Difference between revisions of "Tips for building efficiently with prims"

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{{Seal}}
=== Better Building with Primfficiency! ===
The following is excerpted from [http://secondlife.com/newsletter/2006_05/ the May 2006 issue of Second Opinion], our official newsletter.


----
{{KBtrivia|This was adapted from [http://web.archive.org/web/20070911174044/secondlife.com/newsletter/2006_05/html/tips.html an old Second Life newsletter] but is still mostly relevant today.}}


'''Better Building with Primfficiency!'''
As you may already know, "prims" are the basic building blocks used to create all objects in the Second Life virtual world. Combining prims and shaping them allows you to come up with some complex contraptions and interesting visual wonders. '''"Primfficiency" is the art and science of mastering prim shaping to achieve great results. Think of "prim efficiency + proficiency".''' There are a number of benefits to learning the ways of the prim:


As you may already know, "prims" are the basic building blocks used to create all objects in the Second Life<sup>&reg;</sup> virtual world. Combining prims and shaping them allows you to come up with some complex contraptions and interesting visual wonders. "Primfficiency" is the art and science of mastering prim shaping to achieve great results. Think of "prim efficiency + proficiency". There are a number of benefits to learning the ways of the prim:
* You can achieve some pretty tricked-out shapes using a single non-[[Sculpted Prims|sculpted]] prim
 
* You can achieve some pretty tricked-out shapes using a single prim
*
* Your building skills will increase naturally while exploring the possibilities; and
* Your building skills will increase naturally while exploring the possibilities; and
*
* By conserving objects, you'll have more to use on a given parcel of land.This is very important if you find yourself running out of prims.
* By conserving objects, you'll have more to use on a given parcel of land.This is very important if you find yourself running out of prims.


Here are some examples of primfficiency, complete with screenshots:
Here are some examples of primfficiency, complete with screenshots:


[[Image:kbext_tipstricks1.jpg]]
=== Save some stairs ===
 
Two stair steps can be made with a single prim.
 
# Rez (create) a box.
# Rotate and stretch it out a little.
# Set '''Path Cut Begin''' = 0.125 and '''Path Cut End''' = 0.875.
 
[[File:So-tipstricks1.jpg]]
 
While this may look unexceptional at first glance, stairs can be long, so the savings quickly add up.
 
=== Sit pretty (but not primmy) ===
 
The "one-prim bar stool" is a longtime commodity in the Second Life virtual world, and if you've never figured out how to do it before, here's the recipe. And it's FREE!
 
# Start out by rezzing a tube.
# Stretch it so it's taller.
# '''Set Hole Size Y = "'''0.50". '''Profile Cut Begin and End =''' "0.25" and "0.95", respectively.
# Then carve out your new seat by making '''Hollow''' = "85".
 
[[File:So-tipstricks2.jpg]]
 
You can also set a [[click action]] on your stool so you can sit with a single left-click. How?
 
# Select the '''General''' tab in the edit tools (or right-click on the stool and select '''Edit''' from the pie menu).
# Near the bottom, select the drop down menu under the '''When Left-Clicked''' option then select '''Sit On Object'''.
# Close the edit window and left-click your bar stool! ''Voila!''
 
Here's a video of this trick:
 
{{KBvideo|4168718}}
 
=== Reinvent the wheel ===
 
The most common way to make a vehicle wheel is to flatten a cylinder. The end result tends to look rather flat, especially if you're adding texture. A more dynamic way to do this is:
 
# Rez a ring and set both '''Twist Begin''' '''and''' '''End''' = "90" and '''Hole Size X''' = "0.75".
# Still look too flat? Lower '''Profile Cut End''' to taste, say, "70" and make '''Hollow''' = "25" and you're cooking!


# '''Save Some Stairs''' Two stair steps can be made with a single prim. Just rez (create) a box, rotate and stretch it out a little, and set '''Path Cut Begin''' = 0.125and '''Path Cut End''' = 0.875. While this may look unexceptional at first glance, stairs can be long, so the savings quickly add up.[[Image:kbext_tipstricks2.jpg]]
[[File:So-tipstricks3.jpg]]
# '''Sit Pretty (But Not Primmy)''' The "one-prim bar stool" is a longtime commodity in the Second Life virtual world, and if you've never figured out how to do it before, here's the recipe. And it's FREE! Start out by rezzing a tube. Stretch it so it's taller. '''Set Hole Size Y = "'''0.50". '''Profile Cut Begin and End =''' "0.25" and "0.95", respectively.Then carve out your new seat by making '''Hollow''' = "85". You can also set a click-action on your stool. How? Select the '''General''' tab in the edit tools (or right-click on the stool and select '''Edi'''t from the pie menu). Near the bottom, select the drop down menu under the '''When Left-Clicked''' option then select '''Sit On Object'''. Close the edit window and left-click your bar stool! Voila![[Image:kbext_tipstricks3.jpg]]
# '''Reinvent the Wheel''' The most common way to make a vehicle wheel is to flatten a cylinder.The end result tends to look rather flat, especially if you're adding texture. A more dynamic way to do this is to rez a ring and set both '''Twist Begin''' '''and''' '''End''' = "90" and '''Hole Size X''' = "0.75". Still look too flat? Lower '''Profile Cut End''' to taste, say, "70" and make '''Hollow''' = "25" and you're cooking! Note: The picture shows each face (area) of the prim as a different color. And it need not just be tires: you can make dishes, containers--whatever you want your newly wrangled, multi-faceted ring to be!


{{KBhint| '''Tip:''' If you don't want the center texture to look distorted, click the '''Texture''' tab and select '''Mapping''' &gt; '''Planar'''. If you get lost, just copy the numbers in the screenshots and explore on your own. Enjoy being primfficient!
The picture shows each face (area) of the prim as a different color. And it need not just be tires: you can make dishes, containers — whatever you want your newly wrangled, multi-faceted ring to be!
}}


Minimize the Build Window While you are building, it is possible to keep your object in edit mode, and minimize the Build window from view. Click on the Minimize option at the top of the Build Window.
{{KBtip|If you don't want the center texture to look distorted, click the '''Texture''' tab and select '''Mapping''' &gt; '''Planar'''. If you get lost, just copy the numbers in the screenshots and explore on your own. Enjoy being primfficient!}}


[[Image:kb_buildwindowminimize_screenshot.png]]
[[Category:Content creation]]
[[Category:Building Objects]]
[[Category:Creators]]
[[Category:Tips and Tricks]]
[[Category:Building]]
[[Category:Knowledge Base]]

Latest revision as of 13:38, 6 February 2012

Better Building with Primfficiency!

KBtrivia.png Trivia: This was adapted from an old Second Life newsletter but is still mostly relevant today.

As you may already know, "prims" are the basic building blocks used to create all objects in the Second Life virtual world. Combining prims and shaping them allows you to come up with some complex contraptions and interesting visual wonders. "Primfficiency" is the art and science of mastering prim shaping to achieve great results. Think of "prim efficiency + proficiency". There are a number of benefits to learning the ways of the prim:

  • You can achieve some pretty tricked-out shapes using a single non-sculpted prim
  • Your building skills will increase naturally while exploring the possibilities; and
  • By conserving objects, you'll have more to use on a given parcel of land.This is very important if you find yourself running out of prims.

Here are some examples of primfficiency, complete with screenshots:

Save some stairs

Two stair steps can be made with a single prim.

  1. Rez (create) a box.
  2. Rotate and stretch it out a little.
  3. Set Path Cut Begin = 0.125 and Path Cut End = 0.875.

So-tipstricks1.jpg

While this may look unexceptional at first glance, stairs can be long, so the savings quickly add up.

Sit pretty (but not primmy)

The "one-prim bar stool" is a longtime commodity in the Second Life virtual world, and if you've never figured out how to do it before, here's the recipe. And it's FREE!

  1. Start out by rezzing a tube.
  2. Stretch it so it's taller.
  3. Set Hole Size Y = "0.50". Profile Cut Begin and End = "0.25" and "0.95", respectively.
  4. Then carve out your new seat by making Hollow = "85".

So-tipstricks2.jpg

You can also set a click action on your stool so you can sit with a single left-click. How?

  1. Select the General tab in the edit tools (or right-click on the stool and select Edit from the pie menu).
  2. Near the bottom, select the drop down menu under the When Left-Clicked option then select Sit On Object.
  3. Close the edit window and left-click your bar stool! Voila!

Here's a video of this trick:

<videoflash type="vimeo">4168718|640|480</videoflash>

Reinvent the wheel

The most common way to make a vehicle wheel is to flatten a cylinder. The end result tends to look rather flat, especially if you're adding texture. A more dynamic way to do this is:

  1. Rez a ring and set both Twist Begin and End = "90" and Hole Size X = "0.75".
  2. Still look too flat? Lower Profile Cut End to taste, say, "70" and make Hollow = "25" and you're cooking!

So-tipstricks3.jpg

The picture shows each face (area) of the prim as a different color. And it need not just be tires: you can make dishes, containers — whatever you want your newly wrangled, multi-faceted ring to be!

KBtip2.png Tip: If you don't want the center texture to look distorted, click the Texture tab and select Mapping > Planar. If you get lost, just copy the numbers in the screenshots and explore on your own. Enjoy being primfficient!
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