I must admit initially I didn't understand all the hoopla over photo studios and their benefits. And I certainly couldn't understand spending so many lindens on such a device. I mean some fo these things go for upwards of $L5000. Do you realize how many hairs, dresses, or even textures (mmmm textures) that could buy? I mean to spend that for something SL already provides and so many beautiful backdrops from so many sims? Well I broke down and found a studio for $L300 and thought "Eh why not? Think of it as a gadget test." And besides they offered a trade in for when an update was completed. It was a bit clunky to use and it took 41 prim. But it was a bit cool. Went at one point to take the update, but I couldn't get it to work and never could get the creator to respond to messages I left so I chalked it up to a learning experience.
Well time went by and I shutterbugged my way around SL. But sometimes my pictures looked flat or just not 'sparky'. I never gave a studio much thought until I took a class to learn how to make textures, and in process learned a bit on how to work with photos and image manipulaton software, like adobe photoshop pro, GIMP and the like. Well the studio bug hit again for the ability to enhance the base picture in order to manipulate it further.
About 2 weeks ago or so, I was discussing with my SL husband my new 'itch' for a studio and he was so sweet and while I was using SL's search engine, he was using SLexchange, aka slex in our house, to give me some ideas where to go. At almost the same time we found one called SERENADE Photo Studio. Well I went to look at the store in world. Let me just say I was quite impressed. The pose stand was separate purchase but even together, their price was well under some of the other high end makers and did you notice that 13 prim? Oh let me add that the pose stand is 4 prim. So overall it's 17 prim. Prim are almost as tasty as textures and I value every one of mine. I hate to have something of 80+ prim taking up decorating prim or prim available for me to build. I was sold. I even bought a couple of background packs of some great shots around SL to save on 'gas' getting there. Ok fine, cause I wanted to try this baby out and all it's cool stuff, and it was a lame attempt to be funny, but I digress.
I have to say as far as gadgets or tools, it is one of the easiest, coolest ones I've used yet. The options are customizable for the shot and the HUD's make short work of setting up. Instructions are clear and concise and we were taking pictures almost immediately.
This was well worth the investment even if I was once a 'smirker' at the idea of such an item.
PS... It appears the creator of SERENADE has moved his listings to OnRez if you wish to browse his items on the web.
And since I am such a shortcut taker, let me paste here what it advertises its features to be:
------------
FEATURES
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Designed from the beginning for Windlight!
Studio and HUD are COPY/MODIFY.
Automatic, FREE UPDATES for life!
Photograph your subject alone or in GROUPS!
6 Lights for total lighting control.
12 Lighting Presets for inspiration.
Fog, Steam, Rain, Snow, and Bubbles particle effects.
7 Backgrounds Included, add your own.
Separate colors for the Background, Ceiling, and Floor.
Full featured HUD doubles as a status indicator.
Transfer version of the HUD for friends included.
Communication channels are notecard configurable,
Major functions accessible via chat commands.
Only 13 prims.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Found one of my all-time-favorite designer's blogs today!
If you have never been to Nicky Ree's then let me just say you are missing some fabulous designs. I had the honor of meeting her, now on several occasions, and she is just the nicest and most talented clothing designers I have had the pleasure of meeting. And out of the blue I have found her blog. I never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the box ya'know. I will try to attach the link as a link this time. I believe the last time I mentioned a blog here, aka my wovwy widdle brudder's to be exact, blogspot thought perhaps I was spamming.
Nicky Ree is also very involved during Relay for Life and this year I was fortunate enough that my sweet darling SL husband helped me obtain one of her limited edition 'Mara' dresses. It is absolutely lovely, as are all my pieces from her different lines. Her custom textures are fabulous and her clothing templates are some of the best, bar none.
When I went to her blog today, I noticed that once again, her design elements and textures have been illegally swiped, AGAIN. By the same person! All the more reason NOT to patronize the works of Annejoy Paine of aDiva. And to be honest what I have seen of this artist, wait she is not an artist, no, of this thief's work, it is clearly cut rate in comparison to Nicky's. Why wear something that is clearly a copy? Some would say cost, but honestly, even with some of Nicky's complete collections, which give you sometimes 6-8 different ways to wear something, you are looking at about $L1600? or the equivalent of $7 usd? Remember this is for a collection. Why buy something substandard or a copycat version (which when translated to SL looks like a Megalomart rip off) when the original is so much nicer? And when the original designer is so customer service oriented and gives so much to charities like Relay for Life, I say support the original! Sometimes in real life we have to go for the bargain, but why cheat your second life? Double jeers to aDiva for lack of originality and blatant theft. (And where is Linden Labs during all this? Nicky has now filed 2 DMCA's through all this. What is up with that? I guess another rant for another time.)
Ok so maybe this was a rave turned to rant but I really can't say enough on Nicky Ree. She is truly an amazing lady, a savvy business woman and a great designer. And I say bravo to her and all her works.
Nicky Ree is also very involved during Relay for Life and this year I was fortunate enough that my sweet darling SL husband helped me obtain one of her limited edition 'Mara' dresses. It is absolutely lovely, as are all my pieces from her different lines. Her custom textures are fabulous and her clothing templates are some of the best, bar none.
When I went to her blog today, I noticed that once again, her design elements and textures have been illegally swiped, AGAIN. By the same person! All the more reason NOT to patronize the works of Annejoy Paine of aDiva. And to be honest what I have seen of this artist, wait she is not an artist, no, of this thief's work, it is clearly cut rate in comparison to Nicky's. Why wear something that is clearly a copy? Some would say cost, but honestly, even with some of Nicky's complete collections, which give you sometimes 6-8 different ways to wear something, you are looking at about $L1600? or the equivalent of $7 usd? Remember this is for a collection. Why buy something substandard or a copycat version (which when translated to SL looks like a Megalomart rip off) when the original is so much nicer? And when the original designer is so customer service oriented and gives so much to charities like Relay for Life, I say support the original! Sometimes in real life we have to go for the bargain, but why cheat your second life? Double jeers to aDiva for lack of originality and blatant theft. (And where is Linden Labs during all this? Nicky has now filed 2 DMCA's through all this. What is up with that? I guess another rant for another time.)
Ok so maybe this was a rave turned to rant but I really can't say enough on Nicky Ree. She is truly an amazing lady, a savvy business woman and a great designer. And I say bravo to her and all her works.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Hair and more hair....
I sure wish designers would make hair transfer. One of my first addictions in my shopping adventures in Second Life was hair. OMG I LOVE HAIR! And OMG I FAIL horribly at trying to make my own, so my inventory is SO packed with hair. But just as my player loves to play with cuts, colors and styles, I love to change things up too. So I've like tons of hair that I can say 'been there... done that' but that is still good hair. And with so many new residents I would love to go to help island and just gift newbie girls/ladies/women with hair from my inventory. I don't want to charge for it. I wore it. I got my use from it. It now clutters my inventory. And I just hate to delete it. Would be so great to be able to just give it away to some new resident and 'make their day'. I mean really. When I think back I had a few kind people, Arcadian one of them, that assisted me, but I was on help island like a week before I figured things out and looked quite, well let's just put it this way, 'right off the turnip truck'. Just wish I could give away old inventory, granting random acts of kindness on new residents. Just to make their day! Ok ramble is over... back to whatever you were working on.
Friday, March 21, 2008
I can't believe the turkey (my lil' brother) made me do this!
Oh sure... I have drug him here and there... But he started it! Told me how to teleport off help island and how to buy lindens and where all the stores were and how to buy things. Since then I've been trying to uninstall RL and just run SL.
And now? ... now? He has drug me to the world of blogging. (sighs with exacerbation) Word to the wise ~ Beware who you make family ~. You may end up with a music crunching, mind twisting, put-on-the-sunglasses- cuz-here-comes the-blond-changeling, pain-in-da-butt-little-brudder, Arcadian Vanalten. He was my first friend in SL and remains one of the dearest. And, who to be honest, I would be utterly lost without.
I can't say how often or what will appear on these pages. At least not until I figure out what do to here. It's the blonde in me. Takes me a bit to catch on sometimes. But in order to reply to HIS blog I had to make MY blog. I can't keep up with RL journaling. What makes him think I can keep up here? (makes note to kick his shins when she sees him again) And for those who might be curious to the musings of such idiosyncrasy that only he can pen, his blog is http://sparechangeling.blogspot.com. Tell him I sent ya! Kick his shins for me. He lubbers it so very much!
Perhaps I'll bring some of my shopping loves and share my exploration of SL. Expound on all the fun it brings to the mundane. I have learned a bit of building and scripting, which I love to torment friends and family with all my 'homemade' gifts. So maybe I'll torment anyone daring to peek in here as well.
Well taa-taa for now and hope life, in whatever form, is going FAB for you today!
And now? ... now? He has drug me to the world of blogging. (sighs with exacerbation) Word to the wise ~ Beware who you make family ~. You may end up with a music crunching, mind twisting, put-on-the-sunglasses- cuz-here-comes the-blond-changeling, pain-in-da-butt-little-brudder, Arcadian Vanalten. He was my first friend in SL and remains one of the dearest. And, who to be honest, I would be utterly lost without.
I can't say how often or what will appear on these pages. At least not until I figure out what do to here. It's the blonde in me. Takes me a bit to catch on sometimes. But in order to reply to HIS blog I had to make MY blog. I can't keep up with RL journaling. What makes him think I can keep up here? (makes note to kick his shins when she sees him again) And for those who might be curious to the musings of such idiosyncrasy that only he can pen, his blog is http://sparechangeling.blogspot.com. Tell him I sent ya! Kick his shins for me. He lubbers it so very much!
Perhaps I'll bring some of my shopping loves and share my exploration of SL. Expound on all the fun it brings to the mundane. I have learned a bit of building and scripting, which I love to torment friends and family with all my 'homemade' gifts. So maybe I'll torment anyone daring to peek in here as well.
Well taa-taa for now and hope life, in whatever form, is going FAB for you today!
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