Mesh FAQ

:: What is Mesh?

Mesh is simply means creating 3D items in other 3D editing softwares (such as Maya and Blender) and uploading them to Second Life

:: How can I make a Mesh item to appear my name as creator?

Mesh system doesn’t work like sculpted items. With mesh system there is no sculpted maps any more. You buy models directly. There are two ways to make items to show your name as creator

1- Uploading source files (.dae) files to Second Life yourself. You can buy dae files here: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/185213?id=185213

2- Creating an invisible prim and linking it to mesh item as root prim (I allow that, I am not sure if all creators do)

:: What is UV Map and how can I use it?

UV is a term among 3d world means unwrapped vertices (a vertice is an intersecting point on a 3d model). UV is simple guide image for helping to create textures for a particular item. You don’t have to do any thing with it. They are just there to make your texturing job easier.

:: What are faces?

With mesh system you can create different faces on the same object. Think it like a simple prim box which has 6 faces. Creators can do the same thing on any item they create in a 3d editing software (up to 8 faces). That means each face can have their own texture attributes (map, shine, repeat, offset etc). To edit a face; on edit window select “Select face” then touch on the face you want to edit. Most creators would tell you what parts are different faces (for example; bow and dress are different faces means even though they are one object you can change texture attributes for bow and dress separately)

:: What is rigged mesh cloth?

Rigged clothes means clothes skinned to avatar bones. That allow dresses move along the body joints as body moves up to a certain degree.

:: How can I resize rigged mesh cloth?

Rigged mesh clothes can not be resized in Second Life. That is why creators create different sizes. Despite that creators provide different sizes you still have to adjust your shape slightly for clothes to fit right.

:: Rigged mesh clothes appear tiny?

View size of any rigged  mesh cloth doesn’t matter. Once you wear it it will always be the same size as created before uploading. So resizing them wont change the actual size. In general when you upload mesh object they will appear tiny. Even though size doesn’t matter for rigged mesh items, you can resize other mesh items as you do normally.

:: How can I transfer your mesh items to other grids?

You need to upload dae files manually to other grids. You can purchase my dae files on Here . I add couple of my items dae files to there every week. I also post them on my website (here) as I add them.

:: What is normals map?

Normals map are used to give extra details without adding extra geometry (less lag as a consequence). You can add fine details like embroideries and folds with normals map. You can read how you can add more details using normals map in Photosho here. Normals map goes to bumpiness under texture tab on edit window.

:: What is specular map?

Specular map is used to give different amount of  reflection and glossiness to different parts of a model. White represents fully reflective and fully glossy, black represents completely mat with no reflection. Between white and black color (gray shades) represents the amount of the reflection and gloss. For example chrome chair legs would be full reflective (white) while leather parts might have slight reflection (close to black grays). Specular map  goes to “Shininess” under “Texture” tab on edit window.

::If you have more questions about mesh please let me know, I d be happy to answer them.

:: What is Shadow Map, how can I use it?

Shadow map is occlusion map which can be used to add dept to your texture. Simple way of using it is to add it to a layer on top of your texture (in Photoshop or similar) and set its blend mode to multiply (you can adjust multiply amount according to your desire)