Making a Proper Shape - A Guide to Human Proportions

Well now I know why things I build don't look right unless I make them 125% of the RL size.

HRJ

I make my things 100% RL size and they look perfectly fine. =^-^=

Though, my cookie jar is something like 600% RL size. (O.o)

This thread changed my SL life!

Thanks Briana and Vaelissa Cortes.

A head on avatar should divide into the length of body 7-8 times if stacked up next to the avatar.

So this is how you may wish to shape your avatar as a basis for starting and then adding imperfections and physical character traits.

If you divide your body into 7-8 head lengths, this is how the measuring should be (roughly) going from the head to your feet.

1.
First head length: head
2.
Second head length: chest line at nipples.
3.
Third head length: waistline, at bellybutton.
4.
Forth head length: groin area.
5.
Fifth head length: a bit above the knee.
6.
Sixth head length: just below knee.
7.
Seventh head length: above ankle (or mid-calf, if the person is 8 heads).
8.
Seven & 3/4 (or eighth) head length: at bottom of feet.

Other measurements that should be noted:

*
When the arms are at the side, the wrist bone aligns with the groin area.
*
The elbow aligns with the waistline—around or above the bellybutton.
*
Shoulder width, side-to-side is about 2 to 2 1/3 heads wide.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These are rules for 'proper proportions'. Following these steps will start you off with an avatar shape that is properly proportioned - afterward you can shape in any imperfections you like.

My head is a size 8 for SL references, meaning my body equates to 8 of my heads, my butt is kinda big and my chest rather flat - all just like RL for me.

Remember, these are not laws you have to follow. Only suggestions. The proportions listed above are common rules that artists, sculptors, etc.. all follow or at least recognize.

Have fun!

p.s. all this info can be grabbed from google by searching "human proportions", or variants of the sort.

My avatar is properly proportioned for a ferret!

naaa. the feet are too big.

Good, I'd hate for improper proportions to break the suspension of disbelief of a talking, bipedal ferret.

Ooooooh, I bet you think you're being ironic.

When standing, a ferret is plantigrade:



The distance from the ankle to the claws is comparable to the distance from the ankle to the knee.

Followed a few of these directions and I ended up looking like JoJo the Dog-Faced Boy.

I measured myself against these proportions back in January 09 and fell within acceptable range. The only major change i have made to my avatar was the switch from "Agent" to "Prim" height which required a little adjusting all over to look proper.

Ok so I will reveal the secret to all body proportions: The Golden Ratio 1:1.6180339887

Google that up and you will see loads of info. Up to you to work it into SL sliders.

Phi upon you, Ann.

The strangeness of getting proportions down right is that many in SL are out of whack. So correcting it gives the user the impression that the head is a huge balloon floating above the body. It took me a bit to get used to it. But that was because my head was too small before adjustment.

What the SL world has done is make us focus on individual parts and not the whole. Why is it most users end up with too small heads and too small hands? The feet, well I'm willing to live with tiny feet because I don't like to mod the shoes. Hair is easier to change.

Lately I've been seeing many avs closer to my height (around 5'10'') then when I first started SL. People are slowly learning to work with good proportions. Or they are buying shapes that follow the basic guidelines.

LOL!!

I miss all the best exchanges . . .