengAng Parx
Registered User
Join date: 30 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
cost
08-01-2008 16:27
what is a typical cost range for the portrait service? and just to make sure, as far as shape, only head is included in the package - not body right? i understand that skin and others are included that's part of the head.
Namssor Daguerre
Imitates life
Join date: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,423
08-01-2008 17:43
I blend the custom head texture into one of my pre-existing body textures, then custom match the head shape from the image samples and use a body shape that fits one of my pre-existing skins. 60% of the shape sliders deal with the head alone, so most of the custom work concentrates on the head. The avatar shape is provided with full permissions, so the settings can be tweaked and fine tuned by the client.

You also get a high resolution (1024x1024) texture of the head with resale rights (if you choose to apply it to your own skin work) as an avatar body part. Needless to say, the raw TGA file is full permissions since it is delivered via email. The only restriction is that you can not freely offer or sell the texture by it's self. It needs to be applied to an avatar as a skin body part, if you choose to go that route. All of my clients have used the service for personal use so far.

I charge a fixed rate of US $395.00. That rate in L$ is appoximately L$108,000. There is one other comparable service that I have run across on the web that offers something similar for L$100,000. I have no idea what the quality of the work is, but feel free to check it out here:

http://slface.com/

If those costs are too much for you, there is also Cyber Extruder on Avatar Island. It is not a comparable service because it is automated through software, and generally uses fewer and lower resolution images, but it is much cheaper.
PengAng Parx
Registered User
Join date: 30 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
08-02-2008 09:53
Thanks for the detailed info. I have checked out the Cyber Extruder on Avatar Island. Though it's a bit cheaper I feel a bit nervous when it says "no refunds" - since I'm still rather new at buying and trying new shapes, skins, hair, and how to actually work them in-game. So I'd be more confortable working with a live person as I may have more questions throughout the process.

So from what I gathered so far: For the $395USD, I get a skin that covers the head/face portion only and its corresponding high res texture file. I also get the shape for the head/face portion, in addition to the the hair. It costs more if I need you to touch up any "blemishes" on the skin texture or make improvements to it and the face/head shape. It also costs more to customize anything below the neck. So does you package in face come with a "default" whole body shape in addition to the head?

Sorry for my ignorance. Still fairly unfamiliar with this topic and don't know if body shapes can be worn in-game as seperate head and body components? If not, then it means that you include a whole body shape in your package, but only customize the shape of the head of course. Thanks for any clarification.

BTW, I've also checked out SLFace.com and not sure what to make of it yet.....
Namssor Daguerre
Imitates life
Join date: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,423
08-02-2008 12:29
From: PengAng Parx
So from what I gathered so far: For the $395USD, I get a skin that covers the head/face portion only and its corresponding high res texture file.
You get a full body skin (with custom head), custom full body shape, and the high rez custom texture of the head. The body textures are your choice of one of my stock skins.

From: PengAng Parx
I also get the shape for the head/face portion, in addition to the the hair. It costs more if I need you to touch up any "blemishes" on the skin texture or make improvements to it and the face/head shape.
It depends on the amount of retouching involved. If I have to retouch prior to compositing the reference shots then, yes, there is extra cost (TBD). Prim hair is extra cost (TBD), but baked in hair is included.

From: PengAng Parx
It also costs more to customize anything below the neck. So does you package in face come with a "default" whole body shape in addition to the head?
I can throw in a few full body custom shapes at no extra cost. Customizing skin textures below the neck seam is extra cost, and time consuming work. I usually decline to do that kind of custom work because there is no way of determining a reasonable cost and time frame without completing most of the work.

From: PengAng Parx
...don't know if body shapes can be worn in-game as seperate head and body components? If not, then it means that you include a whole body shape in your package, but only customize the shape of the head of course. Thanks for any clarification.
I will work with you on several full body custom shapes if need be. Usually my customers like to tweak the shape I provide further, themselves. Custom shapes are a single asset that includes the head and body morph data.

From: PengAng Parx
BTW, I've also checked out SLFace.com and not sure what to make of it yet.....
I will let them answer for themselves.
PengAng Parx
Registered User
Join date: 30 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
08-02-2008 13:25
Your detailed explainations are very much appreciated. So i get a custom full body shape too. That's great! So in addition the photos of my head/face, you will need photos of my whole body too?
Namssor Daguerre
Imitates life
Join date: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,423
08-02-2008 17:15
From: PengAng Parx
So in addition the photos of my head/face, you will need photos of my whole body too?
No, just the eight reference angles shown here:

http://www.secondskinlabs.com/Portraits/aboutportraits2.html

The custom composite head texture is combined with one of my pre-existing skins (body textures).

My TOS doesn't cover nude photo submissions, even if not anonymous. There is too much red tape involved in getting releases and verifying age. If you are dead set on getting a custom body skin done, I can be commissioned to morph two different models from...

www.3d.sk

... into a custom skin. There is no guarantee that the skin textures would remain unique and exclusive, since the general public has access to those model references too, but it is highly unlikely that another artist would interpret and combine the same references in the exact same way. The cost on producing somthing like this as a one-off skin is prohibitive for most people (a typical monthly mortgage payment). I could significantly cut that cost if I retain all resale rights, so that I may profit from selling the body textures with another head texture.