Mesh Avatar Basics

THE BASICS

I. Introduction

Did you know that the original mesh avatar is your Linden Lab's Avi that you started your Second Life with.  Here are some basics that will help take the mystery out of a mesh body and head.

Putting one of these things on for the first time can be overwhelming, with appliers and HUDS popping up everywhere on your screen, but it's really quite simple.  Your mesh body and head are really nothing more than a mesh dress and hat.

Instead of wearing a rigged mesh outfit you are wearing a rigged mesh body and head.  It moves with your body, it holds detail beautifully and it is really worth the trouble.

Here is where it can get confusing.  How do you dress this thing?  It's easy if you think in layers.  Layer 1 is your original avi.  This only comes into play if your mesh body is fitmesh.  Fitmesh means that certain sliders will work to adjust your new body the same way they worked to make your old body taller or more muscular.  Not all sliders work with all bodies so check the documentation that came with your mesh body and head to find out what is adjustable.

Layer 2 is your new mesh body.  Remember we are working our way outwards visually with Layer 1 being the bottom layer. Layer 2, your mesh body encases layer 1, your LL body. Part of layer 2 is the alpha mask which makes your LL body invisible and keeps it from poking through your mesh body just like an alpha for mesh clothing.

Layer 3 is your skin.  Most mesh bodies are packaged with skins, or with the help of an applier many skins are available for your mesh body.  Always check to make sure any skin you are considering has appliers available for your body.  Mesh bodies made by Maitreya, Belleza, or Slink will probably have the most options available in terms of skins and applier clothing. 

Your skin encases your mesh body.  Without an applier the skin would automatically be applied to your LL body which you can no longer see.  More about that in a separate notecard called "Understanding Appliers".

Layer 4 is applier clothing which is the equivalent of system clothing on your old avi.  This is the clothing that is applied directly over the skin as opposed to mesh clothing which is attached.  It does not require an alpha.  Applier clothing is useful in a number of ways.

Layer 5 is mesh clothing.  Mesh clothing is pretty much a necessity these days, but you are putting mesh on top of mesh which is not without it's problems, the main problem being no ability to apply a highly customized alpha layer.  More on that below.

About Applier Clothing

Applier clothing gets around the problem of 2 mesh items colliding with each other.  For example:  you might try to wear a mesh jacket with mesh jeans and the 2 pieces will constantly be poking through each other unless they were made to work together.  This eliminates a lot of mixing and matching to create varied and interesting outfits.  Instead, you can pair that same jacket with applier jeans and get the same look without the colliding.  Applier pieces are worn underneath mesh pieces as they are applied to your mesh avi in the same way system clothing is applied to your old avi.

Applier clothing will generally be such things as stockings, leggings, lingerie, camis, tank tops, and can include tattoos, and make-up.  When purchasing applier clothing make sure that the appliers included support your mesh body brand.  Most commonly supported are Maitreya, Belleza, Slink, and Catwa.  Such systems as Omega will sometimes require a 'relay' which is kind of a bridge between their applier scripting and your avi's scripting. 

The good news is well made applier clothing looks way better than the old system clothing did on your old avi.  It tends to hold a smoother shape with more detail.

About Mesh Clothing

As I said earlier, you really can't get properly dressed without including mesh in your outfits.  Mesh is beautiful and if well done includes texture and shape and moves with the body.

However having said that we have one very very large problem to overcome, and that is a lack of custom alphas.  To date there is no way to make that happen.  Body manufacturers have tried to overcome this using a HUD with alpha cuts.  This allows you the ability to select areas of the avi that will have an alpha (as in will be invisible under clothing, no butt cheeks poking through your dress).  This works quite well on lower torso, arms and shoulders but not so much with tops and evening gowns with specialized necklines.  The big caveat here is always, always, and again always take advantage of the demos most creators offer before buying something.  Very few creators offer refunds.  It is your responsibility to "try before you buy".

Those are pretty much the basics.  I hope this information has been helpful!