alaskametro

  • | | |

    Is DLSS 5 a Glimpse Into Second Life’s Future?

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    3 Comments
    DLSS 5 vs Raw Second Life snapshot (Slide to view before/after)

    Thanks to Hamlet at New World Notes for the mention! Be sure to take the DLSS 5 Survey and share what you think.

    DLSS 5 is so much fun to experiment with, but it’s not magic. It’s not going to suddenly make your avatar look drastically different, and it’s definitely not like AI editing that can sometimes turn a cartoon avatar into a realistic human. My Second Life avatar still looks completely recognizable. The textures may look a little better, details may stand out more, and there’s additional shading around the face, hair, clothing, and environment that gives everything a little more depth. Sometimes the difference isn’t even that dramatic, but there’s just enough added dimension that I really like the overall look.

    Of course, there are going to be critics and purists, especially people who are against anything involving AI, but I don’t understand the need to loudly discourage other residents from experimenting with it. Whatever happened to Your World, Your Imagination? In real life, people put filters over their photos every day using phone apps, Photoshop, and a million other things. Second Life photography has always involved experimenting with lighting, advanced Third Party viewers, graphics settings, post-processing, etc. DLSS 5 is just another thing to play with.

    I’ve posted thousands of raw Second Life photos across my social media over the years, so I don’t think using DLSS 5 suddenly means someone lacks photography skills. Sometimes I want a raw SL photo, sometimes I want to edit, and sometimes I want to press F6 and see what DLSS 5 does. If you want to try it, try it! You might love it, you might hate it, or you might decide the difference isn’t worth the trouble.

    As I sit there pressing F6 to turn DLSS 5 on and off, though, I can’t help thinking that I’m getting a tiny glimpse into what Second Life might eventually look like. I can imagine creators continuing to push textures and materials in this direction, especially with hair and face skins, where more detailed shading can add so much depth. Maybe someday we won’t need an experimental filter to get this look at all.

    Read my tutorial: How to Install DLSS 5 in Second Life

    Read More “Is DLSS 5 a Glimpse Into Second Life’s Future?”
  • | | | |

    Must Haves at the Spoonful of Sugar Festival

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    1 Comment
    Death Valley

    Every year I make my way to the Spoonful of Sugar Festival to support Doctors Without Borders and, of course, pick up some goodies from some of my favorite Second Life brands while I’m there.

    Just like last year, AlaskaMetro has an amazing L$10 gift at the event. This year it’s a pack of Vintage China nails, which I’m wearing today and absolutely love. Izzie’s also has a Chest Details pack at the festival, and you wouldn’t think I’d willingly add imperfections to my perfectly good pixel body, but apparently I do! The pack includes chest freckles, redness, and moles, but I like the chest redness, so I’m wearing that with today’s look. Sometimes those tiny imperfections are exactly what make a Second Life avatar look a little more interesting and realistic.

    Death Valley

    The Spoonful of Sugar Festival runs through September 27, so you still have time to shop and support a good cause. There’s also a gacha and raffle area where you can win even more goodies and gift cards from some popular Second Life brands. If you’re going to shop anyway, you might as well do a little good while you’re at it!

    SOS Festival SLURLS: https://thesosfestival.com/spoonful_of_sugar_sim_list.html

    Death Valley
    Read More “Must Haves at the Spoonful of Sugar Festival”
  • | | |

    Shop, Hop, Collect, Leave

    Bygogo Fashion, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    3 Comments
    Strawberries

    I stopped by Shop & Hop to pick up some of the latest free gifts. At this point, it’s become a bit of a tradition for me. Every time the event comes around, I’m always curious to see which creators put real thought into their gifts and which ones are simply tossing something out to satisfy the participation requirements. There were quite a few pleasant surprises this round, and if you’re a fan of freebies, it’s definitely worth a visit. As always, FabFree did a fantastic job covering all the gifts, so be sure to check out their SL23B gift guide for a complete look at what’s available.

    I didn’t make it to every booth, but after spending way too much time teleporting, touching vendors, unpacking boxes, and trying things on, these were the gifts that stood out to me the most:

    • LeRoux – Lois AO
    • SLC – Bento AO Doubleyou
    • Softie – Nylah Skirt
    • Ade – Sunny Hairstyle
    • Alaskametro – Gemini 2K BOM Makeup Set
    • MUHO – Deva Shoes
    • Seeker – Remy Shoes
    • Cococat – Store Credit
    • Navy+Copper – Store Credit

    As I was making my way through Shop & Hop, I found myself thinking about how many free gifts there are in Second Life these days. It feels like every event has gifts now, whether it’s because they’re collaborating with Linden Lab, celebrating an anniversary, hosting a birthday round, or simply running a promotion. Free gifts have become so common that I don’t really understand why Linden Lab still seems to view them as a major incentive for Premium memberships or resident engagement.

    In fact, I sometimes wonder if all these gifts are starting to work against the events themselves. Right after leaving Shop & Hop, I teleported over to ACCESS and discovered their birthday round was packed with gifts as well. I happily collected them, took everything home, unpacked it, tried it on, kept a few items, deleted the rest, and never felt the need to actually shop. The gifts became the entire experience, and I still got that little rush that comes from finding something new without spending a single Linden dollar.

    That’s why I’ve never been convinced that giving away more gifts is the answer to attracting new residents or keeping existing ones engaged. Second Life already has an incredible freebie culture, and anyone willing to spend a little time exploring can put together a fantastic avatar without opening their wallet. If Linden Lab wants to attract and retain new users, I think their resources would be better spent making the platform easier to understand, improving the onboarding experience, and connecting newcomers with friendly, knowledgeable residents who can help them navigate the world. New residents don’t need another gift bag nearly as much as they need guidance and a positive first experience.

    Maybe that’s what’s been frustrating me lately. From my perspective, Second Life feels a little directionless. So many of Linden Lab’s recent efforts seem focused on giveaways, promotions, and perks for people who are already here, while some of the issues that residents talk about year after year continue to linger. I don’t think most long-term residents are asking for more gifts. We’d probably rather see faster support response times, better covenant enforcement, stronger account security, and leadership that demonstrates a deeper understanding of the people who continue to invest their time and money into this platform.

    Of course attracting new residents is important, and every online world needs new people to thrive. At the same time, it’s hard not to notice that some of the residents who have supported Second Life for years are becoming increasingly frustrated. The people who own land, maintain communities, support creators, pay for Premium memberships, and spend thousands of dollars annually are just as important to the health of the platform as the next wave of signups. Sometimes it feels like Linden Lab is working very hard to attract new residents while overlooking the people who have already proven, year after year, that they’re committed to staying.

    Strawberries
    Read More “Shop, Hop, Collect, Leave”
  • | | | | | |

    Hair Fair 2026

    Bygogo Events, Fashion, Hair, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    4 Comments
    Hair Fair 2026
    Truth Collective – Mochi

    Hair Fair is open!

    I remember when Hair Fair was the event to look forward to every summer in Second Life. These days, with shopping events happening every month, it doesn’t quite have the same sense of anticipation. Back then, by the time Hair Fair rolled around, everyone was absolutely starving for new hairstyles.

    You can join the Hair Fair Demo Group (secondlife:///app/group/2e30d166-f3e5-e2de-ff72-b3da2d06ded2/about) and have all the demos delivered to you, but I actually prefer walking the event and visiting each store. I like browsing the booths, collecting demos manually, and discovering the gifts along the way. One thing I also appreciate is being able to see exactly how much each hairstyle is donating. Every participating hair contributes a percentage to the charity, but some creators go even further and donate 50% or even 100% of their sales.

    There are a lot of charity events in Second Life throughout the year, and I think it’s wonderful when communities come together to support a good cause. At the same time, I think residents should pay attention to where their donations are going and how transparent an event is about its fundraising. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always appreciated Hair Fair. The event’s relationship with Wigs for Kids is publicly acknowledged by the charity itself, and every year Hair Fair posts the donation receipt and thank-you letter after the event concludes. I like that level of transparency. It allows residents and designers alike to see the impact their generosity is making, and you can feel confident that your shopping is supporting a real-world cause.

    Hair Fair 2026
    Kuni – Manu
    Hair Fair 2026
    Exile – Never the Same

    I was excited to see some of my favorite brands participating this year, including Truth, Kuni, and Exile. It was also interesting to see Truth represented solely by hairstyles and accessories created by Litterbug. I noticed fellow Truth Collective creator Wasabi at the event as well. One thing I like about collaborations such as Truth Collective is that the individual creators are acknowledged for their work. There are plenty of brands in Second Life that describe themselves as a team, but you never really know who created what. I like following creators and recognizing their individual styles, even when they’re creating under a larger brand.

    I also can’t leave Hair Fair without mentioning the Bandana Booth. I picked up this adorable bandana by Alaskametro, and there are several other prints available as well. Pretty much everything Alaskametro makes is beautifully textured. If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you already know I’m a fan.

    Hair Fair 2026
    Alaskametro – “Bling” Bandana for Hair Fair

    Another new addition this year is Linden Lab’s contribution to the fundraiser. Residents can purchase three exclusive last names: Style, Strand, and Salon, with proceeds benefiting the charity. If I wasn’t already having an identity crisis with my avatar, I’d probably be changing my last name to Style immediately.

    Linden Lab will also be auctioning off Premium Lifetime memberships during the event, with more details coming soon. If you’re someone who gets a lot of value from Premium benefits and plans to stick around Second Life for the long haul, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

    Read More “Hair Fair 2026”
  • | | | |

    Second Life Brands That Understand Loyalty

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    2 Comments
    Spring

    Even though many brands in Second Life create amazing products, the way they treat customers can leave a sour taste in your mouth. When that happens, it makes you think twice about spending money with them again.

    I’ve encountered more than a few brands I’ve supported that ignore simple customer service issues, like refunding a double purchase or answering a basic question. I’m sure most of us have experienced being completely ignored by a store owner or customer service rep. Some people know how to create great things in Second Life, but they never learn how to build loyalty.

    On the other hand, the brands that go out of their way to be kind and helpful earn my support for years.

    One example is Everfaery. Every time I’ve had a question or needed help, they’ve responded in a way that was even nicer than expected. Honestly, the fact that they respond at all already puts them ahead of many brands. Recently, I asked a question on Flickr and got a quick reply. That reminded me they also give L$50 monthly store credit to group members. On top of that, creator Fever Fae is incredibly talented, making clothing, hair, shoes, décor, and more. She has range, and she’s had staying power in SL for years.

    Spring

    Another brand that consistently treats customers well is Izzie’s. I’ve said it before, but it’s true. A few days ago, I saw their Nail Beds set and thought, “I didn’t even know I needed that.” Now I can’t imagine not having it. It adds another layer of realism, and I appreciate creators who think of those details. Plus, Izzie Button has always come across as genuinely kind.

    Then there’s Truth. Creator Truth Hawks regularly gives gifts to the VIP group and runs solid sales throughout the year. I’ve also been a Truth hair blogger for years, and their relationship with bloggers has always seemed professional and respectful. That kind of relationship-building is one reason some brands last so long in Second Life.

    My list of brands doing it right is actually pretty long. There are many wonderful creators in SL. But when a brand ghosts me after I’ve supported them, I remember it. I’m too classy to name names, but you know the type. We’ve all encountered them.

    There’s one brand where I used to buy every fatpack. Now? Maybe I’ll grab a single item during a weekend sale and spend the equivalent of a real-life quarter. Why reward bad customer service with full-price loyalty?

    At the end of the day, customer service matters. Talent may get people through the door, but kindness and reliability keep them coming back.

    If there are any brands you love that treat customers right, let me know in the comments!

    Read More “Second Life Brands That Understand Loyalty”

  • Sweet

    Bygogo Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    Sweet

    The only thing on my calendar this weekend is the Spoonful of Sugar Festival. This event raises money for MSF/Doctors Without Borders, and I always admire the designers who donate their time to causes in Second Life, especially the smaller or lesser-known charities. Every year I look forward to SOS because some of my favorite creators are part of it.

    This year it feels like a lot of people might be skipping the festival. The Seraphim mention didn’t include a gallery, and even SOS’s own website doesn’t have one. That made shopping a little tricky, but I went straight to the brands I love such as Izzie’s and Alaskametro and found some great things. There’s even a gacha area if that’s your thing.

    Pro tip: Keep an eye out for a bowl of sugar if you want to grab some L$20 bargains from participating brands.

    Sweet
    Izzie’s – Age Yourself (BoM Layers) – Left: Bare skin | Right: With face wrinkles added

    One of the highlights for me was Izzie’s new Age Yourself set. Wrinkles and aging looks seem to be getting more popular in Second Life, and honestly, she’s scary good at transforming skins. The set comes in 50%, 70%, and 100% opacity layers so you can blend the wrinkles with your current skin.

    Sweet
    Alaskametro – Soft Brows – Left: Light brows | Right: Tinted brows

    I also picked up the new Soft Brows from Alaskametro. I never use the brows that come with a skin, so I’m always hunting for new ones. These are the perfect thickness, and they looked great when I tried them on. The only thing I wish is that they came with a HUD so I could play around with the opacity. I like layering BoM brows under LeLutka HD brows. On the left you can see the light colored brows, and on the right the tinted ones. You lose a bit of detail when tinting, but it’s fabulous that the option is included so you can get the exact shade you want.

    Check out the SOS Festival, show your favorite brands some love, and support a good cause while you shop.

    Read More “Sweet”
  • | | | |

    Shelf Life

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments
    Shelf Life

    Alaskametro creates the finest BoM tattoos on the grid, in case you were unaware. I hold this brand in high regard; the seams and texturing are simply flawless. I’m not just saying that. Few can achieve the level of detail like Alaskametro does, so I was thrilled to see the release of the Doll Parts BoM tattoo, which allows you to transform your existing Second Life body into a Ball Joint doll. This concept is reminiscent of an episode of Black Mirror, where a doll comes to life or where one’s consciousness is forever trapped inside a doll.

    I love the idea of evolving my avatar, which I already consider my digital doll, into an actual doll. The Doll Parts pack comes with BoM tattoos along with extra highlight layers. Despite being made with textures, it’s exceptionally well done and looks fantastic. I appreciate that I can layer this over my current skin, ensuring a seamless blend.

    Have you ever dreamed of becoming a virtual doll? If so, you can get this enchanting set at Anthology.

    Shelf Life
    Read More “Shelf Life”
  • | | | | |

    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Skins, Uncategorized
    1 Comment
    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)

    Did I need a new body skin? No. Did I want a new body skin? Yes. Ever since Glam Affair and Not Found launched the new Ethereal Essence skin tones, I’ve been running around Second Life with a body skin from Velour that didn’t quite match. It was driving me crazy; even though I made it match reasonably well by using neck blenders, the body skin was for Velour tones, and I longed for a perfect match.

    I had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a matching body skin to complement my face, so I waited patiently until the Ethereal Essence body skin became available in LaraX. My initial impression of this body skin was that it had a significant amount of body shine and pronounced collarbone shading. I found the shine a bit intense for my taste, so I decided to add the Collarbone Cover from The Skinnery, which turned out to be a pretty good match and softened the collarbones nicely. You can find these in the Body Addons Bundle at The Skinnery.

    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)
    Left: Ethereal Essence Body Skin | Right: with TheSkinnery Collarbone addon

    I wanted to showcase the body skin without any tattoo fixes to give you a clear view of how it looks. Despite some areas that I wasn’t entirely satisfied with, such as the collarbone definition, the uneven armpit shading, and the overly dark butt shading, along with the excessive shine, I was still quite pleased with the skin overall. It perfectly matches my head skin, and I believe that with some adjustments and updates, this body skin could be truly remarkable.

    While I could use a neck blender and pair another body skin with a close match, the neck shading never really complemented my previous skins; it often appeared flat. I feel that this body now aligns much better with my face than my previous body did, especially in conjunction with the new Ethereal Essence head skins.

    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)

    My hope for this body skin is that updates will address some of these concerns or at least offer an add-on that provides wearers with options for the collarbones and lessen the body shine and shading issues. I think that Velour and The Skinnery also make excellent body skins, so I hope they release a line for Etheal Essence. Izzie’s offers many fixes that I’ll likely use immediately to make this body skin feel more like my own, but I generally prefer when brands update their products based on customer feedback.

    Have you tried the new Ethereal Essence body skin? Let me know in the comments!

    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)
    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)
    Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)
    Read More “Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim)”
  • | | | |

    Night Lights

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
    0 Comments
    Night Lights

    This Catherine Cardi and Skirt set from Orphic looks stunning in a darker color, so I chose to wear this instead of my usual bright and pastel shades. I paired it with a strapless bra from AlaskaMetro to maintain a sense of modesty; however, you can wear it without a BoM bra if you prefer, as it will still cover the necessary areas.

    In my search for the perfect backdrop to showcase this outfit, I discovered a region called CLAW on the Destination Guide. This area is filled with vibrant colors and dazzling lights, making it ideal for nighttime photography. The hues seemed to enhance the whole scene, prompting me to adjust my Heart Sunset EEP settings to create an effect reminiscent of a comic book.

    As you know, I have been immersed in inZOI for the past few days, and I think my Zoi bears a striking resemblance to my avatar. However, dressing up in Second Life proves to be quite challenging, particularly because poses are not inherently integrated into the environment. It requires considerable effort to find the right pose to effectively communicate my style. There is much that Second Life could learn from inZOI; I sincerely hope they’re taking note.

    Night Lights
    Read More “Night Lights”
  • | | | | |

    Happy New Year

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    1 Comment
    Happy New Year

    Aren’t these Gigi Balloons from Legna the best? I love that these numbers come with two really nice poses for each hand. Even though the balloons state they are no modify, it actually allowed me to modify one, and I tinted it a light shade of blue. You can also rez these numbers for any occasion.

    This is meant to be an early Happy New Year post, but I also wanted to share my reflections on last year. Overall, I feel I had a good year in Second Life! I upgraded from Lifetime Premium to Lifetime Premium Plus, which cost a significant amount, and at first, I was genuinely excited. However, as the year progressed, I began to worry about the longevity of Second Life.

    I was enthusiastic about the mobile app when I tried it early this year as part of the alpha program; however, I now think it’s completely hopeless. This Open Letter to Linden Lab clearly outlines why I don’t believe we will ever see a usable mobile app.

    I had a lot of fun in the Aurelias region with my friend Sparkle. Still, I ultimately decided to pull the plug when I recognized that the economy and the state of Second Life might be uncertain in 2025. It was actually an easy decision; when faced with uncertainty, it is prudent to eliminate an unnecessary expense. As much as I enjoy having a whole region, I also appreciate the freedom that comes with not having to maintain one. I told Sparkle not to let me bring the region back next year, even if I have new ideas and want another one. 2025 is not the year for significant land projects.

    What am I looking forward to in Second Life in 2025? I am looking forward to Philip Linden changing his outfit. Additionally, I am eager for the next Linden Home theme, although Linden Lab has gone silent on that topic! Will it ever come? Who knows. It has been so long since the next theme was chosen via a poll that I almost forgot we were promised Alpine and Tiki as the next two themes. I am also looking forward to cleaning my inventory; right now it stands at 77k, but I know I can reduce it to 50k if I put in some effort.

    What are you looking forward to next year? Let me know in the comments!

    Happy New Year
    Read More “Happy New Year”