I am going to walk you through how I create one and what is used in the previewer. Hope this

takes away your nightmares of Opacity.

FIRST FIND AN OUTFIT TO DERIVE FROM

Most Mesh Creators will include the body sleeve collar shoes belt etc. TEMPLATES.

THESE ARE NOT THE OPACITY TEMPLATES. You as a Developer have to create them.

YOU WILL NOT FIND MANY DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE DERIVES WITH OPACITY MAPS IN ANY

PATTERN. ONLY COLORS. USUALLY WHITE OR A SHADE OF GRAY ARE USED.

THE SECRET TO CLOTHING IS OPACITY.

I am going to use the Raquel body style to create these templates for you as my EXAMPLE.

[center][/center]

IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SEWING THIS TUT WILL CREATE YOUR PATTERN.

ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED THE PATTERN YOU WILL THEN WANT TO ADD THE MATERIAL OR

YOUR "TEXTURE".

I WILL BE ADDING TEMPLATES OF ALL KINDS TO GIVE YOU A VISUAL OF WHAT THE

PATTERN WILL DO. THE ONE I HAVE CREATED HERE IS IN NO WAY TO GIVE YOU AN

OUTFIT. IT IS TO SHOW YOU HOW THE PATTERN WORKS AND WHAT WILL SHOW IN THE

PREVIEWER.

You may copy all these images to your computer to see them in the previewer.

The first is a full color on the left side of the Avi {white} and the right is the opacity example.

for this white is used.

[center][/center]

The second one is the fully transparent left side of the Avi {black} and the right is the opacity

example.

[center][/center]

The third fourth and fifth are all shades of transparencies on the left side of the Avi {gray} and

the opacities on the right. I HAVE GIVEN YOU 3 EXAMPLES OF GRAY. Make sure you have the use blending ticked.

[center][/center]

The next is a pattern not matched in the center for you to see where to line or to see where

you have created a mirror image of your pattern. middle split

[center][/center]

The next is the exact pattern with it lined up to see a smooth pattern and the areas will either

be fully transparent or a solid color.

[center][/center]

And finally 3 texture Patterns again please make sure to tick the blending tab to see

the pattern if you are using one of the gray opacity maps..

[center][/center]

[center][/center]

I USE GIMP

It will be much easier for you to follow this TUT if you are also using this program. It is free

and a great Manipulation Program for developing.

link is available in the {Tutorial} GIMP Post

START BY RIGHT CLICKING ON YOU BODY TEMPLATE AND SELECT EDIT WITH

GIMP

You should now have the image window open.

As you can see it is a map of the Avi body.

All of these lines do have a purpose and if you follow the guidelines you can create an

awesome opacity template.

[center][/center]

The first thing you want to is to set the background color of the image as

TRANSPARENT.

Go to the the LAYERS TABand select TRANSPARENT

another drop down will appear in this box selectCHECKER BOARD PATTERN NEXT

TO ADD ALPHA.

[center][/center]

Now go back to your LAYERS TAB AND SELECT

ADD NEW LAYER.

[center][/center]

A SIZE WINDOW WILL POP OPEN AND THE DEFAULT

HERE IS THE EXACT SIZE AS YOUR MAP DO NOT CHANGE THIS SELECT

OK.

[center][/center]

Note::: YOU CAN NOT SEE THE LAYER BECAUSE IT IS TRANSPARENT.

NOW FIND THE CENTER LINE ON YOUR BODY TEMPLATE.

Select yourRECTANGLE TOOL and cut the layer in half using the center line

of the torso / body as your guide.

[center][/center]

Go to LAYERS TAB and select. CROP TO SELECTION.

This will give you HALF OF THE OPACITY TEMPLATE and will be explained

more in a moment.

Here is where you get creative and paint on you pattern.

FIND A BRUSH IN THE MENU TO BEGIN PAINTING ON YOUR PATTERN.

GIMP TUT POST HAS LINKS TO SITES WITH MORE BRUSHES. USE THEM.

IT CREATES ALL SORTS OF PATTERNS WITH A PUSH OF A BUTTON / YOUR PAINT BRUSH.

link is available in the {Tutorial} GIMP Post

Once you have created your pattern you want to Duplicate it. Go to LAYERS TAB and select DUPLICATE LAYER

Next you will go to your TOOLS MENU select the FLIP

tool this will do exactly that.

Go to your TOOLS MENU AND select the MOVE TOOL

Now drag your layer to the LEFT SIDE OF MAP or empty side of your map.

Once you have your opacity artwork in place {Make sure the pattern matches exact} you will

want to ADD ANOTHER LAYER

Go to your TOOLS MENUand find the FILL BUCKET

Choose black as your fill color #000000. OR A SHADE OF GRAY.

This layer is now solid Black.

Now check on your DIALOGS TAB go to LAYERS.

Click so your Black layer is Highlighted,

Go to the arrows at the bottom of this WINDOW,

Click the ARROW DOWN TAB and move the Black Layer under both

White Opacity Layers.

Now see the Body Template Layer or Back Ground layer there is an eye there click it

and both the eye and the layer will disappear.

Or you can select this layer and click the trash can also at the bottom of

this window.I do not do this because you can turn the layers off and fix any pattern problems that

might arise later on if you save the image as a gimp file / .xcf.

This will save the template as a work in progress.

NOTE::: You will also have to save the image as a .jpg to pull it up in the

previewer.

Start looking in clothing catalogs etc I copy these images to use as guides to create more up to

date clothing good luck to all.

Here are some key points on using the previewer with opacity.

First and most important is your opacity pattern {BLACK WHITE AND GRAY} and your

TEXTURE / MATERIAL pattern {COLOR} have to be the EXACT same size in order to

work properly.

Most clothing meshes use 256 x 512, 256 x 256, 512 x 512.

Standard is 256 x 512.

1 size off and your Avi will be fully covered or worse naked.

Next is your blending

{blending is used in most Avi textures and lighting and glass and etc and etc}

If you look through a window or stand under lighting on a dance floor and your Avi is bald this

it because opacity maps or textures are used along with blending to achieve the look.

In the previewer you will see this tab make sure it is checked if you have any shade of gray.

You DO NOT have to use blend on solid black, solid white, or a combination of black

and white.

Note::: Make sure that your clothing complies with the Minimum Coverage Guidelines for

GA if you wish it to be rated GA. It will not pass Peer Review Or it will be tagged and will be

categorized as AP and Locked.

Here is an example pic of the previewer of blending tab in Previewer and the .xrf files in Previewer and 2 textures Material/Texture Opacity Pattern/Map to

choose the templates in Previewer.

[center][/center]

and type the rest of the tut.

link to this box

http://imvu.com/groups/group/Developing%2BHelp%2BFor%2BN00b%2527s/read.php?209209,4612889,10657144#msg-10657144

Added to site 7/24/2008