Day 218: One Day Blog Silence

Day 216: Creating Jewelry Part 2

In Creating Jewelry Part 1, we created a pearl necklace using Ged Larsen's LoopRez script.



Have you ever seen the ruby bracelet picture at the top of the Flexi Prim Skirt Tutorial? I used that as an example of what Ariane Brodie's original Necklace Generator was designed to do (before we coerced it into making flexi skirts for us :P).

Now, we are going to coerce Ged Larsen's LoopRez script (designed to make flexi skirts) to make bracelets for us. Go figure... :P



In this Part 2 of the tutorial series, we are going to make that ruby bracelet. This is an example of how to use the LoopRez script to duplicate a multi-prim object with different sides (unlike a sphere, like a pearl). It also shows how to work with gemstone textures.

A sidenote in case you have Ged Larsen's LoopRez Delxue: Unlike the freebie LoopRez script, LoopRez Deluxe is designed specifically for making flexi skirts. It has a lot of enhancements that makes creating flexi skirts easier. But one tradeoff is that it cannot duplicate multi-prim objects and still let you manipulate the objects (this is partly because of SL limitations). So you have to use the freebie LoopRez script to make things like this bracelet for now. Until Ged gets around to creating a jewelry maker or something :) (hint...hint...)

You will need the free “Ged Larsen’s LoopRez Script” and "Gemstone Textures" from Sirena Hair & Fashion to complete this part of the tutorial. Click on Search, select Places, and enter “sirena” as the keyword (SLURL: Sirena Hair (116,217,22)).


1. Ruby Bracelet Overview



Like the pearl necklace in Part 1 of this tutorial series, we need to know how many rubies we would need for our wrist. We can follow the same procedure we used in Part 1 to measure our wrist and calculate the number: wrap a hollow cylinder around our wrist, then use the Ellipse Calculator to figure out how many rubies we would need.



My wrist is about 0.070M by 0.065M. Your wrist may be slightly different, but unless you have an unusually proportioned avatar, you should be able to stretch the bracelets later to fit.

The Ellipse Calculator tells me that the path around my wrist is about 0.212M. Since our rubies (along with their metal backing) will be 0.010M in size, we would need 20 rubies for our wrist.

OK, we are ready to make the bracelet!


2. Create the Ruby

Be aware that the prims in this tutorial will be very very small. So be sure you have a good place where you can keep track of them (preferably some place with solid color walls and floor). Remember that you can always go into Edit mode and draw a window around where you *think* the prims are. This will select the prims within the window.

Rez a Torus on the ground.

***Update: Be sure that the Hole Size for the Torus is 50 (sometimes a Torus can rez with a different Hole Size). Thanks for the helpful comment, Alison! :)

Make sure you are in Edit mode (you can see the Red/Green/Blue arrows). Press and hold the Shift key, and pull UP on the Blue arrow to make a copy of the Torus.



This will create a copy of the Torus.



Edit the Torus on top and enter the following settings:









Size X: 0.010
Size Y: 0.015
Size Z: 0.015

Rotation Y: 270.00

Profile Cut B: 0.15
Profile Cut E: 0.30

Look for the "ruby" texture from the Gemstone Textures folder you picked up from Sirena Hair & Fashion.

Go to the Texture tab. Click on the Texture square. This will open up the Pick:Texture window. Select the "ruby" texture and click Select.

Enter the following settings in the Texture tab:

Repeats Per Face Horizontal (U): 3.000
Repeats Per Face Vertical (V): 0.500

Rotation: 90.00

Look for the "Full Bright" checkbox on the right side of the Texture tab. Check the "Full Bright" checkbox (cause we want our gemstones to be bright, right? :D)

For the prim on the bottom, we are going to do some weird things to this prim. Its one of the tricks to get a really flat prim (below 0.010M). Basically, we are going to change the prim to a sphere, change the dimple settings, then change it to a cylinder, and finalize the settings. The dimple settings enables us to create a prim below 0.010M thick. The only way we can change dimple settings is if the prim is a sphere.

So here we go:



Edit the Torus on the bottom.

Change the Building Block Type from a Torus to a Sphere. Enter the following settings:




Dimple B: 0.00
Dimple E: 0.05

Change the Building Block Type from a Sphere to a Cylinder. Enter the following settings:

Size X: 0.010
Size Y: 0.010
Size Z: 0.010

Taper X: 0.30
Taper Y: 0.30

Look for the "silver" texture from the Gemstone Textures folder you picked up from Sirena Hair & Fashion.

Go to the Texture tab. Click on the Texture square. This will open up the Pick:Texture window. Select the "silver" texture and click Select.

Enter the following settings in the Texture tab:

Repeats Per Face Horizontal (U): 1.000
Repeats Per Face Vertical (V): 2.000

Change the Shininess to "Medium".

Check the "Full Bright" checkbox (hey, its jewelry!).



Now move the red ruby on top down to the silver backing on the bottom until it sinks into the backing.

Right-click on the red ruby on top and select "Edit...". Then press and hold the Shift key and click on the silver backing on the bottom. This will make the silver backing the last prim selected, thus making it the Root Prim when we link.



Click on the Tools menu at the top of your screen and select "Link". This will link the 2 prims together. The red ruby on top should be highlighted in blue, the backing on the bottom should be highlighted in yellow.

Go to the General tab of the Edit window, and change the Name to "Ruby".

Now close the Edit window to get out of Edit mode. Right-click on the Ruby and select "Take" to take it into your Inventory.


3. Setting Up LoopRez

We will prepare the LoopRez script to generate the bracelet.

If you are planning to sell this necklace, you will want your name as the Creator of the Bracelet. You should perform the additional tasks described in "Step 1. Rezzing the LoopRez Object" in the Flexi Prim Skirt Tutorial. This enables you to create your own LoopRez object, with your name as the Creator. You may want to come back and do this once you have tried this tutorial first…

If you are just making this bracelet for yourself, then you don’t need to worry about making your own LoopRez object.



Look for the “LoopRez v0.6 object, full perms” in your Inventory. Rez the LoopRez Object on the ground.

Right-click on the LoopRez Object and select the Contents tab.

Look for the “Ruby” you just created in your Inventory (Its probably in the Objects folder). Drag and drop the “Ruby” from your Inventory to the Contents tab of the LoopRez Object.



Go to the Contents tab of the LoopRez Object. Double-click on the “LoopRez v0.6” script. This will open the script editor window.











Make the following changes to the top of the script:

string objectName = "Ruby";
integer numObjects = 20;
float xRadius = 0.035; // Half of 0.070M
float yRadius = 0.033; // Half of 0.065M
float flareAngle = 90;
float bendCoefficient = 0.0;
vector rotOffset = <0.0,>;
vector posOffset = <0.0,>;

Click on “Save” to save the script.

Close the Edit window.


4. Creating the Bracelet

Here we go! :)



Touch the LoopRez object. You should see the ruby bracelet appear above the LoopRez object. The ruby bracelet is relatively small, so look carefully :)

If nothing happens, you may be in an area that does not allow foreign scripts to run. There is typically an indicator icon at the top of your screen that shows this. Try moving to a public Sandbox just to see if your LoopRez object is working.

The newly created ruby bracelet is made up of separate objects. We need to link them together to make a single bracelet. In addition, we want to add an object in the middle of the bracelet so it would be easier to position and fit the bracelet. We will use a copy of the LoopRez object in the middle of the bracelet.

First, we are going to make a copy of the LoopRez object. Right-click on the LoopRez object, and select Edit. Now press and hold the Shift key. Click and hold on the Blue arrow and pull it up towards the bracelet.



This will create a copy of the LoopRez object. Put this copy in the middle of the bracelet (actually, it would cover the whole bracelet for now).

Go to the Content tab of the copy of the LoopRez object, and delete the "LoopRez v0.6" script (Right-click on it and select "Delete"). This will prevent accidentally setting off the script again. :)



Next, go to the Object tab and make the Size smaller. Because this item is small, we have to use a smaller size X=0.020, Y=0.020, Z=0.020.



Now while you are still in Edit mode, draw a box around all the rubies and the copy of the LoopRez object. Dont include the original LoopRez object. You may find it helpful to go to the Tools menu at the top of your screen and select "Select Only My Objects".

Then press and hold the Shift key. Click on the copy of the LoopRez object to deselect it. Click on it again to select it. This will make the copy of the LoopRez object the Root Prim.

Click on the Tools menu at the top of your screen and select "Link".

Go to the General tab of the Edit window, and change the Name to "Ruby Bracelet".

Now close the Edit window to get out of Edit mode. Right-click on the bracelet and select "Take".


5. Fitting the Ruby Bracelet

Here comes the cool part. Wearing the bracelet! :)

Go ahead and find the "Ruby Bracelet" object in your Inventory (probably under the "Objects" folder). Right-click on it, select "Attach To >", and click in "Left Forearm" (you can do the Right Forearm later if you wish).



When you first attach the bracelet, only a small part of the bracelet will be visible on the inside of your arm. The rest of it is buried in your arm. Right-click on the bracelet, and select Edit. In the Object tab, change "Rotation Y = 90" and "Rotation Z = 90".

Now slide the bracelet into place using the 3 Red/Green/Blue arrows. As a reference, look at the numbers at the top of your screen. It fits me well at these settings: "X:0.004 Y:0.091 Z:0.001". These numbers will vary somewhat for you.

Depending on your body settings, you may need to Stretch the bracelet to fit. To Stretch the bracelet, go to the Edit window, click on "Stretch (Ctrl-Shift)" at the top of the Edit window. Now, click and hold one of the little white boxes around the bracelet and move it slowly away from your avatar.



And heres Daisy, with her new bracelet :) Not very Country Western, is it? :P



You can use different textures for the gemstone and backing. How about a diamond bracelet, for example :)

And of course, you can use the same techniques from Part 1 of this tutorial series to make gemstone necklaces.



Finally, you can use the techniques here to make other things. For example, the spikes on the belt from my Spikes Outfit was made using a similar technique.

Have fun with you new ruby bracelet!

In the next part of this tutorial series, we are going to make earrings using micro-prims :)

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Day 215: Second Life Ballet

How did I end up here at the Second Life Ballet? This is the sort of thing that Natalia likes!

Its me, Talia the evil Alt :) Welcome to the Second Life Ballet!



It is amazing what creative residents have managed to do in Second Life. And dance is no exception.

The Second Life Ballet is a ballet company that hosts original productions. The dancers performed in front of a live audience in Second Life, just like the real thing.

Second Life Ballet is a non-profit organization. There is no charge to attend ballet performances. They are support through your donations.



The current production of Olmannen is the first for the company.

It is a traditional ballet performance, complete with musical score and original dance animations (not loops or poseballs). The ballet has 3 acts, in a traditional tale of lost loves, dark evils, and tearful reunions. Did I mention this is stuff that Natalia likes? :P



Its really amazing to see the dancers move through the story! Complete with costume changes, particle effects, and scenery changes. And all the ballet moves you come to expect (plus a lot of flying around :) ).



Olmannen is currently being perform on Sundays and Wednesdays at 4pm SL. They are currently being hosted by IBM, probably for performance reasons.



And if you plan to go to the performance, be sure you go to the theater well in advance and get a copy of the wonderful playbill. Then go somewhere where you can rez objects so you can read it (I couldnt read it in HUD mode).

As with all ballets, it is important that you have an idea what the story is before you watch the performance. Otherwise, you will be sitting through a bunch of dancing wondering whats going on... (or in Natalia's case, trying to read her playbill in a dark theater)



And the crowd applauds wildly as the performers take their well-deserved bow.

If you enjoy ballet or just want to see what is possible in Second Life, hurry and come see the performance of Olmannen by the Second Life Ballet company! It wont last forever :)

The Second Life Ballet has a home theater. You can go there by clicking on Search, selecting Places, and entering "ballet" as the keyword. The SLURL is Quat (61,29,110).

The current production of Olmannen is being performed at the IBM 10 sim. There is a TP/Landmark at the SL Ballet home theater in Quat. The direct SLURL for the theater in the IBM 10 sim is IBM 10 (12,192,20).

Day 214: Babbage Square

My friend Ana told me recently about Babbage Square. Its such a cool place, I will be eternally grateful! :)



Babbage Square is part of New Babbage, a new planned series of Victorian-themed sims. Babbage is very similar to Caledon, and follows a similar set of Steampunk ideals.

That means Daisy Duke is not necessarily appropriate attire for attending local functions :P

But whereas Caledon is an established society, New Babbage is just getting started. Some areas are already open, while others are nearing completion and about to open.



New Babbage is a residental sim that rents land to residents, just like Caledon.

Almost all the buildings in Babbage are amazing...nearly all of them are spectacular. Its like there is a building contest going on or something...



The textures are wonderful inside and out, nearly everywhere you look! Especially in this cool little tea room :)



Push the button on this platform in the middle of the sim and take a ride up the elevator :)

You need to "Sit" in the elevator and "Touch" the floor to Activate it...



The elevator goes up to this flying platform and gives you a wonderful view of the whole sim!

Um...is this thing steam powered? Like...what happens if we run out of steam?



There are all manners of wonders in the sim :) You can spend many hours here going through each plot...



And it looks like my blog friend Edward has a store here :) Can spot that uniform a mile away :P



Oh oh...and heres my favorite building: Remmy's Moving Castle. Really cool-looking building thingie :)

If you havent been to Babbage Square, you have to come see all these wonderful places! Click on Search, select Places, and enter "babbage" as the keyword. Pick any of the Babbage Square destinations that come up ("KAHRUVEL STEAMWORKS" is a good one). The SLURL is Babbage Square (58,30,22).



Beware the dreaded Fangorious Duck Beast!

Day 212: Daisy in Dixie

Today, I decided to find out where the cowboys and cowgirls hang out in Second Life. Ive been to Sigil (which unfortunately isnt there anymore). And for some reason, I feel like Ive been to Tombstone too :P These are role-playing sims. So where do the modern cowboys and cowgirls go to?

So welcome to the Dixie sim, home to Silver Dollar Saloon :)



Bring your horse and best Western outfit! I wonder if Zippy the Unicorn could come too :P



Silver Dollar plays Country favorites, along with other tunes. They even have line dancing :)



What sets Silver Dollar apart is the people. And what they wear :)

Heres your chance to show off your best cowboy boots and 10-gallon hat! Thats right guys, see the sign behind me? :P

Theres a mini-mall upstairs that has all the Western wear and accessories you might need.



And whats a good Western saloon without a bull ride?

Actually, Silver Dollar has one inside and outside. The outside one is an actual rodeo!



Be careful about "sitting" on the bull! :P

I have no clue how to stay on the bull (or even how it works). So is 27 seconds a good time? :)



The Dixie sim is owned by Tami McCoy of Hair Styles by Tami McCoy. Her store is on the other side of the sim.

Guess she must like cowboys :P

If you are a modern cowboy or cowgirl, check out Silver Dollar Saloon for a friendly bit of the West. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "silver dollar" as the keyword. The SLURL is Dixie (184,231,23).



The Daisy in the title refers to Daisy Duke, as in the Dukes of Hazard. Heehee, I can hear the groans now :P

OK, I havent seen the movie. But I saw one episode of the old TV show recently, so I have a good idea what Daisy's role is. We do the same things...keep our brothers out of trouble :)

This outfit is not from the TV show or movie. Just kinda inspired by it. All the photos of Jessica Simpson were in shorts and T-shirts. So I decided to make a mini-skirt and a lacy Country top. Its something I can see Daisy wear... Close enough :P



The belt does have a similar design to the one wore by Jessica Simpson in the movie. Thats because I could use a nice belt anyway :)



And this is the offical "Sittin on a bale o'hay" animation :P

Day 211: Scotland

Welcome to Scotland!

Lyndsey told Natalia about the Scotland sims, but no one has seen her for a while(shes up to something, I tell you!) So its up to me, Talia, your friendly evil Alt to explore the Highlands :)



The heart of the Scotland sims is Nessie's Pub and the marketplace. Nessie's hosts events where you can get together with fellow Scots and friends.

The marketplace has all the Tartans and accessories you need to dress the part for the events.

The Scotland sim was kind enough to provide a list of things you can do here. Aside from partying at the pub, you can...



watch a movie at the Scotland Second Life Movies...



find the hidden cave... (um...the hidden cave is on the map :P)



get married in Celtic style...

Hmm...does getting married belong on a list of things to do? As in...watch a movie: check. Find cave: check. Get married: check. :P



And what really brought me here today is the Eilean Donan Castle.

The Eilean Donan Castle is nestled in the Highlands of Second Life (in this case, the sim just north of Scotland :P)



Eilean Donan is a real life castle in Scotland.

My friend Lyndsey (who told me about Eilean Donan) is a photographer in real life. She has beautiful framed photos of Eilean Donan and other Scottish sights in her photography studio at SLURL: Yosu (116, 230, 48).



Not all the rooms in the castle have been furnished yet. But the builders did a really nice job on the structure. You definitely feel like you are in a castle as you move around its walls.



Heehee, Scottish guys are REALLY tall! :P

If you are interested in Scottish culture, or just like to party with a group of friendly people, come visit the Scotland sims. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "scotland" as the keyword. The SLURL is Scotland (192,159,36).

The Eilean Donan Castle is in its own sim. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "eilean donan" as the keyword. The SLURL is Eilean Donan (192,166,30).



Excuse me...are you Nessie by any chance? You are certainly much smaller in person! :P