Noob question of the day...

Hey all I am new to SL and looking to edit my shape.

Is there a way for me to download my current shape so that I may edit it in 3ds max? My shape is NOT a (no copy)(no edit)(no transfer) shape.

Hi Slip, welcome to the forums. You can not edit your shape outside of SL.

To edit it, click on yourself, when the pie chart appears click 'appearance' then you are given a window that allows you to edit your bodily attributes. Now this isn't neccessarily a easy thing, it can take a while to get the shape just as you want it. However, if you don't get it right the first time, you can always go back and tweak it again. It might be a good thing to 'save as' your new shape, give it name you can remember, so it doesn't override the current shape you have, so you can revert back to it if it all goes wrong.

Thank you for taking the time to post a reply. I am aware of the appearance edit option; but that option is not in depth enough for what I had in mind. Mainly the use of triangles instead of quads in the thigh area. The triangles really do not render well and distort the look of an avatar. I know I can download the "basic shape" from the SL web site. was just hoping there was a way to download that shape I have made in world so I could twik it a little bit.

I don't think there is a way to do what you want.

Even if you could, you are limited by the SL avatar mesh. Those polygons on the thigh area are part of the SL avatar mesh. You can't alter that.

Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear. Lots of people have been clamoring for an improved mesh for a long time; maybe it will happen eventually. Someone may have a link to a JIRA entry (an entry in SL's bug-fix and proposed-feature database) that you can vote on to voice your clamor as well.

No Problem thanks for the help.. I guess i will just have to edit the "basic shape" to my likings and then render it out and upload that. Its just the long way around, as I like the shape I have already created in SL; it just needs a little twiking that cant be done form in game.

I'm not sure I was clear; I don't think there is a way to edit the shape offline at all. The appearance sliders are it for shape editing. If I am wrong I am sure someone will promptly correct me.

Well like I said I can/have downloaded the "basic shape" from the SL web site. I already have it in 3ds Max and I am working to edit it. The big question now is; when I am done how to upload it and have it work.

This has to be the most advanced "noob" question I've seen in ages.

Aside from that, there is just isn't any way to replace the standard avatar mesh or other folks would have already done that. Just keep an eye open for numerous posts of people complaining about the bad and limited quality of the mesh.

The only workaround I could think of, while I'm not a creator, would be to slice your new shape into body attachments and stick them on the avatar. But that would mean you could never use all the prim attachment clothes out there, perhaps not even "standard" clothing.

So I it that even if I take the time to edit the mesh there is now way to upload it? And if that is the case then way make the "Basic shape" Available for download at all.

Noob to SL.

The basic shape is used by clothing and skin creators so that they can 'bake' light and shadow into their work because the lighting model that's existed in SL pre and post Windlight Rendering has been troublesome to many people. (=_=)

The avatar mesh, as it is, is terrible flawed and it's a bit of an art in it's own to work with. I myself have never purchased a shape or skin. The few forms I take on rely on modified freebies or my own design work. (^_^)

If you're doing anything in attempt to create your own avatar mesh, you're setting yourself up for the most intense form of frustration. Instead, practice on the tools you see available inworld and do what you can to be as creative as possible within the limitations. (^_^)

And, don't think you're alone. I have tons of SolidWorks creations I would LOVE to bring inworld. But since I can't find a descent *.step file to sculptimap converter and Blender confuses me to no end... It's just a pipe dream for me. (=_=)y

Well I thank everyone one for their input. I will just have to live with what I have. Search the forums for a place to post a note to LL. How four large triangle ploys got missed in the editing phase is beyond me. Any first year gaming and simulation student is going to tell you never use triangles; if you must use them never an area that is seen a lot or has a lot of movement.

I think the reason to make the basic shape available for downloading is so that people can use it with animation or rendering programs to get a sense of how their other creations will look when placed on the avatar mesh in game. I'm not sure about that. But I have never heard of uploading a shape, and the file upload options do not include shapes.

As I said you are not alone in finding the avatar mesh flawed. I am sure there other others who have favorite JIRA entries about this topic. Here is a meta-list of a number of JIRA entries relating to proposed improvements to the avatar:
http://jira.secondlife.com/browse/SVC-345

Browse those and vote on the ones you particularly like. Maybe LL will eventually roll out an update to the avatar mesh. Unfortunately, doing so would break all existing content based upon the present mesh, unless the option for back-compatibility remains somehow, so it's not entirely a simple task.

The avatar mesh is going to be upgraded...sometime.
It's been on the drawing board for a long time.
They will have to, to keep ahead of Rex. Competition is GOLD.