Noobish questions about building

Hi!

As it says I'm pretty new to this and have just been exploring the world. I'm not extremely advanced with 3D programs but I know the basics.
The main questions I have about building in SL are:

Can you build objects in another program and import into SL, like Maya or something else?
How exactly do you go about animating objects or groups of objects for SL? Could you use a seperate program like you do when you make animations for avatars (Poser)? Or is it purely scripted... or are there tools to do so that I'm not aware of yet...

I thought it would be a good learning experience to make a pair of wings for my avatar, While I can form them in-game but it seems to be painfully slow compared to creating them in a seperate 3D program.

Any information will help
You gotta start somewhere.

Thanks!

Hi, welcome to SL

1) no import, all building is done inworld*
2) if you want to animate objects you have to either learn how to script or get someone to help you with the scripting part

good luck

*Jeffrey Gomez is working on an offline editor which apparently can import things into SL, but you are still stuck with the prim system. No meshes

Yes, you do...I suggest that you search through the forum or read the old threads - there is alot of useful information in these threads.

Since you are new..here are the answers to your questions:

1. Can you build objects in another program and import into SL, like Maya or something else?

No and Yes.

It was not possible to build outside SL until Jeffrey Gomez made this cool tool:
/8/64/110607/1.html


2. How exactly do you go about animating objects or groups of objects for SL? Could you use a seperate program like you do when you make animations for avatars (Poser)? Or is it purely scripted...

You answered your own question - animating (most) objects involves scripting. I say most because the last update introduced flexi prims - shapes that bend and are effected by their environment. Flexi prims are not scripted but their movement is limited; however, you can add an element of randomness by allowing the wind to affect the prim.

3. or are there tools to do so that I'm not aware of yet...

There are some interesting experimental tools. Here is one:
/15/da/37403/1.html


4. (not a question - but...) I thought it would be a good learning experience to make a pair of wings for my avatar, While I can form them in-game but it seems to be painfully slow compared to creating them in a seperate 3D program.

You can find lots of freebie wings around. Take them apart and see how they work - you might be suprised.

Hope this helps!

-2fast