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Best Female Skins and Shapes???

Rene Erlanger
Scuderia Shapes & Skins G
Join date: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 2,008
08-17-2007 07:06
From: Ann Launay


Oh, and Nora's Entice line had a least a couple mentions early on and that's certainly not one of the better known brands.


i was talking in general....there are a few people that probably really do know there stuff and have tried or seen many.....like your good self.

Being big...could mean setting up shop since 2004/5.....doesn't mean BEST by any stretch of imagination!
Brenda Connolly
Un United Avatar
Join date: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 25,000
08-17-2007 07:10
From: Ann Launay
Because ETD has superior textures and a nicer overall look. :p

Yep, I use ETD, Diversity and Calla. Gurl6 is OK, just not my taste.
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Stephanie Misfit
Registered User
Join date: 25 May 2006
Posts: 155
08-17-2007 07:16
I can't believe no-one has mentioned Lovey's Boutique for skins. Check them out if you are in the market for a new skin, they are absolutely gorgeous. Hand drawn as well, so you don't end up looking like you've just slapped someone's photo on your face :P
Ann Launay
Neko-licious™
Join date: 8 Aug 2006
Posts: 7,893
08-17-2007 07:20
From: Rene Erlanger
For the record, i haven't as yet seen any skin that is perfect in MY eyes....each of the main brands, i could pick minor faults or weaknesses.


Yup, one of my friends and I joke that finding the perfect skin is quest akin to that of locating the Holy Grail. Unless you have the skills to make it for yourself, which I certainly don't, you just have to go with the ones with flaws you can live with. I think most of the big sellers are big because they've found their 'niche'...a group of loyal buyers who like their work and pass the word. And, generally speaking, these creators have good quality work, even when the details may not appeal to me in particular.

RaC only started in 2006, and they've obviously found a fan base. Lovey's is small, but up and coming, although that line makes me a little sad...they look so pretty on other avs and just sort of weird on mine. *sigh*
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Betty Doyle
Ingenue
Join date: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 336
08-17-2007 07:36
Yes, Lovey's are beautiful. Artilleri's new skins are very pretty as well. You beat me to it Ann, RaC did indeed only open in 2006, which proves newer skin makers can get a lot of attention.
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Khilah Whitfield
Calgon take me away!
Join date: 5 Mar 2007
Posts: 146
08-17-2007 09:22
From: Rene Erlanger
For the record, i haven't as yet seen any skin that is perfect in MY eyes....each of the main brands, i could pick minor faults or weaknesses. I could write a comprehensive listing on those. I do have an opinion on which is the best overall skin and most reliable without being the best in any given department. (i'll keep that to myself!)


I have also checked out the lesser known "big name" skins, and while I did purchase one, it just doesn't do for me what my Nomine skins do. I love the way I look in it. Believe me, I have tried many brands (I spent the first month in SL just exploring and buying) and I did find that there are some wonderful skin places, however, FOR ME, Nomine suits me. (and believe me, I now have a collection of about 300 skins, from MANY MANY different places). I like to try new things, and even if I don't use the skin ever again, I like to support the lessor known places as well. I have yet to find a skin that I adore completely as well, and the poster who mentioned it is like finding the Holy Grail, I truly believe that. I have tried to make my own skin, and it took me almost a month to create just one. All the skins I have, have faults and weaknesses, but isn't that part of what makes each of our avi's unique???
Rene Erlanger
Scuderia Shapes & Skins G
Join date: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 2,008
08-17-2007 09:48
From: Stephanie Misfit
I can't believe no-one has mentioned Lovey's Boutique for skins. Check them out if you are in the market for a new skin, they are absolutely gorgeous. Hand drawn as well, so you don't end up looking like you've just slapped someone's photo on your face :P


This is what i'm saying....not a widely known brand yet delivers quality skins. (I'm not sure i have seen her products....but i will have done by the end of today! :) )

To be honest skins are a personal thing.....what type of face you'd like to have, and what body detail you want shown. In essence there are probably only a few hundred different faces to chose from. [e.g Naughty Designs have 4/5 female faces and only 2 men (Dante/Gabriel) ]

With the technology available now and intergrating programs that work alongside Photoshop, I'm sure the bar will be raised pretty shortly.
Rene Erlanger
Scuderia Shapes & Skins G
Join date: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 2,008
08-17-2007 10:05
From: Khilah Whitfield
I I have tried to make my own skin, and it took me almost a month to create just one. All the skins I have, have faults and weaknesses, but isn't that part of what makes each of our avi's unique???



The skin creators deserve every cent or Linden they make from SL, it is truly a very hard skill /art to deliver a quality skin. People might consider skins are generally expensive....but once you realise the time spent to develop just one base skin, you soon change your opinion.

My SL partner has been developing our own line of skins for 3 months now, ...we're forever tweaking, forever improving and forever making changes to cover all the bases. We hope to launch very shortly and piggy back off the success of "Bodies by Dalian" shapes..........watch this space! :)
Ann Launay
Neko-licious™
Join date: 8 Aug 2006
Posts: 7,893
08-17-2007 10:14
From: Betty Doyle
Artilleri's new skins are very pretty as well.


I tried those recently as well and quite liked them despite not having the stronger brow I generally prefer. I haven't quite made up my mind whether to purchase or not, though, because the makeups I particularly liked either came with freckles, brown eyebrows, or both...I'm a black brows, no freckles kind of girl. ;) Cake's have nice faces as well, but I found some of the shading to be a bit too dark, particularly around the bum and collar bones. I've tried a couple others lately that I would have liked except the shading between the bridge of the nose and the eyes/brows was too dark, giving a somewhat pissed off look...Minnu and Soda spring to mind. I do like Au Naturale's Elite skins, but the nipples are such a peculiar color that I can't bring myself to actually buy them, even though I tend to be pixel shy and it's likely no one would ever see them except me. Tuli's are nice, they're just not 'Ann,' so no sale there either. Hmmm, I guess that's everything I've tried on recently but, even if it isn't, I should probably stop now. lol

Oh, and Betty, thanks for the outfit. :)
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From: someone
I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things.

Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.
Nina Stepford
was lied to by LL
Join date: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 3,373
08-17-2007 11:00
etd has nicer shoes, ill grant them that. they have the best maryjanes on the grid.

and after getting those skin demos home i see what youre on about with the mismatching heads :(
From: Ann Launay
Because ETD has superior textures and a nicer overall look. :p
Betty Doyle
Ingenue
Join date: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 336
08-17-2007 11:16
You're Welcome, Ann. Sounds like you've tried on even more skins than I have recently. I think Au Naturale is one I haven't tried.... although, oddly coloured nipples are a deal breaker as well for me... even though no one but me ever sees them.

I've haven't tried on nearly all the RaC demos, most are darker than I wear.... even the one I bought is a few shades darker than I normally prefer (if you're listening, come out with some paler skin tones please), but the heads all matched the bodies on the ones I looked at.

I wish more people would make lighter eye make-up with mid to dark lips.
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Ann Launay
Neko-licious™
Join date: 8 Aug 2006
Posts: 7,893
08-17-2007 11:27
From: Betty Doyle

I've haven't tried on nearly all the RaC demos, most are darker than I wear.... even the one I bought is a few shades darker than I normally prefer (if you're listening, come out with some paler skin tones please), but the heads all matched the bodies on the ones I looked at.


I think the 'Milky' was the most mismatched one I saw...the face was far paler than the body and the body shading looked positively grey. And I think most skin lines could use more light shades...that's a huge deterrent for me, when even the 'lightest' shade is too dark. Pale is in, damn it! :p
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From: someone
I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things.

Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.
Ilianexsi Sojourner
Chick with Horns
Join date: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 1,707
08-17-2007 11:37
From: Ann Launay
Lovey's is small, but up and coming, although that line makes me a little sad...they look so pretty on other avs and just sort of weird on mine. *sigh*

I have a skin from Lovey's... it's beautifully done, but gives me a completely different look, so I don't wear it frequently. It has a lot less eye makeup than I'm used to. Also, the way the lips are done made it necessary to make a new version of my shape, just to wear with that skin, with my lip shape altered quite a bit. It gives me a sort of Eurasian look, so it's fun to wear now and then for a change.
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Colette Meiji
Registered User
Join date: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 15,556
08-17-2007 12:06
From: Ann Launay
I think the 'Milky' was the most mismatched one I saw...the face was far paler than the body and the body shading looked positively grey. And I think most skin lines could use more light shades...that's a huge deterrent for me, when even the 'lightest' shade is too dark. Pale is in, damn it! :p


I noticed that on RAC ones too that the face to neck lacked definition to the body

then I went and compared it to a ton of other designers - and found that -

All the "photoreal" skins had that blending issue at the neck to some extent or other. Just as you mentioned it was clearer on some RAC skins. But if you really look for it youll see it on a lot of other photo skins.

A completely painted skin doesnt seem have that effect.
Chip Midnight
ate my baby!
Join date: 1 May 2003
Posts: 10,231
08-17-2007 12:10
From: Colette Meiji
All the "photoreal" skins had that blending issue at the neck to some extent or other. Just as you mentioned it was clearer on some RAC skins. But if you really look for it youll see it on a lot of other photo skins.

A completely painted skin doesnt seem have that effect.


The neck seam is really difficult to get a clean match on if there's any variation in tone there. You'll notice on a lot of hand painted skins there are no tendons going from the collar bones up to the ears, and on a lot of photoreal skins that do have them, there'll be a slight mismatch.
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Colette Meiji
Registered User
Join date: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 15,556
08-17-2007 12:20
From: Chip Midnight
The neck seam is really difficult to get a clean match on if there's any variation in tone there. You'll notice on a lot of hand painted skins there are no tendons going from the collar bones up to the ears, and on a lot of photoreal skins that do have them, there'll be a slight mismatch.



The neck seems almost a "blur"

is that becuase definition is left out there?

I tried a lot of skins and saw they had the same thing, so many that I decided to go with the RAC for my current look in the end , since the bellybutton was the final deciding factor (LOL its true)
Betty Doyle
Ingenue
Join date: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 336
08-17-2007 12:23
From: Ann Launay
I think the 'Milky' was the most mismatched one I saw...the face was far paler than the body and the body shading looked positively grey. And I think most skin lines could use more light shades...that's a huge deterrent for me, when even the 'lightest' shade is too dark. Pale is in, damn it! :p


Yes, it is! One of the things I love about Sin Skins... lots of pale skin options! I don't even wear the palest one there, which is highly unusual for me.

Having 300 CS skins you must have some pull, ask her to make more light eye, red lip make-ups! ;) I do love the light red lipstick on my one CS skin.
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Chip Midnight
ate my baby!
Join date: 1 May 2003
Posts: 10,231
08-17-2007 12:24
From: Colette Meiji
The neck seems almost a "blur"

is that becuase definition is left out there?

I tried a lot of skins and saw they had the same thing, so many that I decided to go with the RAC for my current look in the end , since the bellybutton was the final deciding factor (LOL its true)


It's due to the mismatch in scale between the polygons on the upper body neck seam, and the polygons on the head neck seam. The head polys receive many times more pixels due to their size on the template compared to those on the upper body template.
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Namssor Daguerre
Imitates life
Join date: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,423
08-17-2007 12:29
From: Colette Meiji
The neck seems almost a "blur"

is that becuase definition is left out there?
The side of the neck/shoulders where the front and back UVW seams meet is very stretched out compared to the neck portion on the head UVW (which carries a good bit of detail) in that same area. When blending photoreal textures across seams in those areas it is neccessary to blur the higher resolution to match the lower resolution, otherwise the seams will show.
Colette Meiji
Registered User
Join date: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 15,556
08-17-2007 12:39
From: Namssor Daguerre
The side of the neck/shoulders where the front and back UVW seams meet is very stretched out compared to the neck portion on the head UVW (which carries a good bit of detail) in that same area. When blending photoreal textures across seams in those areas it is neccessary to blur the higher resolution to match the lower resolution, otherwise the seams will show.


From: Chip Midnight
It's due to the mismatch in scale between the polygons on the upper body neck seam, and the polygons on the head neck seam. The head polys receive many times more pixels due to their size on the template compared to those on the upper body template.


Thanks - well that explains it. :)
Ann Launay
Neko-licious™
Join date: 8 Aug 2006
Posts: 7,893
08-17-2007 13:39
From: Betty Doyle


Having 300 CS skins you must have some pull, ask her to make more light eye, red lip make-ups! ;) I do love the light red lipstick on my one CS skin.


lol, it's more like 150 between Vogue and Charmed...I think 300 was someone else's total skin count. I love the Burgundy Vogue, as well as the subtle cat-eye makeup on her Deviant Nation Vamp skins (sold at Last Call). Hopefully she won't beat me for borrowing these:





I bet she could do an amazing 1940s-ish retro makeup series, though. :)
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From: someone
I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things.

Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.
Betty Doyle
Ingenue
Join date: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 336
08-17-2007 14:01
I really like Vamp.... I just wasn't sure about the bit of eyeshadow going from the corner of the eye toward the nose.... and I want the lightest eye on the darkest lipstick too. :P Being very persnickity. I may have to try on that demo again though. I have a folder just full of skin demos... I only ever throw out the ones I really dislike. Should really get those out of there and into a storage box....

edit... although, looking at it again, the eye doesn't get that much darker on the darkest lip like it does on the regular Vogue line, does it?
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Rhian Jenkins
An Alternate Alyx Sands
Join date: 28 Jul 2007
Posts: 129
08-17-2007 17:26
From: Betty Doyle
Yes, it is! One of the things I love about Sin Skins... lots of pale skin options! I don't even wear the palest one there, which is highly unusual for me.



Like me! I also went for the second palest option.... (that is, Alyx did. I'm just the stupid placeholder alt. Although my skin is....SinSkins as well...)
Nina Stepford
was lied to by LL
Join date: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 3,373
08-18-2007 09:55
just got a message that canimal is releasing the cs vogue skins with the canimal makeup on them. im going to check them out.
Alyx Sands
Mental Mentor Linguist
Join date: 17 Feb 2007
Posts: 2,432
08-18-2007 10:57
From: Nina Stepford
just got a message that canimal is releasing the cs vogue skins with the canimal makeup on them. im going to check them out.

The glittery ones look hot! Check out the shopping thread in the forum!
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