Part 2: Preparing the texture and uploading it:

I'll start this with a few tips from painful experience:

1) I suggest you copy the map out into a separate project directory before working on it. Many times I've accidentally started writing on or saved over the original one and had to uncrunch the .rar again.

2) Think out your layers ahead of time especially if you want to recolor it. Recoloring is a lot easier if the layers to recolor are separate from the ones you want to leave alone (like belt buckles and trim etc if you are doing clothing).

3) Don't delete layers, just hide them, you might need them later.

4) Before doing something drastic to a layer like burn/dodge, duplicate the layer and hide it as a backup.

5) I turn the base mesh/map into a layer, turn it to about 70% opacity, then put it on top and work underneath it if I am having trouble getting seams to line up, so I can see the map lines.

6) If (5) is still a problem, its often an RLC quirk where perfectly matched lines in 2D don't match up on the avi. You just have to tinker with it until things work. Under the left arm on the womens top is a particular pain point.

7) Makes sure you have enough stomach antacids in the house for (6). LOL.

8) Keep your names consistent for both the project and the png. You will also need to name it when uploading it, and finding it again is a lot easier if it all matches.


Once you get the texture to where you want it, save it as a .png with a reasonably clear name (see (8)). The size of the image always has to be in the powers of 2 (256x256, 512x512 etc). I often work at 1024x1024 or 2048x2048 until I'm happy with it, then on final upload reduce it to 512x512.

The smaller the size you save the image as, the better it is for everyone in RLC as larger sizes add to the server load. However, you do lose some resolution (though its been less than I thought it would be). Of course RLC doesn't enforce any size restriction, that would make too much sense LOL.
I often will save the image as 3 different sizes (512x512, 1024x1024, and 2048x2048) and see what looks best inworld vs how big the file is. I rarely use the largest one except for maybe jewelry.

Now you need to start to build an outfit to upload the texture to:

To build an outfit, go to the lower Clothing tab (the gray tab, not the red or yellow one in the upper right).
Click the "Create Outfit" tab.
Click New Style for avatar type.

Choosing the correct options is the hardest part so I will describe it just for a tattoo here, then go into it more in the next email.

Choose the following options for a male upper body tattoo (having used the HM_Upperbody_Nude map to create it):
Gender: Male
Model Category: Male torso nude
Model: Torso Nude
Layer: skin
Decal: Tattoo

For the mens bottom half change the following parameters (after having used the HM_Lowerbody_Nude map to create it).

Model Category: Male legs nude
Model: Legs Nude
(the other parameters are the same).

For a female tattoo it is the same as mens (above), just change the genders.

When you are doing setting the upload options for this part of the outfit click Add Texture.
Make sure Texture Library says "Upload New Texture" **
Put a name in the Name box (like My_first_tattoo_top). Its best if it matches the file name on your hard drive (see (8)).
then click browse and choose the correct file on your computer hard drive.
Then click Upload Texture.

It will charge you 1 ray and upload the image you chose and name it whatever name you put in the Name box.

Do this for each part of the outfit you are building.

** You only have to upload each piece and pay 1 ray once. If you need to redo that piece click Replace for that texture and reupload it, it won't charge you for the replacement.


FYI the meshes for women fit transgender female if you want to make stuff for them too.You just have to build the outfit as transgender female not female. You can use the same texture and not have to upload it again.

End of Part 2.

Part 4: Finalizing and distributing the outfit.

So now you have a great texture you developed on the Upperbody_nude map, you saved it as 512x512, you've uploaded it to a male outfit on the torso nude tattoo layer, and you ready to go. Now what?

After all your uploading is done now click "Publish Outfit".

On the next page you can name the outfit, describe it, upload a picture of it, and classify it so it ends up in a certain part of the UV catalog. Most of it is pretty self-explanatory.

I strongly suggest at least giving it a name so you can find it again in your "my designed outfits" list.

Click "Test Outfit on Avatar" to make sure the images are loaded onto the right parts. This will apply it to your avi. You need to be inworld and the right gender to test it.

There are two important settings at the bottom of this page.

"Release Mode" will let you gift it but you can't change the outfit again unless you take it out of Release Mode and put it back into Edit Mode. If it is in Edit Mode you can't gift it.

The Purchasable box, when checked, will let it show up in the catalog for purchase for whatever price you have it set as. If making things for private gifts put them in Release Mode without the Purchasable box being checked.

Click "Save Changes" and you are ready to go. Outfit will now show up under "My Designed Clothing" under My Clothing in your social center.

If the outfit is in Edit Mode you can get back to the upload screen by clicking Configuration. If the outfit is in Release Mode that button will be grayed out until you change the mode.

Notes:

1) REALLY IMPORTANT: Once you gift it you cannot change any of the textures that are uploaded. There is a way of sending a new texture to an outfit someone already has but its a pain. Ask me if you run into this. I've never actually had to do it.
Try to make sure its good to go before you let anyone else have it.

2) If you screw up what body part you load an image onto you don't have to reupload it. Just delete the part from the outfit , put in the correct parameters, choose "Existing current group" and find the image in there instead of doing "Upload New Texture" . This is why you name the pieces :D .

End of Part 4.

I know this is really long and a lot of info but it should at least get you started. Its also mostly what I wish someone had told ME when I went down this road!!

Have fun!

I've got too much going on in real right now to take on anything else, but maybe after the new year. I'll look into it more then.

Thanks for asking, I'm flattered .

Cel

@Kynze, tattoos can be developed either by drawing them yourself or by finding clip art etc online that allows you to use the image for commercial or artistic purposes.

A lot can be done with self-taken pictures of ordinary items with a little imagination and work. For instance, check out this thread, the "Household Item Challenge".

https://forums.uthervers...old-Item-Challenge.aspx

My own contribution to that was making an outfit out of a picture I took of a bottle of generic antacids LOL.