Second Life Forums Archive - Building My Dream 'Home'

Delpha Deckard

Just a Geek

Join date: 14 Apr 2005

Posts: 87

04-26-2005 12:36

I need some help. I've been playing SL for a few days now and I'm loving it! I got this basic idea for a 'home' - which would be more like a HQ for me - after I get enough L$ and land. Any how - I'm having a hard time making one of the center points of the building. On the top of the build, there will be two Rounded Rectangle 'towers'. Which I hope to have a look-out that is lead by an elevator. Question is - how the heck could I make a Rounded Rectangle...with multi-windows. Picture will be attached for better idea! I've tried making a tall box with a torus, that was shaped into a curve. But wasn't what I was looking for - and the box still stood out. Hope I was detailed enough! Thanks for looking

Ghoti Nyak

καλλιστι

Join date: 7 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,078

04-26-2005 13:09

I had a similar shape in one of my houses.

What I did was used hollowed spheres which I cut to form the rounded corners. I can not remember the exact cut numbers but ask me in-world and I'll drop an example on you. I then used hollowed cylinders cut down to 25% to form the walls and curved roof.

Not a very clear description, I'm afraid, but I can certainly show you in-world.

-Ghoti

_____________________

"Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon." ~ H.P. Lovecraft

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

04-26-2005 13:24

Delpha, first of all welcome to SL

What you're trying to do is not complicated and can certainly be done. You'll find that as you practice building in SL, your ability to "think in prims" will grow tremendously. You might even find yourself driving down the street and automatically picturing how to build everything you see. Then you'll know you've arrived (or that you're insane; I haven't figured out which).

Here are some tips to get you started. Begin with a plain old rectangle (cube) as your foundation. Your rounded edges will be cylinders, cut to 25% so that they can sit flush along the edges of the cube. The coners should be spheres, again cut to 25%, and dimpled on one end by 50%. This will give the sphere 3 flat sides. Now just fit everything together and you're done.

Take a look at the attached image if the verbal description wasn't enough. The object on the left is all one texture and appears seamless. The one on the right is multi-colored so you can see the individual components. Happy building.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Delpha Deckard

Just a Geek

Join date: 14 Apr 2005

Posts: 87

04-26-2005 15:42

Thank you both for the help!! I'll have to try that out later on. I love your Sci-Fi Museum, Chosen. I went there a few days ago (I think it was like my third day playing). I loved it - found myself 'drooling' over the TARDIS. Hehe - Sci-Fi geek all the way. Thanks again! Happy building

Oh and one more question! How would I got about doing the windows from the picture, I posted? It shouldn't be too hard right?

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

04-26-2005 17:11

Thanks for the compliments on the museum.

To answer your questions about the windoes, you have two options. The first would be break up the sides into smaller pieces and apply some transparency to the pieces you want as windows. The better method would be to create an alpha texture with the windows on it which would allow you to cut down on prims considerably. If you're competent at making textures, go with option 2. If not, go with option 1.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Lora Morgan

Puts the "eek" in "geek"

Join date: 19 Mar 2004

Posts: 779

04-26-2005 17:17

Another thing to consider is to pay attention to the position numbers in the Edit window. If you use round numbers (or even divisions, like .5 and .25) you can position the pieces exactly so the edges line up. It's hard to do by eye, because with a round edge against a flat one, you'll really notice the difference.

Welcome to the Second Life Forums Archive

Building My Dream 'Home' - Need Some Help!

Building My Dream 'Home' - Need Some Help!
Delpha Deckard Just a Geek Join date: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 87	04-26-2005 12:36 I need some help. I've been playing SL for a few days now and I'm loving it! I got this basic idea for a 'home' - which would be more like a HQ for me - after I get enough L$ and land. Any how - I'm having a hard time making one of the center points of the building. On the top of the build, there will be two Rounded Rectangle 'towers'. Which I hope to have a look-out that is lead by an elevator. Question is - how the heck could I make a Rounded Rectangle...with multi-windows. Picture will be attached for better idea! I've tried making a tall box with a torus, that was shaped into a curve. But wasn't what I was looking for - and the box still stood out. Hope I was detailed enough! Thanks for looking
Ghoti Nyak καλλιστι Join date: 7 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,078	04-26-2005 13:09 I had a similar shape in one of my houses. What I did was used hollowed spheres which I cut to form the rounded corners. I can not remember the exact cut numbers but ask me in-world and I'll drop an example on you. I then used hollowed cylinders cut down to 25% to form the walls and curved roof. Not a very clear description, I'm afraid, but I can certainly show you in-world. -Ghoti _____________________ "Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon." ~ H.P. Lovecraft
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	04-26-2005 13:24 Delpha, first of all welcome to SL What you're trying to do is not complicated and can certainly be done. You'll find that as you practice building in SL, your ability to "think in prims" will grow tremendously. You might even find yourself driving down the street and automatically picturing how to build everything you see. Then you'll know you've arrived (or that you're insane; I haven't figured out which). Here are some tips to get you started. Begin with a plain old rectangle (cube) as your foundation. Your rounded edges will be cylinders, cut to 25% so that they can sit flush along the edges of the cube. The coners should be spheres, again cut to 25%, and dimpled on one end by 50%. This will give the sphere 3 flat sides. Now just fit everything together and you're done. Take a look at the attached image if the verbal description wasn't enough. The object on the left is all one texture and appears seamless. The one on the right is multi-colored so you can see the individual components. Happy building. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Delpha Deckard Just a Geek Join date: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 87	04-26-2005 15:42 Thank you both for the help!! I'll have to try that out later on. I love your Sci-Fi Museum, Chosen. I went there a few days ago (I think it was like my third day playing). I loved it - found myself 'drooling' over the TARDIS. Hehe - Sci-Fi geek all the way. Thanks again! Happy building Oh and one more question! How would I got about doing the windows from the picture, I posted? It shouldn't be too hard right?
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	04-26-2005 17:11 Thanks for the compliments on the museum. To answer your questions about the windoes, you have two options. The first would be break up the sides into smaller pieces and apply some transparency to the pieces you want as windows. The better method would be to create an alpha texture with the windows on it which would allow you to cut down on prims considerably. If you're competent at making textures, go with option 2. If not, go with option 1. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Lora Morgan Puts the "eek" in "geek" Join date: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 779	04-26-2005 17:17 Another thing to consider is to pay attention to the position numbers in the Edit window. If you use round numbers (or even divisions, like .5 and .25) you can position the pieces exactly so the edges line up. It's hard to do by eye, because with a round edge against a flat one, you'll really notice the difference.