Welcome to SLsecret, week 334.
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SLSecret: Week 334
· Lourdes Denimore ·
Quick link to the 33 Comments
Before we delve into secrets…
• If you hook up with a crazy in SL, it is not our responsibility to help you deal with that. If it becomes a RL issue contact law enforcement.
• Trust no one. If you tell people your laundry they will air it for you.
• Secret submissions are anonymous. We don’t know if your crazy ex or your abuela submitted them.
• Make your secrets legible.
• Do not contact us just to threaten us, especially with e-lawyers. We’ve been doing this for 12+ years. You are not the first nor will you be the last.
• Lastly, if the material submitted here triggers you, please get help. If the materials submitted here make you suicidal please see the suicide hotline numbers posted. They are there to help.
walmart prices says
Comparing template makers to walmart. If you want to pay walmart prices, your going to get walmart effort. If you want to wear Louis Vuitton then your going to have to pay Louis Vuitton prices.
You missed the point says
You missed the point. Someone DID make that work. Template or not, someone spent time and effort making that mesh that store A,B and C is using. That IS someone’s original mesh. Someone busted their ass to make that. Unless you have been in business long enough to have gained a large enough following, trying to create mesh, keep it for yourself and sell it is not worth it. You’re not going to make your money back. It will take months if not a year or more to build that base of shoppers. It’s not economically efficient. It’s bad business. And yes, owning a store in SL should very much be considered as a real job, a real business. Why do you think so many good shops close shop? If you want to do the elitism, you’re going to have to charge more and cater to a certain market and there is a market for it to be sure but you’re not going to be paying 300L for a pair of jeans, you’re going to be paying 3 times that amount. Also you won’t see jeans, you’re going to see couture clothing.
But the rest of you, aren’t willing or able to pay what amounts to an hourly fee. I know how much my time is worth. I pay myself an hourly wage just like any job. If it’s not worth my time, I don’t do it. This is my real job. I’m not going to create a mesh that I know I can make several tens of thousands of lindens off of if I sell it full perm for a fraction of that just for the sake of being able to say it’s original. We’re all small mom and pop shops here, very few ever make it to the big leagues here. Those that do, run this like a business and we do what is best for our bottom line. Because if we don’t then we have to leave. If this means we supplement our stock with templates then so be it. Redgrave makes gorgeous mesh, much of it is their own “original”, so why the hate that they used a template that someone else busted their ass to make, that is someone else’s “original”.
.... says
I don’t care if Redgrave or any other well respected brand uses templates. That’s their own decision and if I like it, I’ll buy it, that’s not the point. It’s that Redgrave might have used a template at an event where the rules strictly specify that you can’t use templates, you must use your own “original creation.”
Hmmmm says
What’s so great about original mesh, I know at least one so called “architect” who uses totally ripped software including;
Cinema 4D (studio), Maya, 3DS max, After Effects, Vray, Z Brush and Photo Shop
I would prefer unoriginal mesh made from legitimate software than buy from a hypocrite who boasts “original mesh” from stolen software any day
eyeroll says
Sure and I bet everyone who can make mesh or is learning mesh can TOTALLY afford to buy those programs, not that they don’t cost $1,000’s of dollars and are typically meant for professional designers (like ones that work at companies who buy software in bundles for a lower price) to use not hobbist or work at home types.
Oh and if everyone who made original content had to pay for their software out of pocket the price for ONE piece of mesh would be probably 2,000L or more just so they could earn money back for the cost of the software, not including the cost of uploading the mesh/textures/ads and the cost of maintaining and creating their mainstore.
Also, people seem to be missing the point if the rules of the event say NO templates and only original mesh (this can include commissioned exclusive mesh from another creator depending on the event) then that is the end of it. Redgrave shouldn’t be allowed to continue to be in the event if they violated the rules of the event. I agree as a fellow event organizer it is NOT the organizers fault for Redgrave doing this. It is solely the designer(s) for redgraves as they knew the rules prohibited template work and did it anyway.
Truth is original mesh > template work if you want to be a successful high quality brand. There are exceptions to this rule but those are mostly due to marketing and having a strong following of buyers. It is ultimately unfair that Redgrave gets off the hook when there are lesser known original brands that would give their arm to be in that event. I see this time and time again though that events let in designers who may do nice work but do not follow themes or do half ass itemed (usually their regular work is premium) or are late stay in events (looking at you Collabor88) when they should let in fresh new talent that will actually follow the themes/rules! I have no idea about Collabor88 and their original mesh policy (if there is one) but Nylon Outfitters made items using templates for it (Meli templates at that – they cost 200-300L!) and I believe the butterflies on Lark’s picture frame are templates (they could not be but 9 prims for a picture frame is a bit heafty and the item was unlike anything Lark has done before in a day way). Was anyone else disappointed about quite a few people not having their stuff out on time or following the theme? I’m beginning to feel like Collabor88 is becoming a bit stale.
Also, I don’t hate on template users, all of us have to start somewhere and it can help you improve your texturing. Now those who recolor items or barely try then complain of poor sales that is another story. I personally am working on doing original mesh and might sell templates (of items I can’t or wont use for my personal brands) at a later time. Obviously there is money to be made in it but also I’d love to see what people would make with my items and see them “live on” beyond me making them strictly for my store. It’s nice to see people’s take on your items.
Home hobbyist/Work at home type says
I’m a hobbyist/work from home type and I can afford software like that. PhotoShop they now offer on a monthly plan($20.). You get the current version with all the bells and whistles that those working in a company get. Also I picked up 3D max one year (about 3 years ago) that they offered for free. They also update this freebie when the new versions come out. There are also things like GIMP and Blender which are open source and also free. I just say all that to say just because people use fancy software doesn’t mean they stole it.
I don’t care to buy template work though. I’d rather go and buy it myself and make it the way I want. Why buy something I can do (if not better in some cases) myself?
mapinto says
That’s unlikely photo shop cost 10 bucks a month. Which Creator are you talking about?
Joanne Black says
I see this week we have our usual poster putting in more non secret related commentary. Are you saying Redgrave are using non licensed technology. That’s a pretty serious accusation little miss can’t post your name, what proof do you have and how do you know?
Dontbedumb says
All those complaining about a designer using a mesh template need to get over yourselves. Stop with this nonsense about it being lazy to use a template someone else made. I do both, make my own or buy others depending on what I’m wanting to do. Sometimes it’s time efficient to use someone else’s creations. Stop with this original crap. Most of them time its completely not worth keeping a mesh all to myself or trying to sell it as an exclusive because most of you want your mesh cheap. You want to know the truth of it? I could sell the kit and make several times the amount I’d make if I sell it exclusive or semi exclusive. So why, why would I rob my own paycheck to make something exclusive for an event that won’t be nearly as profitable as using a kit? FFS. You think those of us who make mesh just shit it out in our sleep? We can work a week on a mesh, 10+ hours a day to create one beautiful mesh that fits over all your mesh bodies and attachments and get paid very little. Oh and some of us actually DO buy the programs, maya, marvelous designer, mud box and more. We pay through the teeth for computers that can run the software. You should see my yearly budget for computer hardware and software. I love what I do, I love that I can work from home and do this but some of you really need a lesson in reality, even if it’s virtual reality.
groans says
This is in response to “DontBeDumb”
QUOTE
“All those complaining about a designer using a mesh template need to get over yourselves. Stop with this nonsense about it being lazy to use a template someone else made. I do both, make my own or buy others depending on what I’m wanting to do. Sometimes it’s time efficient to use someone else’s creations.”
END QUOTE”
Exactly, it can be extremely time efficient to use a premade mesh template. In fact, this is how the template market first started in SL: they were resource components.
QUOTE
“Most of them time its completely not worth keeping a mesh all to myself or trying to sell it as an exclusive because most of you want your mesh cheap.You want to know the truth of it? I could sell the kit and make several times the amount I’d make if I sell it exclusive or semi exclusive. So why, why would I rob my own paycheck to make something exclusive for an event that won’t be nearly as profitable as using a kit? FFS. ”
END QUOTE
This is very true for a lot of people and why the idea of turning an original-content shop into a full perm resource shop often seems more fruitful to creators. Like you obviously are, they too get worn out with the hours it takes to create original mesh when consumers want it for pennies – You aren’t rewarded for your hard work that way are you? So instead, a creator can use full perm to make their production time quicker, or they can sell their original work full perm and appeal to a wider range of people.
QUOTE
“You think those of us who make mesh just shit it out in our sleep? We can work a week on a mesh, 10+ hours a day to create one beautiful mesh that fits over all your mesh bodies and attachments and get paid very little. Oh and some of us actually DO buy the programs, maya, marvelous designer, mud box and more. We pay through the teeth for computers that can run the software. You should see my yearly budget for computer hardware and software. I love what I do, I love that I can work from home and do this but some of you really need a lesson in reality, even if it’s virtual reality. Stop with this original crap.”
END QUOTE
Again, true. This is why many people care about the origin of their content. When we give our money to people who are spending weeks creating original mesh, we fund them. We give them the ability to continue to create their own original mesh work. Choosing to spend our money on original content makes it less likely that the designers will give up and succumb to using pre-made template work.
Isn’t this what you so clearly point out as happened to you? You can not afford to continue to produce original content work because it takes you 10x as long as your competing brand who using pre-made templates! It happens in RL all of the time: Another ma and pop shop is closed in favor of Wal*Mart. So instead of telling us to stop asking where and how our content is produced, and instead of telling us to stop caring about spending our money on original work, start informing people on the importance of funding original content creators.
Ew says
Who is the kiddy diddler in #1?? Name please or it’s just a waste of slsecret space!
groans says
#3 LOL redgrave has been using templates since FOREVER. Next.
Boo says
How is the Seasons Story “elitist”? They include almost 100 vendors every round, sometimes more. That’s like 3x more people than get accepted to other event rounds.
comeon says
@anon profiles are public, reading one is not stalking
Christa says
#5 needs to check their facts as well carbon is made from coal, well carbon fibers are therefore diamonds come from coal.
Elle Couerblanc says
Actually it’s the opposite but I get your line of thinking: Carbon turns right and becomes a diamond. But if it turns left it becomes Coal. Both are bi products of the same source material.
whatever says
is this a science lesson, who the hell cares, really this is all you have to bitch about
Science? says
Whatever comments secret #5 was meant to evoke I’m sure Christa has learned something about coal and what it can not do. So whatever else, I’d say a lesson in geology had been given lol
Melanya says
Re: #3, is it a requirement for The Season’s Story that all items should be original?
And even if it is, there are a number of ‘all original mesh’ brands in sl that employ various people with different skills to make the various elements they sell. So you will never really know if what you are buying is the work of one or more people, and any of them might be working for a number of other merchants.
In the end, why does it matter? If you want something, and it is being sold honestly, which I’m sure is the case here, and the price is acceptable to you, then just buy it.
Would you rather have something you don’t like as much, that may be less well made, less well textured, JUST because it’s oh my gosh original?!
Not the point says
Not the point the secret maker was getting at. It’s not that they’re using a template,it’s that they’re using the exact same object that the premade maker put out, probably as a demo of how the mesh is supposed to look when done properly. They didn’t bother to place it under their name.
groans says
@Not the point
They can’t “place it under their name” without the DAE (mesh) file, that is the file that gets created in the 3d program before the creator uploads it for SL use. When someone buys a premade template in SL, they typically only receive the SL OBJECT. You can not change names on these objects.
When you purchase an item from your favorite SL store, are you able to change the creator name? No, right? It’s the same way with Redgrave purchasing a templated mesh. Inspect the object and you will see the original creators name.
Anyway, this is not the first time Redgrave has done this:
Redgrave:
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Mesh-Loose-Knit-Shirt-REDGRAVE/4243266
Full Perm Mesh Source:
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Full-Perm-Rigged-Mesh-Mens-Long-Sleeve-Loose-Shirt-with-Army-Name-Tag-Fashion-Kit/4232919
Many people don’t have a problem with the origin of the content they purchase. Others do. It’s just a personal preference. I, personally, like to know the origins as I prefer to spend my money to fund original content creators as opposed to lining pockets of people monopolizing the system with quickly produced cheapy content.
Example: Some designers weren’t able to participate in seasons story because they lost their spot while trying to create their own mesh: model it, UV it, rig it, texture it, and make their ads. This is time consuming. When people use templates, it is already created for them and very little work or time is needed. Template users only have to make ads for their item (And sometimes add their own textures). While template/full perm items can be useful, they also produce an incredibly disadvantaged market.
Elle Couerblanc says
So the Redgrave creator makes mesh for resale – big fucking deal! I don’t get the issue?
Melanya says
I think it’s the other way about – Redgrave bought the full perm mesh from xXMomijiXx of Creative Studio, here: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/CREATIVE-STUDIO-Poncho/6619732
Anne Uriel says
They use premade mesh. That’s sort of lazy if you ask me.
Don't think so says
I don’t think that’s what they meant. It looks like the creator of Redgrave is using premade mesh objects without even reuploading to change the owner, and the person who make the premade objects has a specific restriction saying that their already made stuff can’t be used for sale.
(I don’t create, I know very little about how premade mesh works, don’t murder me for getting this wrong.)
NoneYaBizz says
Well, a lot of designers work very hard to get original designs out the public, especially if it’s at a deadline, so it comes off as incredibly lazy and careless to slap a texture on a template, especially for an event. There are other talented designers, who’d very much like to be a part of The Season’s Story, and would probably offer a better product.
Elle Couerblanc says
Like Melanya says – how do we know this person isn’t a creator also designing under the brand Redgrave? Even if it isn’t, I still say who cares!
groans says
The RULES OF SEASONS STORY, explicitly say your item has to be original, exclusive, and never before released. The secret has nothing to do with original vs template. It’s that redgrave entered themselves into Seasons Story, AGREED to release an original non-templated item, and released one anyway. This is completely unfair to the other designers who followed the rules, I explained why in one of my other responses here.
Also, Catty works hard to run the seasons story event and she can NOT be expected to police everyone’s content, it’s just impossible. She does her best.
** FROM SEASONS STORY RULE NOTECARD **
/quote
– Designers must release a new item.
( Only Original works ok, don’t allow the full perm or
template use. )
/end quote
Maybe Redgrave sold their brand, the quality has decreased indeed.
secrets fail says
This week of SL secrets is a total flop.
Scarlett Luv says
Ok #5 is nit picking someone over a phrase that commonly used by lots of people as a “motivational” are you going after EVERYONE that uses that phrase or just a specific person?
#7 huh? are you telling us this cause you need to order the kosher meal cause you think we are an airline?
Anon says
#5 is going after a specific person with it in their profile (stalk much?), not the author of the actual quote or anyone who uses it as motivational.
Huh? says
Scarlett, are you implying that people who keep Kosher are pains in the ass?