Paper-thin flexi ribbons

Second thing that comes with

Flexi comes under the same limitations as every other SL prim. Minimal dimension on any axis is 0.010m. This causes flexi ribbons (or any other flexi object) to have a minimal stated thickness of 0.010m. This breaks immersion, since ribbons (to me at least) should be alot thinner...

The interesting thing about flexi is, for 2 given prims with the same flexi parameters and the same dimensions, will behave as one object. So here's a trick to try:

1. Create a box, and stretch it out as long and as ribbon-like as possible or desired, then set it to flexi, with the flexi properties you want.

2. Insert this script. It will make all of its sides invisible, except for 1. Once this happens, delete the script from the prim inventory.

default
{
    state_entry()
    {
        llSetAlpha(0.0,ALL_SIDES);
        llSetAlpha(1.0,1);

    }


}

3. Duplicate this prim by shift-dragging, then ctrl-z to snap it back to the position of the original.

4. Rotate the new prim 180, so that the visible side now faces the other way.

5. Move the new prim, so that each prim now shows 1 side of the ribbon.

5. Link them together and wiggle them to test.

Attached image for visual assistance.

OOOH! Love it! Doubles the prims, but certainly deals with the issue well! Thanks!

BTW - Could you reduce the size of your images, so they don't streach the screen so wide? Thanks.

Welcome, and okay

Hmmmm ... I don't know if everyone knows this, but I didn't, and when I discovered it I was very happy. It's a technique similar to yours, Kitsu, but can be used to create many paper-thin shapes. I have already used it to create paper-thin boxes and cylinders, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work with all prims. It goes like this:

-Create a prim, e.g., a cylinder. Shift+drag to copy it.
-Go to the original cylinder. Texture its outer side with any texture and its top and bottom sides with 100% alphas.
-Go to the second cylinder. Hollow it, then texture its inner side with any texture, and its outer, top, and bottom sides with 100% alphas.
-Ctrl+Z on the second cylinder. It will snap back to the position of the original. What you have now in essense is a cylinder object with outer and inner sides and some empty space in between (the amount of empty space is dependent upon the hollow percentage that you used).
-Select the second cylinder and, using either math or a good eye, stretch it along the x- and y-axes until its inner side meets the original cylinder's outer side.

And presto. You have a paper-thin cylinder Use it to make chokers, lamp shades, etc. This technique could conceivably be used with all prims. E.g., create two spheres (one solid, one hollow), texture them appropriately, then move them inside each other and stretch them so their sides meet, and you should end up with an eggshell-like object.

What I do isn't nearly as fancy as this. I just taper the top part on one axis so it's literally paper thin. If the ribbon is long at all, it will look pretty convincing as long as the side textures are transparent. The gap at the bottom end is a lot harder to notice than that on the top.