Thank you for making 2007 such a special year! I hope you had as much fun in Second Life as I did :)
Have a wonderful, safe, and happy New Year 2008!!!
Oh...oh...I gotta wear the Miss SL 2007 sash one last time before I get de-sashed tomorrow :(
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Alright, I just figured out why you like that smarty-tail mermaid. Its her tutorials, isnt it?
BTW, this is Talia, the wonderful evil Alt. And I can do tutorials too! I wont even make you sweat over all that prim stuff :)
Skiing is both inexpensive and fun to do in SL. Best of all, there are a number of places where you can go skiing :)
Natalia went skiing at Nakiska and the Weather Channel before. Since its the winter ski season again, its time to check out the ski slopes again!
Ski Equipment
First, we need to get some skis!
There are at least 2 major types of skis available in SL. Since both types of skis are Free/inexpensive, try them both out! You might like different ones under different conditions :)
Natalia's friend Esse sells skis at Nakiska, Wolf Mountain, and other ski resorts. These skis come in 2 varieties: Basic for only L$50, and advanced for L$150 (which lets you do backflips).
The Nakiska skis work like skates (they are attachments). They are very easier to control, and are perfect for ski races!
The Weather Channel offers Free skis, poles, and boots as part of their Epic Ski adventure.
These skis work best in the Weather Channel sim (enabling you to do tricks!), but they will also work in other sims as well :)
The Weather Channel skis slide like real skis. They are much harder to control, and you can occasionally get stuck in some weird positions. But they give more of a skiing feeling, so are fun for downhill trail skiing.
Ski Racing
Now that we have our skis, lets go skiing!
The Alpine Executive Center has a long downhill racing course. You can just ski for the fun of it, or pay L$50 to have your time officially recorded.
Search/Places for "alpine". The SLURL is MeetingSupport (116,54,21).
Nakiska/Snowy Mountain Park has had a long history of ski racing. That fake-blonde mermaid skiied here last year (if you call that skiing :P).
You can time your skiing for free at Nakiska. There is also a group to join for related events.
Search/Places for "nakiska". The SLURL is Nakiska (207,52,126).
Downhill Trail Skiing
The Weather Channel sim has 3 downhill ski trails as part of their Epic Ski adventure. These trails range from easy to intermediate to advanced.
Oh, and since its the Weather Channel, expect some weather :)
Remember the Weather Channel Free skis can do tricks here! However, the trails are kinda narrow, so it might take a few tries to get used to them.
Search/Places for "weather". The SLURL is Weather (113,5,26).
Wolf Mountain is a popular winter resort area. It has a cozy lodge, a nice collection of shops, even cottage rentals...
At the top of Wolf Mountain are 3 ski trails: Rollin Run, Wolfie's Den, and Adalwolf Run.
The trails are slightly wider than the ones at the Weather Channel, but it still takes a couple tries to get used to all the turns!
Search/Places for "wolf mountain". The SLURL is PeachTree Resort (57,42,29).
So if you have never skiied in SL, give it a try :)
Ooo...look that those cute guys over there!
*Ouch*
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to Damania, one of the most beautiful set of buildings in SL :)
Damania is actually a sim-wide store that sells fountains, sculptures...
and all kinds of different furniture.
And I do mean different ;P
But even if you are not shopping for furniture, you have to come see the buildings and amazing textures!
There are art pieces sprinkled throughout...
And what does ever furniture/sculpture store sim need?
A bumper car track, of course ;P
Heehee you can bump and race bumper cars here while admiring the view :)
Whether you are shopping for furniture or just exporing, check out Damania's amazing buildings :) Click on Search, select Places, and enter "damania" as the keyword. The SLURL is Damania (128,118,35).
That is a really really big telescope for spying on the neighboring sim! ;P
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Merry Christmas, from Blue, Natalia, and Poof :)
Poof, sweetie, dont eat the camera!
Poof, stop running around the tree!
Poof! Stop that! Bad baby dragon!
Oops, sorry Blue darling...
Poof! No breathing fire!
Watch it!
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Its Christmas Eve...time for those last-minute stocking stuffers :)
So for this week, theres a gorgeous new hairstyle and a new L$1 style...
Haylie (because I like that sister more ;P) is a slightly wavy hair with lots of volume :) It has dramatic styling up front and is flexi all around, of course!
Comes with a pair of jeweled earrings...because earrings are hair accessories, remember? ;P
Zoey is a super cute bob thats in fashion right now. Its an elegant style that goes with any outfit. Comes with a color-change headband for some highlights.
Best of all, its just L$1 per color pack! So you can try it in all different colors :)
All Sirena hairstyles include built-in Face Lighting so you always look your best. Just try on a demo and see the difference!
All Sirena hairstyles come in 3 sizes, (S)mall, (M)edium, and (L)arge for easy fitting and adjustment.
There are 60 textures in 15 color packs to choose from. And all hairs can be color-tinted (with 66 colors) to give you even more color choices!
Check them out online at www.SirenaHair.com or at Sirena Hair & Fashion. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "sirena" as the keyword. The SLURL is West Sunset (160,50,22).
Is Santa here yet? Is Santa here yet?
What time is it?
Is Santa here yet?
32836-071224-245491-30
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
***Note: Just FYI, Ged Larsen has not been in SL since Jan, 2008. I have not been able to contact him. So please be careful when purchasing the product (it might be difficult to get a refund until he returns!)
Ged Larsen created LoopRez and LoopRez Deluxe, which made creating flexi skirts much easier!
Several months ago, Ged introduced LinkRez, a cool tool for creating necklaces and jewelry pieces. (Sorry for taking this long to write about it :P)
In SL, a flat circle necklace like this doesnt look very realistic. It either floats in the air up front or sticks into your neck in the back.
A few months ago, I wrote a tutorial on how to create a Chain Necklace with LoopRez.
However, the standard LoopRez script can only bend in the exact middle of the chain. This doesnt work for longer chains. Also, the LoopRez script cannot rotate the chainlinks, so you are limited to links that will lock to itself (like the one in the tutorial).
Wouldnt it be nice to have something that lets you adjust the bend around your neck? And create rotating chainlinks?
Thats what LinkRez does, along with a bunch of cool features that take the major pains out of creating necklaces in SL.
Also, LinkRez does what LoopRez Deluxe did for flexi skirts: it lets you design your necklace interactively :)
You stand on a special posestand, adjust the guides around your neck, and give the command to create the necklace.
Plus you can tweak and customize the necklace in ways that go way over my head (even while wearing an updo ;P).
Check out these amazing creations on Ged's blog for what other residents have done with LinkRez!
You can also stop by Script Thingies (Ged Larsen's store) and check out the real time LinkRez Demo. You can watch LinkRez create a number of different designs :) Search/Places for keyword "thingies". The SLURL is Linji (148,225,67)).
LinkRez costs L$3000. It is available at both Script Thingies and the Sirena store. BTW, I do not make any L$ from the sales of LinkRez (or LoopRez Deluxe). I write these tutorials because I use these tools myself (and because Ged promised to pose in Hot Pink hair ;P).
The Quick Demo
LinkRez can create temporary test necklaces. This is a great way to see how LinkRez works :)
Just stand on the LinkRez posestand.
Right-click on the Blue/Purple Guides and select "Edit...".
Be sure that "Stretch Both Sides" and "Edit linked parts" are both checked.
Click on the lower Blue Guide to select it. Press [Ctrl-Shift] and stretch the Blue Guide to the desired length. Then press the [Ctrl] key and rotate the Blue Guide to fit the neck.
Next, click on the upper Purple Guide to select it. Adjust it as needed around to back of your neck.
Then just say "/1 TEST" in Chat, and watch LinkRez create a necklace to fit the 2 guides :)
The necklace is temporary, and will disappear in about a minute.
You can get fancy by saying "/1 LINKTYPE ALTERNATE", and then "/1 TEST". This will create a necklace with links that rotate alternately. Perfect for tiny chain links :)
LinkRez has a whole bunch of commands you can use to adjust the shape and style of the necklace.
Remember, this is just a fitting demo. We are going to make the real thing next :)
Creating a Necklace Link
The most important part of the necklace is the individual links.
You can create an entire necklace from the same kind of link, like this necklace made from Tiny Tubes.
You can even program LinkRez to use different kinds of links and different settings with a Notecard!
This necklace was completely generated by LinkRez using 6 different kinds of links :O
And a necklace link can be a single prim or a linked set of prims. But keep in mind that SL has a limit of 255 prims in a single linked object (so we cant get too crazy ;P).
Lets create a necklace using a single Tiny Tube.
Go ahead and rez a Torus on the ground.
Edit the Torus. Select the Object tab and enter the following settings:
Size X: 0.020M
Size Y: 0.040M
Size Z: 0.040M
Hollow: 95.0
Profile Cut Begin: 0.200
Profile Cut End: 0.300
Go to the Texture tab.
Change the color to Orange (Red=255, Green=128, Blue=0).
Check the "Full Bright" checkbox (because we are making jewelry :D).
Change the "Shininess" to Medium.
Go to the General tab.
Change the Name to "Tiny Gold Tube".
Right-click on the Tiny Gold Tube and select Take to take it into your Inventory.
Sizing the Link
Next, we need to figure out how these links fit together.
Instead of fiddling with settings, LinkRez has an ingenious little tool for figuring out the exact settings: the Sizing Board. Its right above the posestand. Its tiny, so you have to zoom into it!
In the middle of the Sizing Board are 3 "toothpicks" (thats what Ged calls them ;P).
Theres a tiny blue sphere where the 3 toothpicks join together.
Rez the "Tiny Gold Tube" we created above.
Place the Tiny Gold Tube in the same direction as the Red toothpick.
Then try to center the Tiny Gold Tube at the tiny blue sphere where the toothpicks join together. As you move the Tiny Gold Tube, you will notice the Red/Green/Blue lines will start to match up with the toothpicks :)
Press and hold the [Shift] key. Click and drag the Red arrow to make a copy of the Tiny Gold Tube to the right.
Position the copy of the Tiny Gold Tube so that it is how you want the links to appear on the necklace.
Then just Touch the "Center" button on the Sizing Board. It will say something like this in Chat:
zzzLinkRezSizingBoard: CENTER alignment sizing
zzzLinkRezSizingBoard: Name ~ distance(mm) ~ rotationOffset ~ positionOffset
zzzLinkRezSizingBoard: Tiny Gold Tube~6.103516~<-0.00000, 0.00000, -0.00000>~<0.00002, 0.00002, 0.00015>
Make a note of the last thing it says ("Tiny Gold Tube~6.103516~<-0.00000, 0.00000, -0.00000>~<0.00002, 0.00002, 0.00015>"). We will need this in a minute.
Creating the Necklace
Ready? Lets make a necklace :)
First, lets put the Tiny Gold Tube into the LinkRez.
Right-click on the big transparent LinkRez ring and select "Edit...".
Go to the Contents tab. Drag-and-drop the "Tiny Gold Tube" from your Inventory to the Contents tab of LinkRez.
Go on the posestand!
Adjust the Green and Purple Guides as needed to fit your neck. Remember, you can always say "/1 TEST" in Chat to see how the necklace would fit :)
Here comes the fun part :)
Say "/1 LINK Tiny Gold Tube~6.103516~<-0.00000, 0.00000, -0.00000>~<0.00002, 0.00002, 0.00015>" in Chat(without the quotes). And watch LinkRez make your custom necklace :)
BTW, all those numbers came from the Sizing Board above (just cut-and-paste it from your Chat history). Dont ask me what they mean ;P
Finally, we need to link the Necklace into a single object. We want the metal ball in the center to be the Root object.
Stand up from the posestand.
Right-click on the metal ball in the center and select "Edit...".
Click in an area outside the necklace and draw a box around the entire necklace to select all the necklace links.
Press and hold the [Shift] key. Click on the big transparent LinkRez ring to de-select the LinkRez object.
While still holding the [Shift] key, click on the metal ball in the center to de-select it. Click on the metal ball in the center again to select it. This will make sure that the metal ball will become the Root prim.
Click on "Tools" from the top menu bar and select the "Link" option.
Right-click on the metal ball and select "Edit...".
Go to the General tab. Change the Name to "Test Necklace".
Right-click on Test Necklace and select Take to take it into your Inventory.
Look for Test Necklace in your Inventory. It should be in your Objects folder.
Right-click on Test Necklace in your Inventory and select "Attach To>", then "Chest".
When you first attach the necklace, it will be in the wrong place.
Just Right-click the Test Necklace and select "Edit...". Then use the color arrows to move it into position.
Thats it! You should now be wearing your custom fitted necklace :)
Ged Larsen has very thorough documentation at his blog, including a detailed tutorial, tips, and other great info!
If you plan on making custom jewelry (or similarly complex designs), definitely check out LinkRez.
Have fun makeing those prim-hogging necklaces ;P
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
I was in a dreamy place. It was a dark, moonless night. Yet the stars managed to light my way...
The ocean was all around me...
There were many giant statues, some even of mermaids...
And of faeries dancing in the night...
I lay on a stone slab, yet I felt myself floating...
I found secret places where only a mermaid would venture.
I ran from the vines that threatened to ensnare me...
But as I opened my eyes, I found myself in the same place as my dreams.
La Reve is the artist's home sim, exhibiting her work built for Windlight (with nighttime settings!) When I saw the video, I had to see it for myself!
(Thanks Randall, for telling me about this wonderful place!)
Come check out this facinating art display. Click on Map, and enter "la reve" in the Search box. The SLURL is La Reve (182,106,21).
I didnt know you couldnt move the horsey thingie that way! I told you I didnt know how to play chess :(
Umm...please dont hurt me!
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
There are few traditions in Second Life that have been around for a while. Thats why I was so glad to hear that the original Winterland is back!
I was here almost exactly a year ago :)
Winterland is a re-creation of Bedford Falls from my fav holiday movie, "Its a Wonderful Life" :)
Its nice to see that mean old Mr. Potter has not shut down the Bailey Building & Loan (its just closed for the holidays ;P).
Most of my old favorite buildings are still here, including Martini's :)
Like last year, they are also supporting charitable causes. This year, you have choice between UNICEF and Toys for Tots :)
*Shhhhh* Even the snow monster is still here!
Something brand new this year is Santa's Sleigh Ride...
Umm...countdown?
Santa's Sleigh Ride is a high-speed ride...so hang onto your prims!
Heehee and you have to see where you land...poor Santa! :P
Oh, and they still have the Shovel Slide too...
Say, didnt I see this in the movie?
For a real holiday sim, come check out Winterland :) There is also wonderful ice skating and party/dancing on the lake. Winterland is only open for the holiday season, so catch it while you still can :)
Click on Search, select Places, and enter "winterland" as the keyword. The SLURL is Del Agua (123,66,28).
Oh yeah, now I remember: the Shovel Slide goes in the water ;P
Hi guys :) Theres a lot of traffic lately, isnt it?
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
The holiday season is upon us! Time to look up those holiday Events and join in the holiday spirit :)
Here are 2 fun hairstyles that are perfect for the holidays!
Paris (as in the celeb ;P) has a flat bang/fringe that opens up to flexi sides and a very long flexi back.
Comes with a detachable Hair Star Jewelry that glitters without bling...definitely make you feel like the star of the party :)
Mimi (as in neko-mimi) is a very messy hair with pieces going every which way :)
Comes with an extra set of detachable bangs/fringes that covers your eyes for some extreme styling! Dont worry, you can still see them coming ;P
All Sirena hairstyles include built-in Face Lighting so you always look your best. Just try on a demo and see the difference!
All Sirena hairstyles come in 3 sizes, (S)mall, (M)edium, and (L)arge for easy fitting and adjustment.
There are 60 textures in 15 color packs to choose from. And all hairs can be color-tinted (with 66 colors) to give you even more color choices!
Check them out online at www.SirenaHair.com or at Sirena Hair & Fashion. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "sirena" as the keyword. The SLURL is West Sunset (160,50,22).
Lets see...
Been a good girl all year...Check!
Presents under the tree...Check!
Milk and cookies...Check!
Fireplace? *Yikes* How is Santa going to get in?
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Theres been several questions and requests recently about creating semi-transparent clothing with Photoshop (such as hoisery or a see-through top).
I wrote briefly about Transparency and Alpha Channel on Day 47. Back then, I wasnt a blonde. Now I need much better directions ;P
So heres a detailed tutorial on how to create semi-transparent clothing with Photoshop. If you are not familiar with creating clothing for SL, you should look at the Creating Clothes with Photoshop tutorial first. We will be using the top from the Creating Clothes with Photoshop tutorial as an example below.
In SL, transparency refers to how "see-through" a particular texture is. A texture is 0% transparent (completely opaque) if it doesnt let anything behind/under it show through.
A texture is 50% transparent if it lets half of the colors behind/under it show through. Think of it as a 50% sheer "see-through" blouse: you will see 50% of your skin tone under the blouse.
A texture is 100% transparent if it lets everything behind/under it show through. In fact, you wont be able to see a 100% transparent texture as a result.
A Quick Word About GIMP
If you are using GIMP, the process is very different (but much easier). You do not use a separate Alpha channel layer in GIMP. The transparency is part of the main drawing itself! Just keep a couple things in mind if you want to create semi-transparent clothing textures using GIMP:
Whenever you create a new drawing in GIMP (using something like File/New option), be sure to select a Transparent background.
At the "Create a New Image" window, click on the "+" button next to "Advanced Option" to expand the window.
Change "Fill with:" to "Transparency".
When you want an area to be semi-transparent, use either the paintbrush or paint bucket tool. Set the "Opacity" below 100%, then paint or fill in the area. Thats it! :)
But make sure there are no opaque layers below the one you are work on; otherwise, the opaque layer will show thru the transparent layer on top. (You might want to do this deliberately for effect...)
When you prepare the Targa (.TGA) file for upload to SL, it should have a semi-transparent area :)
Transparency in Photoshop
In Photoshop, transparency is controled by the "Alpha 1" layer under the Channels tab.
There should only be a single "Alpha 1" layer. Transparency will not work properly if there is more than a single Alpha Channel layer.
In the Creating Clothes with Photoshop tutorial we created the "Alpha 1" layer towards the end of the tutorial. The "Alpha 1" layer should look something like the drawing here.
The "Alpha 1" layer is a black-and-white only layer. The white areas are completely opaque (0% transparent). The black areas are completely transparent (100% transparent).
If you picked the "50% Gray" color from the Swatches palette (Red=128, Green=128, Blue=128) and filled the white areas of "Alpha 1" with the 50% Gray color, then your Little Black Top will be 50% transparent! It will become a black "see-through" top :)
And heres the black "see-through" top if you uploaded it to SL.
Im wearing a black bra underneath (cause Im a PG mermaid), but you get the idea ;P
Mixing Transparency
Since "Alpha 1" is a layer, you can mix different levels of transparency in the layer. Basically, it means mixing black, white, and different levels of gray in a single layer.
So in this example "Alpha 1" layer, we have "50% Gray" for the base (50% transparent), and stripes of white (0% transparent) running down the top.
And this is what the top would look like if you uploaded it to SL.
Pretty neat, isnt it? :)
Remember that the "Alpha 1" layer only controls the amount of transparency in the texture. It has nothing to do with the color of the texture. The color is determined by what you draw in the "normal" layers, under the Layers tab (in this case, the top is solid black in color).
Creating a Semi-Transparent Top
OK, lets make a semi-transparent top! We are going to create a red top with a complex Alpha Channel that includes some mixed transparency :)
First lets start with the top we created in the Creating Clothes with Photoshop tutorial.
This is what the top should look like if you hide "Layer 1" (click on the "eye" next to "Layer 1" until the "eye" disappears).
We will be using the normal Layers tab to build our complex Alpha Channel. When we are done, we will Copy the Alpha Channel to the "Alpha 1" layer under the Channels tab.
The Alpha Channel will be built using 2 layers: a background layer based on the current "Alpha 1" layer, and a new pattern layer.
Go to the Channels tab.
Click on the "Alpha 1" layer to select it.
Click "Select" from the top menu bar and choose the "All" option (or just press Ctrl-A).
Click "Edit" from the top menu bar and choose the "Copy" option (or just press Ctrl-C).
Next, go to the Layers tab.
Click on the "Shirt" layer to select it.
Click "Edit" from the top menu bar and choose the "Paste" option (or just press Ctrl-P).
This will create a new layer called "Layer 2".
Change the name of "Layer 2" to "Alpha-back".
Make sure that the "Alpha-back" layer is selected.
Click the "Create a new layer" button at the bottom of the Layers tab. This will create a new layer called "Layer 2".
Change the name of "Layer 2" to "Alpha-pattern".
Now, let's create a Fill Pattern for our new "Alpha-pattern" layer.
Click "File" from the top menu bar, and select the "New" option.
At the "New" window, enter 16 for "Width:" and "Height:".
For the "Background Contents:", select "Transparent".
Click the "OK" button.
Zoom in all the way (to 1600%) and stretch the window open so you can see just outside the drawing area.
Select the Brush tool.
Choose the 3 point hard brush (the 3 point brush with 100% Hardness).
Change the Foreground color to 50% Gray.
Draw a simple design using the Brush tool. It can be any design you like.
This design will be repeated across the fabric of the top. It will be 50% transparent (because we are using 50% gray color).
Click "Edit" from the top menu bar, and select the "Define Pattern..." option.
At the Pattern Name window, leave the name as "Pattern 1" (or whatever it might be) and click "OK".
OK, the next few steps are a bit tricky. Basically, we want to fill the area of the shirt with the pattern we just created.
Select the "Shirt" layer of the Little Black Top.
Right-click on the small picture of the "Shirt" layer in the Layers tab, and choose the "Select Layer Transparency" option. This will create a selection around the outline of the shirt.
Select the "Alpha-pattern" layer in the Layers tab.
Click "Edit" from the top menu bar and selec the "Fill..." option.
At the "Fill" window, select "Pattern" for "Use:".
Under "Custom Pattern:", select the pattern we created above (should be the last one on the list).
Click the OK button.
This will repeat the pattern in the shirt area. Pretty cool, isnt it? ;P
Now lets copy the new layers to "Alpha 1".
Press and hold the Ctrl key and click on "Alpha-pattern" and "Alpha-back" to select these 2 layers. Make sure that only these 2 layers are selected.
Right-click on the "Alpha-pattern" layer and select "Merge Layers". This will combine both the "Alpha-pattern" and "Alpha-back" layers into a single layer. This new combined layer is our new Alpha Channel :)
With our combined layer selected, click "Select" from the top menu bar and select the "All" option (or just press Ctrl-A).
Click "Edit" from the top menu bar and select the "Copy" option (or just press Ctrl-C).
Click on the Channels tab.
Click on the "Alpha 1" channel to select it.
Finally, click "Edit" from the top menu bar and select the "Paste" option (or just press Ctrl-P). This will paste our new Alpha Channel into the "Alpha 1" layer.
Thats it! Our new Alpha Channel is ready :)
We have a little bit of cleaning up before we can upload our texture.
First, go back to the "Layers" tab.
Click on the "eye" next to the "Alpha-pattern" and "Shirt" layers to hide them. At this point, all layers should be hidden.
Click on "Layer 1" to select it.
Click on the "eye" next to "Layer 1" to show this layer.
Select the Paint Bucket tool.
Change the Foreground color to a color of your choice. I used a dark red here.
Click on the drawing with the Paint Bucket to fill the drawing with the Foreground color.
Thats it! Just save our drawing as a Targa (.TGA) file and upload it to SL.
And remember, you can use filters and tools to add other fabric effects as well, such as gradients and noise.
These techniques work equally well on the lower body (particularly for hoisery) and prim surface textures.
Have fun creating those semi-transparent textures! Just dont forget to wear underwear ;P
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Where am I? The party invite said to go down Main St...
You know, I wish this place had some signs or something...
Wheee...
OK...Im easily amused :P
*Eeeww* Im staying away from that water...
Say, was that Santa flying by?
Where did he go?
Heehee this club gives a whole new meaning to "ghetto" :P
Oh good...a bathroom! I can freshen up :)
*Eeeww* Maybe I'll wait til I get to the party...
Finally, a nice building. Maybe someone inside can give me some directions!
Missing Mile is a mixed residential and role-playing sim, on the wrong side of the tracks. Its one of the best slums in SL :P Role-playing is optional, so you can just visit and browse around. But of course, its always more fun if you join in the community!
So if you are tired of living in a Barbie world, check out Missing Mile ;P Click on Search, select Places, and enter "missing" as the keyword. The SLURL is Soap (141,135,29).
Hey, let me out! Let me out of here!!!
Umm...if you let me out, I'll give you a kiss... :)
82050-071214-737633-52
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Im not a freshwater mermaid. But its easy to hook me with pretty lakes and gorgeous landscaping :)
And of course, you need waterfalls and streams for all those lakes!
Did I mention lakes? :)
And the trees! Just look at the foliage :)
In SL, you find pianos in the weirdest places!
Thats why my friend Caterin will always be busy ;P
Actually, I came here today to look for a Christmas tree :)
Hmmm...should I get a tree with or without snow?
The Botanical @ Straylight is a showcase sim. So most of the trees and stuff you see around the sim are for sale in the store area...
You can even take home a rainbow ;P
If you like to wander thru the forest, or see some truly amazing SL landscaping, come check out Straylight :) Click on Search, select Places, and enter "straylight" as the keyword. The SLURL is Straylight (128,128,0).
Umm...can I take 2 volcanos to go please?
77702-071212-694161-48
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Free Gift Boxes and Holiday Dress! :)
For holiday gift-giving in SL, stop by the Sirena store and pick up some Free Gift Boxes. There are 4 different styles to choose from and they come with complete instructions! The Gift Boxes are under the tree, where gift boxes like to hang out ;P
And dont forget the free Sirena Holiday Dress Im wearing! Its also under the tree...
Im working on more goodies between now and New Years! :)
This week, its 2 women's hair for the holidays:
Fergie (after the Hip Hop/R&B singer) is a wavy long hairstyle! Fergie has a slightly messy front, and flexi sides that drop to a really long back :)
Comes with Fergie's trademark Eyebrow Piercing, and its even color-changing :)
Josephine is the classic French Twist updo, done in the traditional style :) Perfect for all those formal or dressy occasions (you know, balls and weddings ;P)!
Comes with a pearl and feather hair pin to compliment this traditional hairstyle.
All Sirena hairstyles include built-in Face Lighting so you always look your best. Just try on a demo and see the difference!
All Sirena hairstyles come in 3 sizes, (S)mall, (M)edium, and (L)arge for easy fitting and adjustment.
There are 60 textures in 15 color packs to choose from. And all hairs can be color-tinted (with 66 colors) to give you even more color choices!
Check them out online at www.SirenaHair.com or at Sirena Hair & Fashion. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "sirena" as the keyword. The SLURL is West Sunset (160,50,22).
Heehee...do you think Blue Poseball is going to like his present? :)
34538-071210-262520-50
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Have you heard about sailing in SL, but never tried it? Well, heres your chance :)
Sailing is super easy! If you know absolutely nothing about sailing, I promise you will be sailing within 5 minutes of rezzing the boat :)
And best of all, you can try sailing absolutely free whenever you like!
Getting a Sailboat
The Starboards Yacht Club is the oldest and largest yacht club in SL. They are a great community of sailors (and general troublemakers ;P).
Starboards offers free 1 hour rental of the Flying Tako sailboat. After the 1 hour period, the boat de-rezzes and you start swimming ;P But dont worry, you would have done quite a bit of sailing by then :)
Come to the Starboards Yacht Club (Search/Places for "starboards"; SLURL: Hollywood (71,141,22)). Look for this Green Sailboat with the rental sign.
Right-click on the Green Sailboat and Buy it for L$0.
Now comes the hardest part of sailing: you need a place to rez your boat :P
Look at the top middle of your screen. If you see a brown box with a red circle (No Build), then you cannot rez your boat there :(
I was able to rez the boat at the back of the Starboards building (walk around the dock). You can also click the "Map" button at the bottom of your screen and search thru the nearby sims...
Once you find a place without the dreaded brown box, look for "Flying Tako 3.2 (rental)" in the Object folder of your Inventory.
Drag-and-drop "Flying Tako 3.2 (rental)" into the water.
Finally, Right-click on the sailboat and select "Sit".
Once you are sitting in the boat, you will need to get 2 things from the boat: the instruction notecards, and the HUDs.
Say the word "notecard" in your Chat window. The sailboat will give you full instructions about the Flying Tako.
Say the word "hud" in your Chat window. The sailboat will give you the "Tako Button HUD" and the "Tako Info HUD".
The "Tako Info HUD" on the upper left is very important, so be sure you wear it! If the HUD doesnt look right at first, try Detaching it and Wearing it again.
Start Sailing
To start sailing, just say "raise" in Chat. This raises your sails.
You turn your sailboat using the same keys to turn your avatar ("A" or Left-arrow for left, "D" or Right-arrow for right).
If you look at the upper left HUD, you will see a Blue Wedge (the wind direction). As you turn your boat (or as wind direction change), the Blue Wedge will move around.
You will move forward as long as you keep the Blue Wedge out of the Red area at the top :) Thats because you cannot head directly into the wind.
So go ahead, say "raise" and turn your sailboat until it starts moving :)
Congratulations...you're sailing! Has it been 5 minutes yet? ;P
To stop at anytime, just say "moor" in Chat.
Sheet Angle
Theres just 1 more thing you need to know: how to adjust the Sheet Angle.
As the direction of the wind changes, you need to adjust your sail/sheet accordingly. Your sailboat will move fastest when the SHEET ANGLE is half of the WIND DIR (ignoring the "-" minus signs in WIND DIR).
For example, if the WIND DIR is 106, you want to set the SHEET ANGLE as close to 53 as possible.
You change the SHEET ANGLE with the same keys you use to move your avatar forward and back. So "W" or Up-arrow will increase the SHEET ANGLE. "S" or Down-arrow will decrease the SHEET ANGLE.
BTW, dont obsess over this! The WIND DIR changes all the time. And sometimes, you just want to sit back and enjoy the scenery. Having perfect SHEET ANGLE just helps you move faster and is only important if you are racing.
Tacking
And I dont mean wearing lime green plaid :P
Sometimes, you HAVE to go in a direction where the Blue Wedge is in the Red area (head into the wind). You can do that by tacking.
When you are tacking, you turn back and forth at an angle to the wind. The idea is to alternate the Blue Wedge just to the left and just to the right of the Red area.
So lets say you start by having the Blue Wedge on the left of the Red area. You move forward a bit...
Then you turn the boat and move the Blue Wedge to the right of the Red area. You move forward a bit...
Then you go back to the left and so forth.
Little Sailing Adventure
Now that you are an expert sailor :) Lets go on a little sailing adventure!
The Starboards Yacht Club is located in the Hollywood sim (circled in blue), in the middle of a group of 47 connected watery sims you can sail across :)
BTW, many of these sims are residential. They are someone's home. So please be nice :)
At the lower right corner of this group of sims is the Aldabra sim.
Say hello to the giant seahorse and started sailing West from Aldabra...
Across the Mar de Jacquinda sim...
And turned North at the Trudeau Cay Marina...
Across Trudeau Cay... (heehee dont you love those sim crossings ;P)
Across the Santa Catalina sim...
Up thru Hollywood, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz sims...
Be sure to wave as you pass the Starboards Yacht Club :)
Then head up Pacific Crossing, Atlantic Crossing, and the Cutty Hunk sims...
You can turn on your Mini-Map to see which direction you are heading in...
And remember, you can say "moor" at any time to stop and take a peek at the Map :)
Just past Cutty Hunk is Nantucket...
Thats where the upscale crowd hangs out with their expensive boats ;P
Then up thru Block Island, Gloucester, Montauk...
Finishing up at Orient Point, where my dolphin friends will be waiting :)
Be sure to explore these 47 wonderful sims while creating your very own sailing adventure!
Learning More
If you are interested in learning more about sailing, the Starboards Yacht Club offers live classes on Sundays at noon (Search/Events, change the Category to "Education"). Also, they now have their Beginner's Class online!
The Starboards class actually explains how things work, from a sailor's perspective. So they wont tell you to keep the "Blue Wedge" out of the Red area ;P Its definitely worth taking!
And the best part about sailing are the events, races, and great group of people you can socialize with. Be sure to ask them about "launchers" ;P
Note: If you plan on taking the live class, be sure you have an outfit without any attachments. Basically, Right-click on yourself and select Take-Off/Detach-All. That means no prim skirts, shoes, or even hair :(
They do this to reduce lag (or else, they are a bunch of really desperate guys ;P).
Heehee, just think of all the new sailors I get to play with...
Err...I mean sailing is a lot of fun and you really should give it a try :P
49788-071209-415016-20
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
"Once upon a time, a nosey mermaid found herself in the middle of a desert..."
Hey, Mr. Narrator! Who are you calling nosey?
"She came upon this great palace..."
Well, it doesnt hurt to take a peek inside ;P
"And decided to venture into its great gates..."
Ooo...bazaar shopping...bargins! :)
"The palace was quiet, so she decided to nose around..."
Hey, its called exploring!
"The palace was grand indeed, with many rooms and passages..."
So wheres the shopping? :(
"She came upon the Sultan's throne..."
Hey, isnt that the winner of the Macho Peacock contest?
***Update: Tally told me in the comments that the palace is ruled by a Sultana. Now I really want to see the harem again ;P
"and even stole into the Harem..."
So cool! Never been in one before ;P
"She sneaked thru a secret passage to the sea..."
Water! At last! :)
"There in the hillside was an abandoned temple..."
Heehee a nice place to take a nap :)
"Inside, a strange altar greeted her..."
Uh oh, I have a bad feeling about this...
Ready to role-play Arabian Nights style? 1001 Nights is a desert-themed role-playing sim, set in the days of the legendary tales. The sim is exquisitely detailed, complete with lots of desert scenery and secret passages :)
Visitors are welcome...just be sure to read the Notecard for rules. Be sure to wear the visitor tag if you are just exploring :)
Click on Search, select Places, and enter "1001" as the keyword. The SLURL is Purgatorio (217,195,501).
"And so, the nosey mermaid was trapped in the evil temple forever and ever..."
Hey, Mr. Narrator, thats not how the story ends! The mermaid is suppose to find her prince and live happily ever after!
Umm...Help me!
11665-071206-337910-82
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
My friend Dee told me about this new carnival! And yes, in SL, its OK to go to a carnival in a ballgown ;P
One ticket please! :)
Is it just me, or is this carnival a bit...icky?
Hey look...a fortune teller!
"The cards have this to say...Two words: nose job."
Hey! Whats wrong with my nose?
They have all kinds of carnival games...
Im never going to win a bear, am I? :(
How do I get into these situations? :P
Oh, and my friend Dee told me not to touch the TV under any circumstances... ;P
Ooo..a merry-go-round :)
So what happens if I jump off early?
Hey! I died! How did that happen?
OMG, all they have are old issues of Creepy magazines. I must be in Hell!
Whew! Its good to be back.
So where am I?
Hey! What exactly does that sign mean?
Who are they calling "strange"?
You have to see this magnifying glass with the bug. Its one of the coolest things Ive seen in SL! :)
The Carnival of Doom is another Rezzable sim, like the Greenies Home and many other cool sims :D.
Come have some fun at the Carnival of Doom, where theres many ways to die :) Click on Search, select Places, and enter "carnival" as the keyword. The SLURL is Ebuddy Rezzable (184,69,26).
"Hey you! Get out of the bathtub!"
Oops...heehee I couldnt resist a mermaid pose ;P
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© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
The 8 Random Facts thing is going around the SL blogs. Ive been tagged 4 times in the last 24 hours (thanks Myllie, Peter, Tara, and Trouble :P). So Id better post something before I get more tags (cause it can be painful when you get tagged ;P).
Here are the rules:
(1) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
(2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
(3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
(4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Im going to do #3, but for privacy reasons, Im not listing their names here. You know who you are.... ;P
Eight Random Facts about Natalia Zelmanov:
1. I dont work for Linden Labs. Linden Labs doesnt hire mermaids. Would you want a mermaid near your asset servers?
2. Im semi-vegetarian (I still eat eggs, dairy products, and seafoods).
3. I really really hate spiders. Really. Stop using them in haunted houses and Goth sims please!
4. I usually take about 50-100 pix for each blog entry...usually with different angles, Forced Sun settings, or just to make sure Im not blinking (dont you hate the flash ;P)
5. Im a brunette, not a real blonde. Not all mermaids are blondes...OK? ;P
6. Ive lost a few pounds since starting SL. Who knew you could lose weight sitting in front of a computer? Im thinking about inventing the "Second Life Diet" ;P
7. I started SL because of a guy. I will very likely leave SL one day because of a guy :P
8. Theres no such things as mermaids. So you are really not reading this blog :)
Heehee now comes the fun part...I get to tag people now :)
BTW, check out the giant Seasons Greenies Xmas tree (by the Rezzables). Its a giant tree made with lots of little triangles :) Click on Search, select Places, and enter "greenies" (click on "Seasons Greenies"). The SLURL is Mars Areas Rezzable (241,240,75).
Heehee I finally found a tree to stand on :)
Welcome to the new Mermaid Diaries blog!
With an easier to remember address at http://www.MermaidDiaries.com :)
The original blog address (http://slnatalia.blogspot.com) should continue to work. Otherwise, my brother is in serious trouble!
I apologize in advance if we broke anything (like weblinks and stuff)...there were some really weird magic involved to make this happen :P
Oh, oh, and I got mentioned in New World Notes (thanks Kefrens for pointing that out!). While in a rather unusual place :P
Its December! Time to start decorating the store :)
Juliette is a elegant messy updo thats perfect for those formal balls! Its full of delicate strands that weave throughout the hair, along with just a touch of flexi in the back.
Comes with detachable color-change flowers spread around the hair for that finishing touch :)
Dominic is a scruffy, messy guy's hair...one that looks like you've just been surfing or lost your hair brush. Perfect for guys who want to keep it short and casual :)
All Sirena hairstyles include built-in Face Lighting so you always look your best. Just try on a demo and see the difference!
All Sirena hairstyles come in 3 sizes, (S)mall, (M)edium, and (L)arge for easy fitting and adjustment.
There are 60 textures in 15 color packs to choose from. And all hairs can be color-tinted (with 66 colors) to give you even more color choices!
Check them out online at www.SirenaHair.com or at Sirena Hair & Fashion. Click on Search, select Places, and enter "sirena" as the keyword. The SLURL is West Sunset (160,50,22).
Uh oh...where am I going to plug in all the tree lights?
83565-071203-752785-54
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Once upon a time, a little mermaid put on her legs and a little black flexi skirt to visit some friends...
At her friend's house, she sat on a pretty little chair and...
*Eeeek* What happened to my skirt?
Unfortunately, this is a common problem with flexi skirts (and other prim attachments). Some attachments work well in one position (like when you are standing), and look funny in other positions (like when you are sitting or walking).
Wouldnt it be nice if the flexi skirt can adjust itself when you are in different positions?
Well, you can! Thanks to Carricre Wind and Virrginia Tombola's wonderful AttachmentSet :)
AttachmentSet Overview
AttachmentSet is a script that will adjust a prim attachment's position/rotation, depending what the avatar is doing. You can have different positions/rotations for standing, sitting, ground sit, walking, and running.
AttachmentSet is simple to use. And best of all, its FREE! :)
You can pick up the free AttachmentSet script at Sirena Hair & Fashion (Search/Places for "sirena", the SLURL is West Sunset (160,50,22)).
My longtime friend Virrginia Tombola has written an excellent and detailed AttachmentSet Tutorial on her blog. She has tips on how to deal with lag when using AttachmentSet. She goes into stuff thats way over my head :P
If you find AttachmentSet useful, be sure you drop Carricre Wind and Virrginia Tombola a note to thank them for creating such a wonderful and Free tool! :)
A Little Black Dress with AttachmentSet
Virrginia's Tutorial covers AttachmentSet in detail. 
So Im going to show you how to create a little black dress that uses AttachmentSet. It's a step-by-step tutorial, but it will not go into details on how AttachmentSet works.
You will need both the AttachmentSet script and Ged Larsen's LoopRez to complete this tutorial. You can pick them both up for free from Sirena Hair & Fashion (Search/Places for "sirena", the SLURL is West Sunset (160,50,22)). You can find the free "Ged Larsen's LoopRez Generator" package in the Tutorial Supplies area under the giant mermaid sign.
If you have never created a flexi skirt using Ged Larsen's LoopRez, you should try the Flexi Prim Skirt tutorial first before doing this tutorial. You will need to know how to generate a flexi skirt with a specific skirt panel.
First, the top: Right-click on your avatar and select "Appearance...". Select the "Shirt" tab. If you are already wearing a shirt, select the "Take Off" button.
Click the "Create New Shirt" button.
Click on the square above "Color/Tint". Select the Black square.
Enter the follow settings:
Sleeve Length: 27
Shirt Bottom: 100
Collar Front: 78
Collar Back: 78
Shirt Fit: 0
Shirt Looseness: 0
Shirt Wrinkles: 0
Click the "Save As" button and enter "Tutorial Shirt" as the Name.
(Optionally, you could use the top from the Creating Clothes with GIMP or Creating Clothes with Photoshop tutorials.)
Next are the "Glitch Pants". These pants provide the background for the flexi skirts (and provide some...umm...essential coverage :P).
In the Appearance window, select the "Pants" tab. If you are already wearing pants, select the "Take Off" button.
Click the "Create New Pants" button.
Click on the square above "Color/Tint". Select the Black square.
Enter the follow settings:
Pants Length: 20
Waist Height: 100
Pants Fit: 0
Cuff Flare: 0
Pants Crotch: 0
Pants Wrinkles: 0
Click the "Save As" button and enter "Tutorial Pants" as the Name.
Flexi Skirt for AttachmentSet
Now comes the fun part: we will make a flexi skirt designed for AttachmentSet :)
You can use just about any flexi skirt with AttachmentSet. But since the skirt is rotated upward when you sit down, the skirt panels tend to open up. If the skirt panels are narrow, they will leave a large gap...
We need to create a flexi skirt with wider and more curved (less Path Cut) panels.
Go ahead and rez a cylinder on the ground...
In the "Object" tab, enter the following settings:
Size X: 0.158
Size Y: 0.300
Size Z: 0.440
Path Cut B: 0.150
Path Cut E: 0.850
Hollow: 0.95
Taper X: -0.75
Taper Y: -0.75
In the "Features" tab, enter the following settings:
Softness: 2.000
Gravity: 4.000
Drag: 4.000
Wind: 1.000
Tension: 1.000
In the "Texture" tab, click on the square above "Texture". In the Pick:Texture window, click on "Blank" and then "Select".
Click on the square above "Color". In the "Color Picker" window, click on the Black square and then "Select".
Go to the "General" tab. Change the Name to "Tutorial Panel".
Now Right-click on the "Tutorial Panel" object and select "Take" to take it into your Inventory.
Rez the "LoopRez v0.6 object, full perms" object on the ground.
Go ahead and follow the steps from the "Making Flexi Prim Skirts with Ged Larsen's LoopRez Script" tutorial. Create a flexi prim skirt using your newly created "Tutorial Panel".
Use the following settings for the LoopRez script (its the same settings as the "sample-short" skirt):
string objectName = "Tutorial Panel";
integer numObjects = 12;
float xRadius = .16;
float yRadius = .22;
float flareAngle = 45.0;
float bendCoefficient = 0.0;
vector rotOffset = <0.0, 180.0, 0.0>;
vector posOffset = <0.0, 0.0, 1.0>;
When you are done, you should have a little black skirt that looks something like this :)
Go ahead and attach the skirt to your Pelvis. Adjust the skirt as necessary.
For me, the skirt looks good with the following Rotation settings:
Rotation X: 180.00
Rotation Y: 74.00
Rotation Z: 180.00
Using the colored arrows to position the skirt. Using the numbers at the top middle of your screen as a guide, the following Position fits me well - X: 0.043, Y: 0.000, Z: 0.306.
You should now have a little black dress thats all ready for AttachmentSet :)
Adding AttachmentSet to the Skirt
While you are wearing the skirt, Right-click on the skirt and go to the "Content" tab.
Drap-and-drop the "AttachmentSet OSS" script from your Inventory into the "Content" tab of the skirt.
Right-click on the skirt and select "Detach". (This step is VERY important! The script wont work unless you Detach first!)
Look for the skirt in your Inventory and "Wear" it again.
Now, we are ready to setup the skirt with AttachmentSet :)
In your Chat window, type "/66 suspend" (without the quotes). You should see a reply from AttachmentSet that says, "[Your Skirt]: Skirt animations stopped."
Next type "/66 set stand". This sets up your standing position/rotation.
Find a comfortable chair nearby and sit in it :) You should use a chair without poseballs or poses installed. When in doubt, you can just rez a box and sit on it for now :P
You will notice that our skirt still looks bad...
Right-click on the skirt and select "Edit..."
Click on the "Rotate(Ctrl)" button at the top of the Edit window. Use the Green wheel to rotate the skirt up.
Alternatively, you can enter the following settings:
Rotation X: 0.00
Rotation Y: 38.00
Rotation Z: 0.00
Click on the "Position" button at the top of the Edit window. Use the Red arrow to slide the skirt forward and the Blue arrow to slide the skirt down.
Using the numbers at the top middle of your screen as a guide, the following Position fits me well - X: -0.052, Y: 0.000, Z: 0.191.
Once our sitting position/rotation looks good, we need to tell AdjustmentSet above it...
In your Chat window, type "/66 set sit".
Click the "Stand Up" button at the bottom of your screen. Notice that your skirt is in a weird position :P
OK, we are ready for AdjustmentSet to do its magic :)
In your Chat window, type "/66 resume".
Walk forward a little bit. You will notice your skirt now goes back to its "normal" standing position.
Go ahead and sit down again. Notice the magic :)
Congratulations! You just made a Self-Adjusting Flexi Skirt. Super cool, isnt it?
Adjusting for Other Actions
Most flexi skirts will go into your legs when you walk. This is typically hard for you to see yourself, but everyone around you can see it :P
You can fix this problem by rotating the skirt up a bit using the same steps as above. When you are done, just say "/66 set walk".
And you should be walking in style :)
AdjustmentSet can store adjustments for:
"/66 set stand": Standing
"/66 set sit": Sitting
"/66 set ground": Ground sit
"/66 set walk": Walking
"/66 set run": Running
Dont forget to check out Virrginia Tombola's AttachmentSet Tutorial for more details and information on AttachmentSet. And be sure you to thank Carricre Wind and Virrginia Tombola for creating AttachmentSet! :)
Im back for some more Dragon Tea.
And this time, no more looking up my skirt you guys! ;P
11563-071201-327680-82
© 2007 All Rights Reserved.
Sirena is my store, specializing in flexi hair, flexi dresses, and mermaid tails :)
