Slink Update

In my article AvaStar Tutorial: Adding the Slink Model to AvaStar I provide the steps to get the Slink Mesh Dev Model updated in AvaStar 2RC5. Slink has been handing out a model made with AvaStar 1.1.34. So, there are a lot of AvaStar updates between that and 2RC5. Enough so that 2RC5 can’t update that old a rig.

Ara

Ara
Nal: Mesh clothes make the…

I contacted both the AvaStar and Slink people in regard to getting the problem resolved. Siddean Munro, the creative behind Slink contacted me to say,  Continue reading

AvaStar Tutorial: Adding the Slink Model to AvaStar

Update 5/30 – I’ve run into a similar problem updating from 2.0.30 to 2.0.46 (2RC8). Working on that fix now.

PS: SeeAvaStar – Add the Slink 2017 Model

Update 3/24 – AvaStar 2 RC 6 fixes part of the problem previously reported. But, it does not yield a working rig. You still need to follow this process to update the rig 1.1.34 version to 2.0.45.

Update: 2017 – As I used the Slink model I had updated, I found some problems. So, after more testing and a back and forth with AvaStar/Machinimatrix, I pulled the original of this article the day after I published it and rewrote it.

Revised

Slink provides a developer’s kit labeled Slink Creators Kit March 2016. It contains all the models needed to make shoes, pants, dresses, and shirts for Slink’s Physique and Hourglass. Both male and female models. There are blend, dea, fbx, and mb files for import to various modeling programs.

The file is an older version made with AvaStar 1.1.34. So, the rig in the blend file provided must be updated. I’ll step you through the process.

The video is handy, but unrelated to the rig update process.

The first step in developing for Slink, or any brand of body, is applying for the developr’s kit. In the case of slink it is the Slink Creators Kit. Apply here. Let them know you want to develop mesh clothes. Only ask for one kit at a time. Otherwise, you won’t know which ONE they will choose to send you. The kit will arrive in-world and the model files by via email.

Correction: Slink people ask that you ask for all the kits you want in one request. See: Slink Update

Continue reading

AvaStar 2 RC 5 Released

A new RC version of AvaStar 2 is out. You can get it from your products page at Machinimatrix.

I am not sure what got fixed… the release notes and change logs are not up to date.

The Maintenance Update function doesn’t seem to work with RC’s. The panel showed 2.0.40 when I clicked for an update. Manually adding the RC 5 package the version in the panel reports 2.0.43.

Manual updates also clears my account data, which I have to re-enter.

AvaStar Price Changes are Coming

The Blender-AvaStar combination is still the least expensive entry point for making clothes, animations, and avatars for Second Life™. Blender is free and awesome, if difficult to learn. AvaStar has sold for US$27 for, I think, a couple of years. So, a price increase is to be expected.

It’s Oh So Quiet

It’s Oh So Quiet

At the end of March 2017, the price of AvaStar will increase from US$27 to $40 for the full version and yearly support from $14 to $20. So, if you have been on the fence about purchasing AvaStar, now would be a good time. I plan to update my support package. See: AvaStar Pricing. Continue reading

AvaStar Goes RC-1

Today I see AvaStar has a release candidate out: AvaStar 2.0-RC1. This version is available to all AvaStar owners that have a current subscription. I’m unsure how that affects AvaStar 1.7 owners without a support subscription.

The Plan is to have AvaStar 2.0 out in March 2017.

Gaia is promoting this release a hot potato with some likely rough spots. It’s hard to know if she is just lowering expectations or if there are known problems. Whatever the case, this is the update you’ll want.

Discussion is active in AvaStar Support – 13:15 SLT.

AvaStar 2.0 Beta 29

Machinimatrix has a new beta release out. You can get it on your product’s page… may be.

My page still shows 2.0-beta-23 as the main candidate (green new). But, we’ve been warned not to use that one… Below with a red test button is 2.0-beta-29. Seems there is a 2.0-beta-28 some think doesn’t work… I’ve never seen it. To see some releases you apparently have to have an open trouble tickets… why? Gaia says so you can see if your issues have been fixed… So, I suppose the rest of us can forget working with Bento for now…

If you are somewhat confused, join the crowd.

The read-me file link doesn’t seem to work correctly. So, I can’t see what any differences from previous versions and 29 are.

The Trouble Ticket system has been fixed to allow some previously blocked file type to upload.

AvaStar 2.0-24 Almost Released… sort of…

Gaia has a new post up on Machinimatrix.org. According to the announcement they have reached the end of design and are going into a user-testing phase. Those that have filed trouble tickets on the Machinimatrix bug reporter will get their copies of 2.0-24 first. The rest of us, later.

There is a load of documentation in this announcement. So, check it out.

There are people using a 2.0 version for their main production tool. However, others are having problems. I think many of the problems are from a lack of documentation. It is hard to keep the docs up to date with an in-development product. Much less make the video tutorials.

If AvaStar 2.0 finalizes we will start to see more tutorials arriving.