tutorial | layers and attachment points

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Ana Lutetia | 12 Comments

I was checking the shared items (from my friends) in my Google Reader when I saw this very simple image about layers and the other about attachment points. All credits are due to AngryBeth – Virtual World Artist …caught between the Real and Metaverse for creating the images that perfectly explain how attachment points and system layers work.

About layers, I believe there is a misconception about them. I used to have the wrong idea that designers would have to upload every single layer separately. In fact, they only have to upload the texture once and then go into edit appearance and apply the textures to the desired system layer. To the designer there isn’t any extra cost by creating more layers but they have to spend more time creating a clothing piece if they do the all layers thing. However, we, costumers, truly appreciate.

As for attachment points I would be very happy to see written on the item where the thing attaches to. I am not keen on attaching things. I usually make a mess a loose stuff when attaching a new thing my pixel self. So, it would be so much easier for people like me to have it written on the item itself where the thing attaches to.
What would be simply perfect would be to have different attachment points in each necklace or collar. A few jewellers and designers do it but they are a minority. So, I am happy if, at least, people would write down where the thing attaches to.
Also, people should attach things always to the same spot or they should attach it to where most people attach stuff:
* hair – skull
* glasses and lashes – nose
* hats – chin
* piercing and cookies – mouth
* earring – each ear
* necklaces and collar – chest and/or spine
* skirts – pelvis (and/or stomach)
* belts – stomach (and/or pelvis)
The rest is pure logic – I think. I hate having a skirt attached to the chest or spine or earring attached (to itself and) to the nose. Some things don’t make any sense at all. If you are a new designers and you don’t know where to attach stuff, do ask. Most designers (and bloggers) are pleased to help.

All sizes of this photo are available for download under a Creative Commons license : Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic.

Category: Fashion World of SL, FashionFeedofSL, InQ Connections, MV-SL-Fashion, MV-SL-Technical, MV-SL-Tutorials, Planet SLBazaar, Planet World of SL, Second Life®, fashion, tutorial / tips and tricks

Comments

12 Responses to “tutorial | layers and attachment points”

Stacia Villota
March 10th, 2009 @ 17:45

Nice diagrams!! As for what to do with these, once you understand where they are, may I suggest (at the risk of shameless self-promotion), this page:

http://virtualneko.com/how-to-wear-multiple-attachments/

Stacia
http://virtualneko.com
Cajsa Lilliehook
March 10th, 2009 @ 18:19

Fabulous post! I hate it when things like hats or hair bangs are attached to the ear and when skirts are attached to the chest. Yeah, so it’s a babydoll and starts at the chest, don’t be literal, be nice and attach it to the pelvis, please.
Betty Doyle
March 10th, 2009 @ 19:29

I don’t do many high-waisted skirts, but I did a lot of experimenting with different attachment points with one I did recently, and found that empire waist skirts actually move the best when attached to the right or left peck…don’t *think* these are the standard attachment points for anything else. I have started labeling what attachment points things use though. Glad to hear this does help.
Ana Lutetia
March 10th, 2009 @ 19:48

*bows*
Actually, the pecs are always forgotten and so are the hips. I didn’t even knew the hips were attachment points…
QueenKellee Kuu
March 10th, 2009 @ 20:03

Some skirts like babydolls/high waisted stuff really has to be attached to spine or chest if you want it to fit properly. Of course you can wear it pelvis/stomach but certain movements by the av, esp when the hips move but not the upper body, makes the skirt move very strangely, which may not bug some people but it bugs me
QueenKellee Kuu
March 10th, 2009 @ 20:05

oh yea pecs, I always forget about them too… just saw your comment betty
Allegory Malaprop
March 10th, 2009 @ 20:34

The pecs attach to, believe it or not, the _stomach_ of the avatar (they are the only things that attaches to that “pivot point” of the avatar- they’re also off center which makes them a pain to use- the amount of offset is dependent upon shape, so you can’t even reliably center it for other people! The only point that doesn’t have an attachment point is the neck, which is why collars are somewhat difficult with certain poses). The stomach attachment point actually attaches to the pelvis. While that diagram shows 0,0,0, it doesn’t show which part of the body attachment points will necessarily move with, which is more important. I know I don’t spend all my time in the T pose (That whole torso area is just a confusing mess- the rest pretty much move with what you expect.)

High waisted skirts have to attach higher, because otherwise you move, and whoops, the top of your skirt is sticking out your back. Some use the chest/spine because they _have_ to to move properly, even the pecs can be troublesome (especially with more clothing that incorporates more sculpted attachments that are very particular about where they have to move from). If you want to attach them somewhere else because your AO allows it, you can always reattach it, however it may cause trouble when you sit or dance. Personally, I prefer my attachments to move correctly, even if I do have to sacrifice attachment points for other things. It annoys me to no end when the ends for something are sticking out, and I’ll attach pelvis/stomach things higher up when need be.
Leilah Nishi
March 11th, 2009 @ 18:50

I had no idea there was such a thing as a tattoo layer… I wear my tattoos on undershirt and underpants…
Allegory Malaprop
March 11th, 2009 @ 21:36

The “tattoo layer” is what we all use for skins, which is why everyone wears tats on clothing layers.
tutorial | how to wear multiple attachments - Ana Lutetia
March 12th, 2009 @ 03:02

[...] tutorial | how to wear multiple attachments 12. March. 2009 at 3:02 am in AVANISTA, Fashion World of SL, FashionFeedofSL, InQ Connections, MV-SL-Fashion, MV-SL-Tutorials, Planet SLBazaar, Planet World of SL, Second Life®, tutorial By guest blogger Stacia Villota, Virtual Neko in Second Life as a follow up to AnaLu’s previous post on Layers and Attachment Points [...]
Joodle Fadoodle
March 13th, 2009 @ 05:08

This is great info. Thanks for sharing!
Ana Lutetia
March 13th, 2009 @ 16:37

Joodle Fadoodle → I thought it was extremely useful. <3