| Designing fashion for Second Life can be a | | | | start designing fashion seriously, you'll need The |
| daunting prospects. Lots of residents spend lots | | | | GIMP. ( This freeware is just as good as the |
| of lindens on Second Life clothes, and a sure way | | | | commercial software out there, and there is a |
| to make money is to do the same. The great | | | | very active and helpful community of Gimp users |
| thing about designing SL fashion is that you can | | | | that can help you. Download Gimp and learn how |
| sell the same item multiple times. In fact, you can | | | | to use some of the features. After you do this, |
| sell it as many times as you want. | | | | you are ready to move on |
| The only tough part is getting started. If you are | | | | STEP 3: GET TEMPLATES: To use Gimp (or other |
| not a programmer, designer or familiar with | | | | photo-editing software) to design clothes for SL, |
| photo-editing, you aren't going to feel comfortable, | | | | you'll need some templates. A template is simply |
| and you won't know where to get started. But | | | | a 3-D rendering that can be laid over an avatar. |
| don't worry, we've come up with three easy | | | | With a template, you can design skins, tattoo's |
| steps you can take to start you on your way to | | | | and clothes. To start off with, you should |
| becoming a true fashionista. | | | | download Robin Wood's t-shirt template. ( This will |
| STEP 1: MASTER THE IN-GAME FASHION | | | | allow you to create your very first template |
| DESIGNER: The first step in becoming a fashion | | | | design: a t-shirt. The template itself is very well |
| designer in SL is to get used to the in-game | | | | done, and by using layers and masks, Robin Wood |
| fashion designer. Open the appearance tool (either | | | | has created one of the best SL Fashion aides |
| through the top-menu or by right-clicking on your | | | | around. Use it. |
| avatar) and you can edit a multitude of different | | | | Of course, there is a lot more to fashion design |
| factors of your avatar's appearance. To change | | | | than what we've told you about. (We've created |
| clothing, or design new ones, you'll need to get | | | | an excellent fashion design guide which you can |
| familiar with the texture and color menu's. Once | | | | find on our website. Just click on the link below.) |
| you get comfortable with the in-game designer, | | | | You can spend a lot of time learning how to |
| you can move on to the next step. | | | | create fashions, but in the end, what you want is |
| STEP 2: GET PHOTO-EDITING: To move past the | | | | up to you. Designing clothes for SL residents is |
| simple designs you can make through the | | | | not difficult, but it does take knowledge and |
| appearance editor, you'll need to get some | | | | practice. If you can get as far as step three, you |
| photo-editing software. Though many of these | | | | will be ahead of 90% of everyone else in the |
| programs can run $300 or more, we've found an | | | | game. |
| alternative that is just as good. If you want to | | | | GO FORTH AND CONQUER! |