Scenes from a Chat: Alpha Despair edition

This one was strange. And, while the names are redacted, the group isn't--this is the Meli Imako mesh template group. There were just too many references to edit everything out.

[13:26] Gx Lxxxxx: hi i bought MI963607 Deep Neck Tucked T-shirt FITMESH but the alpha does not work
[13:27] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: how do you mean, the alpha mask? didn't it also come with a clear and black png?

All Meli templates come with both a clear alpha layer, premade, and a black alpha layer. In fact, many clothing makers include the black alpha layers along with the premade one, just in case customers need one they can edit.

[13:29] Gx Lxxxxx: yes
[13:29] Gx Lxxxxx: and i spent 130 lindens trying to fix it but i couldnt
[13:30] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: why

That was going to be my question. Why didn't he log into Beta grid and try the fixes temp?

[13:30] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: on alpha masks? you can edit them pretty quick, and test the textures locally, what's the problem
[13:30] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: you not checking your work before bring it in
[13:31] Gx Lxxxxx: how at Beta?
[13:31] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: no, here too, on the texture picker is a button for Local

Now, to be fair, I didn't know you could do that, just import in local textures. That's interesting.

[13:31] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: everyone else will see grey, you will see the texture
[13:31] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: edit texture tab then local
[13:31] Gx Lxxxxx: does not work for mesh bodies

No, for mesh bodies you use the alpha cut system. But again--what's the problem with the alpha cut system for your body?

[13:31] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: open file your trying
[13:31] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: works for 100% of all textures
[13:31] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: mesh isn't a texture
[13:31] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: yes it does
[13:31] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: alphas are textures
[13:32] Gx Lxxxxx: it was gray
[13:32] Gx Lxxxxx: i couldnt see

Okay, that's a different problem. That usually means you need to clear cache and relog if you can't rez things in.

[13:32] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: well, not all, wont work on images over 2k in scale, the converter argues

Well, yes. In general, anything over 1024 most computers have difficulty rezzing in. 1024 is about the max for the average computer graphics card, with 512 being closer to a "default", and if it's a simpler design, 256.

[13:32] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: then your clitching need to relog
[13:33] Gx Lxxxxx: now i will try a redelivery to see if they fixed it
[13:33] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: glitching

Right, I was going to mention that, but you caught it.

[13:33] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: try other alphas you have
[13:33] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: what is the problem you had with the alpha layer to begin with?
[13:33] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: see if one works
[13:34] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: an alpha is an alpha dont mattewr where u get it

"Matter". Also probably "you", but that's being nitpicky.

[13:34] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: mhm, is why I am confused
[13:34] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: what was "broken"?
[13:35] Gx Lxxxxx: https://gyazo.com/13f9435d2f8beefc5ef1ec150ad6268d
[13:36] Gx Lxxxxx: https://gyazo.com/28fb27376d510451239d753f757101ee

Since both of these are Gyazo links, and thus may disappear, this is the section where the arm is showing a jagged black where skin or shadow should be:



And this is the one showing the angled alpha gap on either arm where the alpha does not seem to be properly stopping at the t-shirt's sleeve ends:



There are some fixes for that, though.

[13:37] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: to fix this, you add more black to the arm where the gap is, you can use use black on white to test, then when ready set it to alpha, you can test it locally as a tattoo or a skin, or on beta as uploads
[13:37] Gx Lxxxxx: i did
[13:37] Gx Lxxxxx: but was not the correct way

Yes, apparently thirteen times the incorrect way. Why didn't you stop and ask sooner before blowing L$130 on fixes that (apparently) wouldn't work?

[13:37] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: are you sure you don't have the old one on also?
[13:38] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: alphas can be layered multiple times

They can, yes, but only for system bodies. Mesh bodies function on their own alpha cut systems, and other alphas beyond the one that hides the system form in the first place will conflict.

[13:38] Gx Lxxxxx: i just took a redelivery
[13:38] Gx Lxxxxx: and is the same problem
[13:38] Gx Lxxxxx: i could fix a bit
[13:39] Gx Lxxxxx: but i dont understand how they sell a stuff like this

I truly don't think it's the template's fault, or the designer's in this case. It has to be you're wearing the template for the wrong mesh body, or you're trying to use the alpha over any mesh body, and the mesh bodies available on the grid only work with one alpha layer--their own. Because each mesh body has their own inherent system of alpha cuts.

[13:39] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: what I would do, is wear the SLUV map as a skin, there is one in the library

Bit extreme, but that would work too.

[13:40] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Then open that same image in gimp
[13:40] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Then, open the alpha image also in gimp as a layer, over the UV map
[13:40] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Then just... fill in the lines you "need"
[13:40] Gx Lxxxxx: if i knew how to do i would not buy

Err...I hate to tell you this, but...while it is possible as a base beginner to stumble onto a template and manage to texture it, set the alpha properly, and box it all up for sale, it's not common. You generally have to know at least a little about texturing, at the very last; about how alpha layering works; or have a basic understanding of simple graphics programs. It's not monumentally difficult to learn, but it's not as simple as opening a box and having the job done for you.

[13:41] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: it's an alpha, a 10 second job once you learn it, it maybe got packed with one from another shirt but it's not the end of the world, can always use one from other shirts even, but no need at all for spending 130 $L's on them
[13:42] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: that's 13 uploads

Yeah. That's kind of insane.

[13:43] Gx Lxxxxx: every time i thougt now seems good ... what a pain

"Thought", and more a massively unnecessary financial expense, but sure.

[13:44] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: do an inventory search for "Upper body template"
[13:44] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: copy that to your inventory, then if on firestorm, you can save it to disk
[13:44] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: there's better ones online, Chip Midnight's, Robin Sojourner Wood's

Which are located here and here, respectively.

[13:44] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Then use that as your guide, wear it as a skin, or a tattoo
[13:45] Gx Lxxxxx: mine does not have the option to save as
[13:45] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: copy it to your inventory first
[13:45] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: library stuff isn't owned by you, copies are
[13:45] Gx Lxxxxx: it only has ok
[13:46] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Copy it to your texture folder
[13:46] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Then save that copy
[13:47] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: all the textures in the library are full perms, and a lot of the items and props too
[13:47] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: just copy them first
[13:47] Gx Lxxxxx: and if it is 512 can i put to 1024?

I mean, if you really want, but it's not usually necessary.

[13:47] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: can do what you like to it, once you save it off
[13:48] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: uploads will all cost the same 10l, just test first
[13:49] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: on the grid, in world is Robin Woods texture tutorial, she has pre-made, wearable UV suits
[13:49] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: are old, but work fine, you just need to see the lines
[13:52] Gx Lxxxxx: what do i do with the holes?
[14:15] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: inventory maintenance! do not rez no copies, be careful with stuff

This was captured on the Day from SL Hell a few days back, where EVERYTHING that could go wrong, did go wrong, and catastrophically so:

[14:15] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: is a notice on grid status atm the moment
[14:15] Dxxxxxx Lxxxxx: thanks
[14:15] Gxx Vxxxx: do we know when or if they will make clothes for legacy

This is still confusing me, because "legacy" is what we call original avatar names that have last names, and "legacy" is also what the system bodies are occasionally called. But I've mentioned before that The Mesh Project creators, in a stunning lack of sense, made a mesh body called "Legacy", which is confusing more than just me.

[14:17] JEZZIXA Cazalet: [Gxx], do you have a Legacy body?
[14:17] Gxx Vxxxx: yes on another avatar

So that's not the problem, unless you do have a system avatar on this name, and only mesh on alts.

[14:20] Cxxxxxx Pxxxx: i doubt it, that's just too many bodies
[14:20] Cxxxxxx Pxxxx: if they did, they would have to raise prices
[14:20] Cxxxxxx Pxxxx: but never say never
[14:27] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: I'm not sure how it's taking off, my friend has it, but keeps telling me to wait

I'm not crazy about it, but it's better than Ocacin, at the least.

I'm just hoping he got talked into sending a notecard to one of Meli's CSRs, because the conversation drifted at this point, and never circled back again to her difficulties with alpha layers.

I was thinking about this further, though, pulling this together for editing, and I decided to search up the exact shirt ordered. And now I have even more questions.

That skirt lists supporting templates for Slink Male, Belleza Jake, Signature Gianni, Ocacin Male, and Gamit Classic, the one I've never heard of--but it lists in the description also including templates rigged for Adin, Mado, Edus, Onupup, and Classic Fitmesh basic. So what body does Mr. Gx have? Because if by some aberration, it's not one of the none templates rigged for specific bodies on the grid, he's pretty much out of luck, and he should have read the description beforehand.