Sculpted Prims
What are Sculpted Prims?
A Sculpted Prim, or sculptie, is a prim whose shape is determined by an array of <x, y, z> coordinates stored as RGB values in an image file (a Sculpt Texture or Sculpt Map). Sculpted prims to create more complex, organic shapes that were not previously possible with Second Life's prim system. For technical details, see Sculpted Prims: Technical Explaination.
How do I make Sculpted Prims
Presently, there are no tools inside Second Life for creating sculpties. They are usually created using a 3D modeling tool such as Blender, Maya, or Wings, and then uploading the sculpt texture to Second Life and applying it to a prim with the build tools. For more detail on various programs and which ones are capable of generating sculpt textures (including many free ones), visit Sculpted Prims: 3d Software Guide.
Sculpted Prims: News
24 May 2007
Linden Lab is running a contest: show off your sculpties for fun, fame and schwag! Read the blog for details. Deadline for submissions is June 1st.
23 May 2007
Sculpted prims are now available on the Main Grid as of version 1.16.0(5).
16 May 2007
An update to sculpted prims, included in the latest build of the beta viewer (1.16.0(1)), has two changes that are not backwards-compatible:
1) The orientation of the sculpt map (sculpt texture) is reversed. This means all previously created sculpt maps/textures need to be horizontally flipped (otherwise they'll appear inside out.) This change fixes the orientation discrepancy between sculpt maps/textures and surface textures (which have required a 90 degree rotate and flip.) (source)
2) The LSL call to set sculpted prims is changing to require two parameters: the texture and the topology type. (source: Talk page)
27 April 2007
Sculpted Prims made available on the preview grid.
Where can I find out more about Sculpted Prims?
Sculpted Prims have now a comprehensive FAQ wiki page.