Exprting Avatar shape

Hi,

I'm only new but have a question that I can't find the answer to.

Does anyone know if it is possible to import the default shape/shapes of the avatar (which I'm assuming are the files stored in the character folder in the secondlife directory) into a 3d modeling program so that you can add or alter? I am just guessing that these files are the main shapes the program uses that you can modify within SL. I'd like to make some improvements that I can't do in the editing appearance section. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree & have it all wrong but just thought I'd ask.


Thanks

You can't export anything from SL (except images), but the avatar models are freely available on the downloads section of this site in both Poser and OBJ formats. They're useful for testing textures for clothing & skins, which is why Linden Lab calls them "mannequin" files.

I'm not sure what you had in mind for your "improvements", but if it involves changing the geometry outside of SL, don't bother. You won't be able to bring your changes in. Everything you see in SL was made directly inworld. SL cannot import geometry, only images, sounds, and BVH animations.

You can certainly give your av just about any characteristics you can imagine though, just not by the method you had in mind. You'll just need to take a little time to learn how SL's somewhat unique toolset works, just like the rest of us.

Sorry, the title may have been misleading (now corrected) & you may have misunderstood what I was saying.

I'm not talking about trying to export or import anything into SL itself. I'm talking about being able to open the files that are stored on your computer in the character folder into a 3D program to manipulate them, then saving them back into the character folder. They have a .llm extension. For all I know they might be something to do with movement & not 3D files at all.

So the questions are:
1/ are they 3D files?
2/ If so can they be opened by a 3D program?

Anyone know?

Oh, sorry for misreading you. I think you're correct that those .llm files are the avatar mesh. I just copied one, gave it a .txt extension, and opened it up in a text editor. The first line says "Linden Binary Mesh". The rest is written in code, which I don't understand how to read. There may be a way to convert the files to something readable by common 3D programs and then back again, but it's beyond my knowledge. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

What I can say is it's worth considering whether modifying the mesh is a good idea, even if it is possible. First, we have no idea if anyone else will be able to see the changes, and second, we don't know how it would affect lag. Right now, every client sees the same model for every avatar, which the client already knows how to make. I have no idea how someone else's client would react upon encountering your altered mesh, or how yours would respond to viewing unaltered ones after it's been told your modified mesh is what an avatar's supposed to be. It would be an interesting experiment though.

Thanks for replying anyway. . I'm pretty sure those files are the main basic shape & it would be interesting to see what would happen if you could change them somehow. (backing up the originals of course). I might rename 1 & see if part of my body disappears.