Difference between revisions of "Avatar group photography"

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(Created page with "{{Todo|Rough stuff! Gotta let mah notes gel...}} Want to photograph or film multiple avatars but don't have friends to help you out? Here's how. First, you'll need to have mult…")
 
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Want to photograph or film multiple avatars but don't have friends to help you out? Here's how.
Want to photograph or film multiple avatars but don't have friends to help you out? Here's how.


First, you'll need to have multiple accounts to login. You can create more accounts at the [http://secondlife.com/join secondlife.com join page], within reason.
First, you'll need to have multiple accounts to login. You can create more accounts at the [http://secondlife.com/join secondlife.com join page], within reason. It may help to name your accounts sequentially (for example, Mach1, Mach2, Mach3, etc.) because it's easier to remember.
 
== Multiple SL Viewer instances ==


Then, you'll need to enable multiple instances of the Viewer to run:
Then, you'll need to enable multiple instances of the Viewer to run:
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You can right-click the <code>Second Life</code> executable and select '''Make Alias''', then drag the alias to a convenient place (like your desktop) so you don't have to dig in the future.
You can right-click the <code>Second Life</code> executable and select '''Make Alias''', then drag the alias to a convenient place (like your desktop) so you don't have to dig in the future.


The SL Viewer is rather resource-intensive. Even a powerful desktop computer will slow down noticeably if you're running 3 or 4 instances. If this proves too slow for a single machine, you may
There's also [[Multiple_Viewers|older technical details]] on running multiple Viewers.
 
== Multiple computers ==


There's also [[Multiple_Viewers|older technical details]] on running multiple Viewers.
The SL Viewer is rather resource-intensive. Even a powerful desktop computer will slow down noticeably if you're running 3 or 4 instances. If this proves too slow for a single machine and you have access to technology, consider using more than one computer to run multiple SL Viewers and distribute the workload. If you're intent on scaling this for an effective workflow, Torley suggests:
 
* Especially if space is limited, get multiple, energy-efficient, small-footprint computers like laptops that you can stack.
* Get a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVM_switch KVM] so you can share a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse among them. Otherwise, you may very well go nuts running back and forth amongst redundant hardware.
** Torley recently started using the [http://www.amazon.com/port-DVI-USB-Switch-four-Cables/dp/B001BTWSLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310413936&sr=8-1 Belkin SOHO F1DD104L]. It's color-coded and has big buttons. Torley found it useful to change each computer's desktop wallpaper to match its assigned KVM color. This way, he has a quick color cue to tell which machine he's on.
* Setup one computer how you like it, then import settings to other computers so you save setup time. On Macs, [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/27921.html Migration Assistant] makes this easy.
 
== More workflow tips ==
 
* On your master computer (the one doing the shooting/filming), you may want to restrict it to running only one instance of the SL Viewer so it has room to breathe and run other intensive stuff as you progress, like Photoshop or your video editor. This also enables SL to have the best focused performance without unnecessary degradation, ''especially'' if advanced graphical features like [[lighting and shadows]] are on.
* For "neutral" lighting, Torley prefers the following WindLight settings which are included in the [http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=windlight_sky_presets Phoenix Viewer], among many other cool settings, including [[WindLight settings|Torley's own].
** Nam's Optimal Skin 2
** Nam's Optimal Skin and Prim (for when "Skin 2" is too light and washes out prim details)

Revision as of 13:01, 11 July 2011

Stuff to do: Rough stuff! Gotta let mah notes gel...


Want to photograph or film multiple avatars but don't have friends to help you out? Here's how.

First, you'll need to have multiple accounts to login. You can create more accounts at the secondlife.com join page, within reason. It may help to name your accounts sequentially (for example, Mach1, Mach2, Mach3, etc.) because it's easier to remember.

Multiple SL Viewer instances

Then, you'll need to enable multiple instances of the Viewer to run:

  1. Start the SL Viewer. On the login screen, change the Mode dropdown to Advanced and restart the Viewer.
  2. Select Me menu > Preferences.
  3. In the Preferences window, click the Advanced tab.
  4. Enable Allow Multiple Viewers
  5. Click OK.

On Windows:

  1. Double-click a SL Viewer shortcut (installed by default on your desktop) to start the SL Viewer once.
  2. Double-click it again to start another instance. Repeat this until you have the number of desired instances.

On Mac:

  1. In the Finder, select Go menu > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Applications/Second Life Viewer 2.app/Contents/MacOS and click Go.
  3. Double-click the Second Life executable to start a new instance of the Viewer.
  4. Double-click it again to start another instance. Repeat this until you have the number of desired instances.

You can right-click the Second Life executable and select Make Alias, then drag the alias to a convenient place (like your desktop) so you don't have to dig in the future.

There's also older technical details on running multiple Viewers.

Multiple computers

The SL Viewer is rather resource-intensive. Even a powerful desktop computer will slow down noticeably if you're running 3 or 4 instances. If this proves too slow for a single machine and you have access to technology, consider using more than one computer to run multiple SL Viewers and distribute the workload. If you're intent on scaling this for an effective workflow, Torley suggests:

  • Especially if space is limited, get multiple, energy-efficient, small-footprint computers like laptops that you can stack.
  • Get a KVM so you can share a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse among them. Otherwise, you may very well go nuts running back and forth amongst redundant hardware.
    • Torley recently started using the Belkin SOHO F1DD104L. It's color-coded and has big buttons. Torley found it useful to change each computer's desktop wallpaper to match its assigned KVM color. This way, he has a quick color cue to tell which machine he's on.
  • Setup one computer how you like it, then import settings to other computers so you save setup time. On Macs, Migration Assistant makes this easy.

More workflow tips

  • On your master computer (the one doing the shooting/filming), you may want to restrict it to running only one instance of the SL Viewer so it has room to breathe and run other intensive stuff as you progress, like Photoshop or your video editor. This also enables SL to have the best focused performance without unnecessary degradation, especially if advanced graphical features like lighting and shadows are on.
  • For "neutral" lighting, Torley prefers the following WindLight settings which are included in the Phoenix Viewer, among many other cool settings, including [[WindLight settings|Torley's own].
    • Nam's Optimal Skin 2
    • Nam's Optimal Skin and Prim (for when "Skin 2" is too light and washes out prim details)
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