question about buying skins

Voted and commented-- thanks for providing the number!

I voted too.. Jira is terrible I'd never read it if not for people posting them in the forums.

On the Windlight thing...

The facelight I use normally is very subtle... just gives a soft pink glow that just gets rid of nasty shadows in harsh lighting, I've found this totally useless in Windlight though.

But I got another light free when I bought an outfit from TaP (I think). It's just a big white ball that sits right in front of your face. Normally I would never use it... it's like a damn floodlight and even leaves a white glow on the ground around you, but it works wonders in Windlight and ensures no nasty shadows at any time settings.

Much as it goes against the grain to walk around looking like you've just swallowed a plutonium pie, I can see there'll be a lot of us doing just that.

Trying to remember what it's called. Oh yeah... "Glowing Globe o' Glamour' (sic!!!). It's pretty easy to make something does the same thing though.

So hey, it's not the solution we all want. But I just wanted to assure others who've spent hours with those sliders and seeking out that perfect skin that all is not lost under Windlight.

They can even make things worse, depending

One thing to remember about about the WindLight is that LL is still playing with the settings, so what looks okay there now might turn sour a little closer to final release, and vice versa. If you're bugged by the contrast change, it might make some sense to wait a little while to see how that evolves, before spending huge amounts on skins.

I see the demo tip has been done here. It really is important that cos whatever a skin looks like in a picture, it's going to be different on your shape. Not only due to the viewer but because your cheekbones, nose, mouth size, position, head shape, jaw shape, over lip, eyebrow slant and every other slider under the sun is going to be different to the models .. innit?

So yes, get the demos, pick one and spend hours in it, tweak a throwaway shape and if you aren't pleased with the result, *save it* and change to another demo. You might have second thoughts later or at least want to remember the names of what you tried. When changing shapes, save a new outfit, hence preserving your previous shape settings!

I followed loads of recommendations of makers, bought one which I admit am delighted with but carried on exploring. I found an un-mentioned maker that really did it for me and I now recommend them when asked and heck! someone actually followed it and agreed! so don't just go by what we say, look for yourself.

I wasn't even looking for a skin the other day but in one of the most unlikely spots there, among the usual OTT 'stripper' skins was a fantastically contoured and gently tanned skin.

I'd just say keep looking and keep playing. Only you know what you want .. and it's huge fun in the process

Thats weird lexxi, my skin looks way better in windlight.

Well I think Lexxi looks just super in that top shot .. and it's a lot more like the Lexxi I've seen at the hangout than the lower shot and I'm on the regular viewer still.

two worlds...Chip Midight

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will check them out.

Being a newbie, I'm not sure what Facelight is. Can someone elaborate?

It's Windlight in your face.

Hi Brann,

A facelight is basically an invisible prim that gives off light. You attach is to your nose, or mouth or some such place.
At some light settings you can get horrible shadows on your face, the facelight helps cure it.
You _can_ buy them, but they're also around as freebies, sometimes they're included in hair, and there's one included in the freebie Mystitool. You could also make one. If you need one shoot me an IM inworld and I'll throw you the one I made.

Hope that helps

Thanks to Peggy and everyone else on this thread for the great suggestions. I'm a fair noob myself and have only recently begun researching skin options. I really want a skin that has good shading and features and so on; the trouble I am having is that my avatar is blue, and none of the skins I've found in my initial meanderings are modifiable to the point where I can turn them blue and keep all the nice features.

So I'm wondering: does anyone have experience shopping for skins that are basically attractive, realistic human skins, just not within the ordinary range of human skin tones? Is the best thing for me to do to contact one of the premier skin makers (like the one Peggy mentions above) and commission a custom blue skin? Any other suggestions?

Thanks very much
-madhu

Thanks The top shot is in fact taken in Windlight, but it is LF Chai, while the lower picture is Sin Skin (in regular viewer).

A better test - same skin, different viewers.
Windlight: Skin: LF Chai


Regular: Skin: LF Chai


I love LF Chai but is quite expensive. Has demos though, so ended up getting three versions. All in the Cinamon range (Alloy, Mistress and Midnight).

it also depends on what look you want to go for.

try Nomine, Gala, X2, RaC, just to name a few. RaC also has a nice freebie skin pack as well.

Sin Skin has some skins in "other colors" - might have blue.

why limit yourself to the big names, why not explore and discover some new up and coming skin designers and give them a break

you know what? You are right!

i guess its time for me to get the old exploring clothes out !

One of the reasons I keep mentioning LF Chai as I had never heard of that one until I stumbled across it, and I have yet to meet anyone who has heard of it, the few times I have asked.

RaC has a freebie pack? I have been toying with the idea buying the "Emma" skin from them. I have freckles in RL, and RaC has some of the best freckled skins IMO.
The skin I wear is from Insolence. I also have a Vogue skin from Celestial Studios. Another skin I found recently, and think it was mentioned here earlier is from a place called "Another Shop". They have two nice freebies, and their skins are only 100L I think. The pale skin with freckles is adorable
Another thing that alot dont realize is the key to any skin looking good is the shape. Spend a little time in RaC, CS, X2, Naughty and watch some folks as they try on demos. You'll notice these beautiful skins in the photos dont look any better than most freebie skins when they are on a shape that is not quite right. However, if the shape is really nice, you'll notice that freebie skins and most skins will look really nice.
One other thing about facelights, are people offended by them? I notice some comments about the bright ones being too "offensive". I use a facelight that came with a RaC demo. When I walk around I do notice that it creates enough light to illuminate the ground around me. Is this really bothersome to others? If so, I may try to look for a less intense one

Allysa
=^.^=

I always notice when someone has a light focused on them. Suddenly the room will brighten and . . yes someone using a facelight. I do not think that I am bothered by it, but it literally is a "hey look at me" spotlight.

These are called fantasy skins. Nomine has pretty good ones, for very reasonable prices - I haven't been in ages, so forget what the section is called that they're in.

Didn't someone earlier mention a skin shop with good fairy skins? I'd check there too.

Does Sin Skins have a fantasy section? *bonks her head* i THINK so ...

I've heard of them! lol

They have a couple really major issues for me though, which made me sad because I'm a huge fan of her clothing lines.

http://www.launafauna.com/blog/

I didn't know RaC had a freebie pack either. I have 4 of her skin packs, and I love them all. I'm planning on getting another one this weekend, most likely "Drew", and she's now releasing new makeups for all her skins, so I've been demo'ing them. There are many, many excellent skin makers in SL, so it's really up to taste and your shape. The shape is very important. I think CS skins are lovely, but just don't look right on my shape. However, any and all RaC skins look pretty good with my shape. I try on skins all the time, seem to have some sort of obsession with them, and just cannot find any that look better on Sunni than RaC. I have tried, though.

Glad someone else has heard of that one :) And clothing? hehe Also makes clothing?
Sorry you have a problem with the skin :(

Wait, that is what LF stands for? hehe - glad to finally know :)

And neat - having a sale :) And you can see what I mean by expensive when half off is 600L :)

Great, all this praise for the place and I forgot to actually join the group so didn't get that freebie :( Neat looking skin with reddened cheeks from the cold :(

ooh :) hehe - hadn't opened until 11/9/07 hehe or 11/7/07 or something like that.


The fantasy section is in an out of the way corner on the Sin Skin Island. I'm sure you could find it using the teleporting system, but as I normally flew around not using that system, I do not know.

Thanks for the blue skin suggestions, folks - I will check them out tonight. I really like being blue, but blue newbie skin is not as nice as it could be.