Lil Tips for Devs

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject: Lil Tips for Devs

Because, well, even the newest of us have picked up some tip or trick along the line. Inconsequential little things that seldom to never come up in unrelated thread conversations, but make sales better, working with the previewer easier, meshes actually work, or textures line up properly. So...spread the love, guys.

Post whatever helpful nonsense you like here. If this thread gets enough replies, I may organize by category and start moving things to the first or second post.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject:

1. To make things perfectly symmetrical, use your template to copy exactly half of you need copied, paste it, flip the new layer, and line it up.

2. Never give two image files the same name in the previewer. The Previewer will eat your face. I mean, get glitchy.

3. Lots of people make either really good textures, or really good opacity maps, but few do both. Pay attention to both sides of being a 2d dev to really stand out.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:36 pm Post subject:

When texturing a dress, if you accidentally open up the bottom when you meant to get the top, or vice versa, the previewer picks up on this and reverses the top and bottom meshes (or something)... you have to open the other peice in the other slot (so that they skirt portion is in the first pattern slot, and the top is in the last) to make it work right again.
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~Formerly known as BeagleJ~

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject:

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject:

Beagle: (I hate that so much. >.<;; I always close the product and start over when that happens.)

Sikk: I did not know that. o_o; Thank you!

Lol...thanks, guys. That's exactly the kind of stuff I mean. Things no one tells you about until you run into them yourself. :3
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T70 Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 4915 Location: USA

Only Derive of off products that are either:
1. original meshes
2. texture priducts that have an opacity map that you would like to use and details on how to use it.

if you're having problems wondering what to derive from, then look at something made by another developer that you would like to make something of. see what that product is derived from. if it looks the same, as the product before, then do the same thing for this product. if it looks COMPLETELY different, then derive off of that.
the reason i say this is because seeing people make money off of other people's work that they really had no drastic change on is pretty annoying to me. not only is more of YOUR profits gonna be taken out, but also, the person it you derived from will be making creds from each of YOUR sales and they really didn't do anything.

so please, UNCHECK THE DERIVABLE OPTION WHEN YOU SUBMIT A NEW PRODUCT!
THANK YOU Very Happy

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Hate the Blue Bars? Too bad ^_^

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject:

When you use other peoples' items in your catalogue pics, give the developers credit! This is good on several levels.

First, it's good manners. You know how much work goes into devving...give credit where credit is due, eh? They worked for it.

Second, it gives the other person free advertising. You're doing them a favor.

Third, it gives you free advertising! When someone does a catalogue search for a dev's name, any item with that dev's name in the description will pop up as well. Thus, your items will be hit by the search, too! :3
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:30 pm Post subject:

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject:

If you have to close the previewer and re derive from the product. If the existing templates don't show up, hit the "Apply changes" button before putting your files in. This will make sure yours go in.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject:

Along the lines of what goth said, "Apply Changes" automatically checks for any changes you've made to your image files.

So, if you've saved over your original files to tweak this or that (and kept the same file names), you don't have to "browse" every time. Just hit "apply changes" and all of your textures and opacity maps will update automatically.

(I know this should be obvious. But I swear to all that's good it took me three weeks to figure it out. Laughing

)
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:31 pm Post subject:

Use the skin template for skintight, swimsuit and other outfits. I held off making some of my items because I didn't know that until someone passed that bit of knowledge on to me. On an outfit that uses the full size of the template and will be made as 2 pieces in one, it helps.

I need to redo my description because I did give credit for the skintones, which are customs by Mayu and I've been so busy I haven't been amending them like I should.
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5569c until next item

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject:

A lot of my earlier catalogue images also need credit, PeachGlitter, no worries. It just didn't occur to me early on. It's one of those things "I'm getting to." ^^;

The skin templates Peach mentioned can be found here in PSD format, on many of Kittenkat's product pages (minus the boots in this case, this one selected because it includes hands,) or in JPG format on Mayu22's page.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

When editing a product and resubmitting it ALWAYS delete the original CLF from your IMVU client so you will see your updates in just 15-30 min vs in IMVU’s sweet time. Cool

Where are they?

Documents and Settings, The user account your using, Application Data (by default a hidden file, you may have to unhide hidden files), IMVU, ProductFiles.

Look for the product number and delete it. This will force your client to download a fresh copy with the changes.

Do this when logged out or you will get an error.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject:

-- I just learnt today that if a product does not have an opacity map, you can create one according to THIS tutorial (click tutorial, then .xrf files).
It opens up many many new possibilities!

-- To prevent your product being pixelated too much, try making the texture template as big as possible. If you're working on a small texture, it looks weird on your avi, especially when you're working with small details.
I tend to work with 512x1024 texture maps for basic tops.
REMEMBER TO MAKE YOUR OPACITY MAP THE SAME SIZE!

Look at me talking... Laughing

...I only made 3 clothing items.

Afina 147 Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 2383 Location: USA

Some of these have probably already been stated but I have these posted on the Soul Sisters forum, so figured I would copy them here.

Tip for new developers

1) Don’t take images, slap them on a product and go - ooh buy from me. Take time and effort to learn developing. The more time you spend doing this in the beginning the more it will pay off as time goes by and the better your products will look in the end.

2) Read up on tutorials. These will help you a long way.

3) Learn how to read mapping templates before you even start. If you get confused by mapping templates - open the one you want to use in a editing program such as photo shop. Color each section in a different color and then save it. Load it into the Previewer so you can get a general idea to where each part of the map goes on the item itself.

4) Take time to make nice looking icons. Do NOT use the screen capture in Previewer to do this. Take a screen shot and then paste the screen shot into your editing program like Photoshop or even MS Paint. Then just crop out what you don’t want and resize it to the correct size. If you like, put something on the icon that will let people know this is your product. Many developers do this and this helps people that buy from us once see our items that come out at a later date faster when they are browsing the catalog.

5) Always and I mean ALWAYS place a preview of your item in the descript. Many people will not buy an item without seeing a preview first. This gives them a better idea of what the product looks like when actually in use instead of just seeing an icon and praying it looks like they think it looks.

6) If when you wear the item it cannot be worn with something else. - For example Any Length Boots with body suits - place this in your descript. This will help cut down on complaints and bad reviews.

7) When you release a new item, let people know. Post about it in the here or other forums you are apart of that deal with IMVU. This helps get the word out about the new product.

When you gift something to someone, check their wish list and see if your item is in the wish list. This also helps other people see you work.

9) Use shout outs if you can to help announce new products.

10) Meet other developers. Many developers support other developers - either in helping with tips, teaching you how to developer better, improving your products, ect.

11) Never and I mean NEVER see something in the catalog and go - I will make that! No, bad! There are nine million things out there to draw inspiration from - don’t do it from the catalog.

12) As a beginner, I recommend NOT taking requests, not till you are comfortable. Work on items that hold interest for you. The more you enjoy what you are working on the better the end result will be.

13) If you have questions - ASK! That is what we are here for! Some of us had people hold our hands through ever step when we first started developing - Some of us didn’t - Take advantage of the help we are willing to give here.

14) If you are ever in doubt - ask! Better to ask and find out the answer than to guess and find out you messed up somewhere along the way.

15) And this is the MOST important one - Enjoy what you are doing.
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