When is enough enough ? when it comes to crediting items in Second Life blogging, many have differing opinions. The one that actually gets on my wick is the poses portion of crediting.  I always credit the pose store I use. I have done that since the beginning and I have been SL Blogging for 7 years now. But every once in a while something comes up about the wrong way and the right way to do it. This is not something that has actually come up to my knowledge recently, it has just festered in my head for a year now.

Those that credit the pose by name as well as the store, great, good on you, I think that is wonderful that you do. I can do it too, as my VR Studio HUD lists everything I use by name on my screen etc. It is not that I am lazy or that I don’t want to give them the attention. As many of you will also know, I often even put the name of the pose store ON my pictures – not always, but many times I do.  It is because to me crediting a pose by name is the equivalent of sending someone to find a needle in a haystack.

If a pose is a couples pose, sold separately in a stand, then sure, name it, that will make more sense. But when the pose is a single pose from some random pack, then again good luck finding it by name. For one thing you cannot area search a pose, sure if you have the name of the pack too that will help, but if it is just the pose name, then having to look through possibly a hundred stands one at a time until you find that exact pose is lunacy.

I send people to the store, because the store may also inspire them to spend the time on those stands looking at the poses, not the hovertext to see if the name matches. Also how one shoots a picture using a pose, is going to depend on the eye of the photographer, and how they feel about the pose. I have used a figure skating pose to reach for a can of soup off a shelf, that is not going to trigger that for other people. Also which angle it is shot from, can get multiple images out of the one pose, but none of them will look how the pose is presented in the store.

The other reason, is editing. I included two pictures today. I actually may include three, but it depends on if I can find it as it is really old now, but it will also explain. Ok I went to look and found it. Lucky I remembered who I blogged that day. The two pictures from todays post are my final finish, the pictures that I would take without help, and also the third image from 3 years ago.

The first image is edited in Photoshop, but also in world by using the Animare Hud. The Animare hud is on Marketplace and a really useful tool I have been using for a few years now. I don’t always use it, but it comes in handy to have. It allows you to tweak poses, by being able to move the parts of your body you need to move, such as in this case my hand out of my dress. Or in the long shot, my hands out of my hips. So crediting the poses by name would be a waste of time, as they would not be the same pose. I also cleaned up the poses in PS because even though I did move my hands, I still had arm inside my dress, and I have a need to fix my shoulders all the time.

The second picture is how the poses were shot without any use of huds. So that is how I would be showing the items, and it would not be very flattering, so who would really want the pose anyway if they thought it was going to clip into the body.

I think of poses as INSPIRATION, I have purchased some of the worst poses over the years from all over SL, with clipping issues, broken wrists or hips, terrible things going on with them, but I see something, the way a shoulder dips, or the way the neck and head tilt…the fact that the rest of the pose may not be perfect doesn’t matter to me, that is the whole point. But something the pose creator was doing, was right, and there are limits to what can be achieved with the tools we have for creating poses.

The third picture is an oldie as I said and so old that I even have a RL background – which was free to use – but anyway. I am not sitting on anything that is all done afterwards. The attention though is the billboard, and that pose is not real either. The pose was a lot more curved at the back as though pushed up from the floor and arched. I cut the image in half, and rejoined it then editing the join and so on so as not to be visible. I do a lot of things like that, as I am sure many photographers and bloggers do. I also until wearing the Slink hands full time, used to recreate limbs and fingers in PS to take them out of my clothing before Animare was developed.

So while it is always great to credit everything, lighten up on telling people that they are doing it wrong if they don’t credit a pose by name…they aren’t they are doing a great thing by crediting the pose store by name, and that is always enough. It is then up to the customer to be as inspired by the works in that store, as we were when buying the poses in the first place.

Now that I have said all that, I hope you like my leathery look today. The dress from Nyu is just great with any and all sorts of additional accessories and footwear. Today I went with the new thigh high boots from Bax, she has been quiet on the shoe making front of late, so this could mean the start of more coming. The sunglasses also by Nyu are fabulous to wear and great detailing. Allowing me to show off my shaved hawke like ponytail look from Adoness, love this hair. The jewellery is from Zaara’s and you need to go and buy up everything as she is having her annual SALE right now, so don’t miss out, because it is all divine work.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Animare HUD 

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Marukin

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Sigrid – Glance 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Glance 

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : Flair (COMING SOON)

Hair:

Valasca Hair & Hair Base – Adoness 

Clothes:

SIN Minidress – NYU

Shoes/Boots:

Regency Boots – BAX Coen

Accessories:

Studded Sunglasses – NYU

Atiriya Stone set – Zaara 

Sometimes I do pile-ups, which are when you take someone elses picture that has added it to a pile up pool, and then make changes to it, and reupload it. I found that long ago, I was unable to do that kind of work to my own pics, because I was always worried about over editing. Things have changed a lot in blogging since then, but I definitely found it easier to think outside the box on other peoples images than my own. It helped me learn a lot more about photoshop, so I highly recommend it. If you search Pile Ups in Flickr, you will find pools of pictures you can play with. I suggest using a white background if you are submitting one, because if people are new to editing, green screen can be really hard and intimidating for some people.

Anyway today I kind of felt like editing a bit, and I had some great things to blog, so this time I decided to pile up my own picture – original here , which I guess doesn’t really count as a pile up, but as it was shot on white, and the background and floor is all hand made in PS, then I am making it the same. The fantastic chair is from Tableau Vivant and part of this months Collabor88 Birthday Celebration edition. There is also a Stag version, but the bunny just had an adorable and sexy look to it. It also has a HUD option so that you can change the textures on the cushion and the wood.

The clothing I am wearing is a mix of old and new. The old being the leather bustier from Ison, it is more of a bodysuit than bustier, but I really find it a great go to for system layer clothing when looking for something like that. The shorts are the new, and oh my goodness so adorable and pin up worthy. The shorts are by Tres Blah and also a part of C88. I went with the red, because it is such a great colour red, and went so well with the bows on the backs of my stockings, as well as the great Ingenue shoes that are add ons for the Slink feet in the medium height. The stockings are also appliers add on controlled for the feet, and are my first set of stockings for Flair – also all hand drawn.

I went over to Mother Goose’s the other day and was looking to see if they were doing appliers, and while there about 5 lucky boards had S’s, Not able to resist such a great thing, the skin I am wearing today is one of them, and so adorable. I was able to use the Adam n Eve appliers for the hands and feet, and while not perfect match, with some editing it was fine, but if wearing them around just a few bangles would work to hide any seams. I could have just tinted some, but wanted to wear my nails.

I am excited for the next Slink update, because they will be all in one combined avatar enhanced attributes but with the ability to still tint.

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Bunny Chair – Tableau Vivant @ Collabor88 

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Lene – Mother Goose’s 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Adam n Eve T1

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : 122 – Flair 

Hair:

Kun – OhMai 

Clothes:

Paneled Shorts – Tres Blah @ Collabor88

Leather Bustier – Ison 

Laced Bow Stockings – Darks (with slink appliers) – Flair 

Shoes/Boots:

Pickford heels (add ons for Slink feet) – Ingenue @ Collabor88

Accessories:

Zelda Jewellery – HANDVerk @ Collabor88

The latest edition and also 2nd Birthday Celebration of Collabor88 is Razzle Dazzle as a theme, and it is an incredible assortment of 1920’s inspired fashion and amazing homewares and accessories. There are also so many people involved, that you will have to do it in many trips. As soon as I saw the gorgeous delights, it reminded me a lot of vintage incorporation into more modern looks. Thrift shopping and raiding your parents and grandparents cupboards and coming up with looks that can help you stand out from the crowd.

The dress from Tee*fy of which I am only wearing the top, is an incredible plunging neckline halter neck look. The back is very sexy, and paired up with the beautiful Saloni pants from One Bad Pixel, you have a more modern pants look that can suit many evening occasions. The top drapes really well over the pants, so the top will fit over most items, so a must have item.

The beautiful twisted strange Marilyn pearls from Deco also bring attention to the great plunging neckline of the top, and as it is part of a dress, you have more use out of it, because it is in pieces. The skirt is also lovely to wear with other things. I am wearing the Harley skin by Pink Fuel, this was a long time in the full release, and definitely worth the wait. The face is lovely, and the options are very detailed. Not only are there brow options, and freckles, with across the nose options in three different strengths, but now there are also nose options shading wise, as well as lids options so you can have a whole lot of fun creating your own look. Make sure when you try the demos of the Harley skin you play with all the options, maybe even take some pics of yourself so you can compare the looks and variations.

At the top of me you will see the lovely Mars hair that was a recent Hair Fair release. The hair comes with two options, this is the swept which means the hair was swept behind the shoulders and only appears at the front of one side, the other option that is included is both sides at the front. The big selling points for me, are not only the great heavy bangs, but also the great headband, that as it is shown here with spikes, has metals HUD options as well as little flower details in two sizes that you can not only change the colours of, but also the ability to hide and show them. Lots of fun.

One of the things I first ever tried to make back in 06 was room dividers. While this isn’t one, but more of a mirror, the style and beauty of the piece, has that room divider quality of boudoirs of those times, where ladies used to change behind them, to be more discreet. I really do like the mirror a lot. It is also a C88 item, which is made by Art Dummy. Don’t miss out on getting it while the event is on.

Collabor88 

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Marukin Poses

summertide. (mirror) – Art Dummy @ Collabor88

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Harley – Pink Fuel 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Pink Fuel 

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 120 – Flair 

Hair:

Mars – Fashionably Dead

Clothes:

Flapper Dress Set (Top Only) – Tee*fy @ Collabor88

Saloni Pants – One Bad Pixel 

Shoes/Boots:

Petal Sandals – Celoe 

Accessories:

Marilyn Pearls – Deco @ Collabor88

Petite Fleur Ring – Maubray 

The Love Donna Flora event is one more week, and you do not want to miss out on getting some really beautiful items. I mixed The Secret Store peplum top, with some older Maitreya items to put together this lovely almost librarian look, but with a lot of appeal. The colour and print in the top, really open it up to so many combinations, but I took from it the blue and white, and added the fantastic Suave shoes with socks options, also from Maitreya. Speaking of Maitreya, have you been over to the New build they have yet, it looks great, and they are having a fantastic COMPETITION. You have the chance to create a Maitreya Window Display that will be set up in their store, and will be promoted through their website. This is a huge opportunity for anyone that loves visual display design and the prize is 25000L Store Credit, so go and get the details from the window at the store.

The blue also came in the NEW Menotte Deuxieme cuff from Epoque, that has a great range of colour options, and are just really attractive in either a soft delicate look like this one, or more of a rawr in your face urban combination. I do also love that not only can you change colours, but you get metal choices, because I will often go with silver over gold.

Other NEW items worn, are the great Marling Tail style from SLink, the hair is a low pony take on the marling style recently released at Hair Fair, and it is so pretty with a nice leather clip at the back. I really like the new pack options at SLink too with a new Passion pack for those that don’t just stick to one colour option, and also the fatpack is really inexpensive.

The Skin I am wearing is from Deetalez, it is Elly and she is so pretty, with her pert nose and lovely lips. Deetalez sells their skins by brow options, so make very sure you get the one you want, I went with black because even though I do wear lighter hair as well, I would rather have darker brows with light hair, than lighter brows with dark hair…plus it also means I get to stick it to Gogo, because it makes her stabbity and makes me laugh. LOL’s so much more, while I went to grab the link to her blog, I saw that her most recent post she is blonde with dark brows, SHE CAN NEVER EVER SAY ANYTHING AGAIN ! mwahahahaha

Make sure you head over to Love Donna Flora, it is a great event, and you can also donate by adding money to the donation boxes set up around the sim.

LOVE DONNA FLORA 

Click HERE to SLURL’s Page.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Poses by:

Pretense Poses @ Love Donna Flora Event 

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Elly – Deetalez

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Deetalez

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 111 – Flair 

Hair:

Marling Tail – Slink 

Clothes:

Peplum Shirt – Delicacy – The Secret Store @ Love Donna Flora event 

Mesh Pencil Skirt – Maitreya 

Shoes/Boots:

Suave – Maitreya Gold 

Accessories:

Menotte Deuxieme – Spectrum – Epoque 

Rectangle Framed Glasses – HOC