This section of the site contains the articles on MESH.
Mesh Deformer 0.2 Update
The Mesh Deformer is still alpha software. However, it is now in its second iteration. I think it works better. Well… some of it does and some of it doesn’t. Until more viewers have Deformer 0.2 code I can’t tell if it is the viewer or the Deformer that hiccups.
Another gotcha at the max breast size setting
I downloaded Nirans Viewer because Niran let me know the new Deformer code was included in version 1.25, which is a Large Address Aware (LAA) viewer. I’m on a 32-bit system so I’m not sure how that may or may not affect things. Whatever, the viewer runs and the Deformer deforms.
Enable Deformer
In Nirans Viewer 1.25 the control for the Deformer is in Preferences->General->UI Settings. Look in the upper right of the panel for Enable Qarl Fizz’s Mesh Deformer.
#SL Content/Mesh News Week 7
In the Content and Mesh User Group some interesting things came up today.
Transparent Mesh
If a mesh object is transparent should that change its Land Impact cost? Should it even render? If it doesn’t render, doesn’t it use fewer resources? It seems the Lindens are looking at this special case and considering how to implement such a change.
Content-Mesh Meeting
Runitai says the code to NOT render 100% transparent objects is in the pipeline. The release of the code has been delayed because it broke highlight transparent. (SH-2963)
Dropping Mesh Things
If you have a mesh attachment, you cannot drop it as you would a prim or sculpty attachment. Mesh objects rigged or not, detach back into inventory.
#SL Mesh Deformer Update
Qarl put out new Mesh Deformer code yesterday (2/13) about 3 PM. This release should handle the crumpling problem better. We will know as soon as someone gets the code into a viewer where we can use it.
To see the crumpling problem see:Â #SL Bare Feet.
#SL Content/Mesh Creation Week 6
Mesh Physics – A question was asked about creating efficient physics for mesh houses. I’ve seen people having problems getting mesh objects they think are more efficient polygon-wise to actually produce less Land Impact (LI) cost. A few ideas came out in the discussion.
Runatai Linden Avatar - Way Cute
Nyx Linden says from Havok’s perspective, the physics engine, the simplest physics volume is a box. If you want to specify your own mesh, each triangle in the mesh is roughly as complex [physics-wise] to compute as a box. Ultimately using prims as physics shapes shouldn’t necessarily be problematic, though having a custom mesh can be better under certain circumstances.
#SL Bare Feet
Mesh Feet w/Deformer On
I was asked to help a person get some bare feet working with their Xcite Feet. The person was about 6 months old. First we had to get past lots of confusion. She had ideas about what Xcite was going to do and what bare feet are. The problems I ran into trying to get things sorted out show several reasons people probably give up on Second Life. Whatever that case is, I learned a lot about bare feet, which is what this article is about.
Status Update Mesh Deformer
Qarl posted a new video on his blog to update us on the Mesh Deformer. Qarl says thanks for your support. He points out that he does not have the time to answer everyone’s questions on all the forums he reads. He has noticed several problems with the Deformer being discussed and provided in the feedback.
Body Poking Through
All the cases he has seen these are problems of having used the wrong beginning avatar. If one designed over size clothes for an over sized avatar, then the deformer will make the clothes twice as big. The same problem happens going the other way toward tiny avatars, but twice as small.
Deformer Complcations
Base Avatar
The base avatar to use is the one you get when you create a new default female shape. Domino and Gaia both provide copies of that avatar.
#SL Content-Mesh Creation News Wk4
Content/Mesh Meeting
Shape Height Slider
For humans we have a pretty nice set if shape editing tools. However, when we start making non-human avatars the values we can set with the shape sliders falls short of what we need. A JIRA is being opened to request an extended range of values. Basically, taller and fatter avatars will be possible if the feature is added.
Since this is likely an easy programming change, I would expect it to happen. If there is any interst, then it might happen quickly.
I can’t find the JIRA they were going to make for this, so I can’t link you to it. I suspect they have not gotten to it as I write this.
#SL Mesh Deformer Worries
Worrying is generally pointless. However, the concerns that bring the worry can be important to consider. Such concerns have come up in a thread over on SLUniverse. The basic concern is what will the Deformer do to our existing mesh clothes? Since they are mostly expensive it would be good to have an answer.
This is Alpha
The Deformer is in the alpha stage. So, we don’t know what the final Deformer will make mesh clothes look like. We have found problems and it seems many feel we will need a flag to tell the deformer whether to deform or not. But, even that is undecided as some of the problems the flag would address can be handled in other ways.
There is also the thought that perhaps a slider setting the amount of deformation may be better. So, we could tell the Deformer to deform by 0% to 100% of its normal deformation.
With so much unknown, all we can do is make intelligent guesses and speculate.
