Two years ago when Windlight was introduced, a lot of people complained that it “broke their face light” because Windlight added a lot ugly shadows to the face that could not be corrected by simply wearing a face light. If you asked me back in 2007/2008 if I would ever leave home without a face light, I would say NO! Face light was my PRIM LASHES. It was necessary! and it worked!
So when Windlight “broke” everyone’s face light, some people embraced it and made nicer Windlight settings for their viewing pleasure, but lots of other people just wore even bigger and brighter lights, and in some extreme cases, full-body lights that lit up the entire sim. We’ve all seen it, and it is a complete eyesore!
My friend is a CSR at a well-known skin brand in SL and one of the biggest complaints that “newbies” have is that their skin does not look *exactly* like the pretty picture on the wall. Well, duh. A lot of new players haven’t grasp the concept of tweaking their Windlight setting, and some are defensive when you even suggest it! They think that the product should look *exactly* like the vendor’s image, and most times I would agree, but we all know that how you see a skin is dependent upon your hardware, graphics settings, and Windlight setting. It makes a HUGE difference.
I’m re-writing about Windlight because I received an email a couple of days ago, and a reader said that the skins she purchases (from seeing them on my site) does not look the same on her avatar. It makes me wonder if she’s viewing the skins on Midday setting, so I thought I would mention how to use Windlight settings again for anybody that might find it useful.
Left: Midday 1 (Default setting) | Right: Small tweak to remove shadows and brighten the image
(Windlight Midday: click to view full-size)
The Midday 1 setting is a default setting that can be found on everyone’s SL client. If you can’t find it, start with NOON — I think that’s the same thing. It looks pretty ugly, doesn’t it?
(Windlight tweaks 1: click to view full-size)
By tweaking a little bit, I was able to brighten the image. If you want to duplicate the result, just change your settings similar to the image above. I have only tweaked the Atmosphere and Lighting tab, and nothing else.
*note: my graphics preference settings are set on high with everything checked (bump mapping and shiny, basic shaders, atomospheric shaders, water reflections, etc.)
Left: more tweaks to get nicer sky & water | Right: Windlight – Pink sky and water
If you wanted to play with it a bit more, you can get really cool effects in SL without ever using Photoshop. I typically don’t PS any of my images, cos it’s way too time consuming.
(Windlight tweaks nicer sky & water: click to view full-size)
(Windlight tweaks pink sky & water: click to view full-size)
I hope this brief tutorial is easy to follow and helps you look better in-world 🙂
More information about Windlight can be found at the official Second Life Wiki.
You can also download tons of Windlight settings created by other residents here.
I’m in love with that hair too! I was thinking in a elf look.. not sure yet! It looks fabulous on you.♥
Look at you! So pretty! Glad you like the sim so far!
Such a lovely hair style! It’s just such a shame LeLutka’s hair textures are SO dull, undetailed and blah! After wearing D!va hair for months on end now, anything else just looks like a lump of clay on your av’s head! I just adore how the textures from that creator look like lovely soft freshly washed hair. I only leave this comment in the hopes this great designer will update their textures (and others too!!) as this style and others of hers are so wonderful. Lovely post though! 🙂
D!va is ok, not my favorite hair brand in SL at all, cos their textures look like a flexi mess.
I don’t really like D!va hair because their textures remind me of a splotchy hair dye which is a bit too greasy… The highlights are very very overdone. While I agree Lelutka’s hair textures could have a little more detail to it… I would not say D!va is really better. I would rather weat Lelutka, Magika, or Truth most likely than D!va even if they have some cute styles.
I really like De La and Analog dog, I think curls are done really well with both these designers.
As always you look adorable. I just adore that hair. =3
I guess everyone has their own idea of what pretty hair is! I love D!va because it looks the most like my own hair in terms of the shade/texture when it’s freshly washed and I do not dye my hair or do anything at all with it cosmetically. So to me D!va is the most natural looking, personally. I’m just sad about this lovely Renessaince style because it’s just so beautiful but I keep thinking there is a blob on my head at the same time, as it’s just so dull and lifeless in the texture! Maybe other colours are better, but the brown pack I bought – none are pretty in texture. Also I get endless compliments and people asking where I got xyz D!va hair from, for the same reason I just explained above. Maybe I am just blessed with a rich shade naturally and rather fluffy flyaway hair that is always a mess! hehe
Anyway, this new hairstyle is AWESOME! I’ve been waiting exactly 5 years for it ever since I came into SL!