A new skin I'm working on

Don't ask me why, but I decided that making skins would be fun. God only knows how many hours later, but well over 100, I have a photoshop file that is about 200mb with somethign like 60 layers in it but I feel like I'm getting somewhere. This is the "darker" version of the skin. Smoke/white eyeshadow and pink semi-gloss lipstick, brown rouge.

Nice. I would definitely try this on!

I think you've done a very good job! I especially like the cheekbones and the way you've defined them. Please post in classifieds when you have some demos ready!

Wow that's a great looking skin! Any ideas on a release date?

maybe a little too much blush. But really gorgeous, overall!

Nika: Thanks for the positive feedback. Given that this is my first ever effort at anything even remotely like this, it's nice to know that it looks good to someone other than me.

Sunni: Again thanks. I'm working on cleanup and then I'll get demo's uploaded to slexchange and onrez shopping sites so I can get feedback from people actually wearing the skin.

Jeza: Thanks. Release date is a problem. I am SUCH a perfectionist I fear it may never be done. Towards that end, I have made myself a list and resolved that I will put it up for sale when I have completed the list /109/ed/210071/1.html

Lindal: Thanks. I've already toned down the blush Happily, everything like that is in it's own layer or layer group and easily modifiable. I spotted the same thing myself. That photo was my first test upload of the L20 version (darker tan) and I was guessing how much makeup would need to be applied to not get lost int he brown skin. One of my ongoing gripes is that the lighting model in SL is so wierd that there is no resemblance between the photoshop file and the final appearance.

All:
As a teaser... the worst item on my list was the skin texture itself. Given that the meshes on the character model do not all occupy the same amount of actual geometry on the skin (some meshes get stretched, others squished in various directions), The idea that I could hand paint a good texture was daunting to say the least. So, I have plunged into the world of blender. Created a bump map and texture map, had blender do the rendering and baking for me pulled it back out again. The result is shown below. Too bad much of the detail has been lost here. In game, it is as close to photo-realistic as you can get given how few pixels you're working with. Even better, it does become muddier in areas where small meshes are covering large surface areas (unavoidable because you just don't have any pixels to work with), but it is not distorted. WOOHOO. That was, by far, the worst of the cleanups that I needed to do and involved a good 30 hours of learning blender to get fixed. The rest of the items are fairly straightforward photoshop work and should go quickly.

EDIT: Oh yes, I deliberately took a shot of that area since that is right where the seam is between upper and lower textures. Note that there isn't one? *huge smile* Even zoomed in WAY close with CTRL-0, it is hard to see where the two textures meet. I am going to learn to love blender.

For those that are interested, take a look at the image I just posted over in the texture forum (linkage above). it is an oversharpened view of her belly button that allows you to see just how realistic you can get when you add blender into the workflow.

I am impressed, your first try?!?

Have you a lighter version for blondes? I found no free skins that match the "Sunshine" colors from Gurl, so i had to buy a skin with brown eyebrows and neutral make-up.

What i am searching for, is a skin with light skincolor, but not dull. The skin i hawe now from Nyte n'Day has a fine facemakeup, but i miss to have a body with more deeper and lighter nuances, without the face clutted with makeup. Your closeup picture of the belly was just gorgeous!

Of course i can spend a lot of money on skins, but i stop before i buy the most expensive ones.

gorgeous!

I've looked at these pics about six or seven times now. I've decided I want one!!

Please don't take too long working through that "to do" list, Brandi!

*smiles* Yes. First try. Well, ok. This has gone through countless revisions. I am up to version 2.9 and I have used 3 digits at times (2.26). I'm guessing upwards of 40 or 50 revs to get it here and it is not done. In terms of paler versions, my normal look is pale brunette. So yes, the skin in it's base is very pale. When I redraw the kitty and eyebrows, I'll make a blond version also. I've attached the pale version. That ugly seam line is plaguing me and I need to figure out what is causing it. I'm not even sure if it's my skin. It only happens when I wear and remove a skirt. Then it goes away by itself at some later date. You can safely assume though that the black smear won't be in the final skin *laughs*.

*blushes* What else can I say but thanks.

Thanks. I have resolved that the samples will be available this weekend. From there, I can get feedback and hopefully the finals will be out next weekend unless I get some really bad feedback.

Your skin is looking quite nice!

The little seam issue at the waist is very likely an old avatar alignment issue related to textures that get baked in separate clothing layers like shirts, pants, and undergarments (although this is the first I've seen it with a skirt). This won't affect skins or jackets because the upper and lower body textures get baked within the same clothing/body part layer. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's something Linden Lab needs to fix.

Thats a nice skin for your first attempt, but what software did you use to create the skin then how do you save it as a skin to use in SL?

Looks great and I hope that you inspire other creators to not release their work too early. When I shop and I see some crude first effort for sale, I never go back because I see these people as having no standards. Thanks for doing the work to create a quality product and holding off releasing it until it is actually done.

looks awesome so far, I would lighten up a bit the belly button, so it doesn't seems like a black hole (which mean it wouldn't be so deep inside the stomach). But then, it might look better ingame with normal world lighting *shrugs a bit*

Beside that it looks lovely, I like the makeup the most. Thinking in making any cat like eyes makeup? you know, the pointy ends on the side of the eyes?

I have been looking for a skin with that but no luck so far =/

OK. I resolved to have this done by Sunday and so I have. I still have not redone the eyebrows and kitty fur, but these should be plenty to garner feedback.

Note. These skins are NOT intended to be demonstration units of production version. These skins are intended for feedback. Preferably posted to this thread, but you can also drop a notecard to me in game (Brandi Lane)

http://slurl.com/secondlife/kilika%20cove/126/194/151/?title=Eve%203.0%20Sample%20Skin

It can also be bought from onrez here. http://shop.onrez.com/item/355299

NOTE: Do not bother to save a landmark here. It's just a temporary skybox for this purpose.

Things I am particularly interested in hearing about.

Skin Tone
Nail Placement
Skin Texture (the fine details, not the muscle contouring)
Muscle Shading

(other details for feedback contained in a notecard in the item)

You should be able to buy a copy for 1 linden of the main display. Ignore the pictures on the wall, I just took the opportunity to put up some art.

Thanks for takign the time to provide detailed feedback. This skin is getting close to being ready but I need feedback from others. Different people's monitors render differently. Different people have different tastes. Go ahead and be critical. I need it.

Thanks
~Brandi

Oh wow, I look and look.

First the skin tone: I think it's very, very good. I compare with my Nyte N'Day skin and i prefer your skin on the body. I am very happy with the belly, the way it's more tones and shades without being a dark tan.

Nails on hands is also good, especially the thumb nails look realistic. Toe nails need a bit more work, if i will walk with naked feet.

I love the small frecles or tiny birthmarks that is visual on a close look. Gives a realistic skin.

Muscles on belly and butt is also good.

All this 4 things you do better than Nyte N'Day in my subjective wiew. I paid 495 §L for a single skin, and if you operate with about the same, i would choose your skin.

That's the positive, now the neagative:

The eyemakeup is not as good in a close look. The eyeliner is the same thickness all way i think. Should be ultrathin, almost invisible in the inner corners. I think you could have more focus on the outer eye corners, instead of the inner. Not many girls put on eyeshadow and eyeliner in the inner corner, exept highlighter.

I try to find more mistakes, but you sure have done a good job. I think lips look very full, soft and shiny. The "Foxy" lips were too much for me, but others probably like it. The "classic" in red is a fab partymakeup for me. (Could have more brownish eyebrows for us rabid blondes, who refuse to put on other hair than blonde....) And a version with glossy beige/pink lips for the more casual look.

Even the things i didn't like with the eyemakeup is so small, I still prefer your skin totally. *applause* Go ahead and sell, and I hope i get an good offer when i grab my Lindens and come to your store!

Marianne: Thanks for the feedback. I am still processing it all. I'll let you know when a new version is up.

All:
I have udpated the skin line with a new version (L10. It is comparable to the L30H20S-2 skin, but with a different lighting solution that makes it more glossy and less matte. I would love to hear opinions on the lighitng solution between these two. I have also adjusted the lighting solution on the nails.

Of course the grid is down now...........hopefully i'll have time to a quick visit later tonight. *sigh*

Oh, you have some really good pictures of yourself....that "night dreams" is so seductive and innocent at the same time. Do you use a facelight for the nice effect? And if so, where can i buy one with such natural light?

Don't rush out just yet. Version 3.3 is beign worked on and a new for feedback version 3.4 should result. Things that are on the drawing boards right now...

Nostrils - in progress
Eyeliner - done
Eyeshadow - done
Lipstick - done
Larger skin texture - smoothed
Smaller skin texture - tweaked
Neck - in progress, being reworked
Toes - not started
Fingernails/Toenails - done
Palms of hands - done
Soles of feet - done

Thanks. Photography is one of my passions in RL as well as SL. I'm proud of the fact that I use only in-game tools to get those results (no post-processing in photoshop). Typically, I'll have a facelight and 2-4 ambient lights out. The facelight in use was created by me and yes, in my opinion, it is vastly superior to the wierd lights that you see typically used. Who knows, maybe that'll be the next Brandi Lane product.

I went by your skybox last night, but was unable to purchase an evaluation copy. Perhaps you've got enough testers and disabled the vendor?

Not at all. In fact, I was messing aroudn with an auto-rezzer for the skybox (never having used one before) and I linked a bunch of pieces together.... foolishly since this broke the vendor. It's fixed now.

I'd love the feedback still. And with the beta grid down, it looks like my original plans of having production units for sale this coming weekend are going to break down.

Eve is delayed due to the beta grid being down. So please please keep the feedback coming. I've also started a blog for those that care...

http://brandi-lane.blogspot.com/

I tried on your beta test demo, Brandi, and have a few comments for you...

1. The overall texture of the skin is excellent, very realistic.

2. The shading is more pronounced than I'm used to, but nonetheless looks very good. I love the scupted look of the belly area.

3. Area around the nose is good.

4. The lipstick is a little smeared, particularly the right side of the upper "cupid's bow".

5. The eyebrows look harsh and artificial.

6. Hands and nails look good.

7. The skin doesn't work too well with my current shape. This isn't necessarily a criticism of the skin, though...most skins need the shape tweaked to look their best. It definitely makes my cheekbones look higher and more prominent, and the eyebrows are too short.

What you might want to do is to try the skin on a number of different shapes, and see how compatible (or not) it is with this variety. If it turns out that there are one or two things that consistently show up as problem areas across a number of different shapes, those things might need attention. I confess, I did not go so far as to tweak my shape for this experiment...I like my current one, and was afraid I might not get it back!

I took some pictures (noon light, facing north) of me wearing Eve, and also wearing my two favorite skins from Celestial Studios. I'll upload them and forward them to you tonight. Hope you find them useful!

1. The overall texture of the skin is excellent, very realistic.
Thanks I spent A LOT of effort on the texturing. So many skins out there have nice shading, but there is either no texturing or just a simple gaussian noise texture. In the end, they look... well.. artificial.

2. The shading is more pronounced than I'm used to, but nonetheless looks very good. I love the scupted look of the belly area.
Thanks... i lavished a lot of time on that belly I'm assuming the "pronounced shading" was on the L108 version?

3. Area around the nose is good.
Thanks -- had to redraw the nose several times also.

4. The lipstick is a little smeared, particularly the right side of the upper "cupid's bow".
Fixed -- both sides

5. The eyebrows look harsh and artificial.
Redrawn entirely and I'm still not happy

6. Hands and nails look good.
Thanks

7. The skin doesn't work too well with my current shape. This isn't necessarily a criticism of the skin, though...most skins need the shape tweaked to look their best. It definitely makes my cheekbones look higher and more prominent, and the eyebrows are too short.
I wish I had gotten more than on the one picture. It was hard to see the problem in that picture. Perhaps we can get to gether in game?