I was not waiting for the Genus Project mesh head update because I haven’t worn it since the end of 2020. Then I saw a notice recently that there was an update, so I wondered if all of the previous issues with the HUD and eyes were resolved. When I first tried on the Genus Project Baby mesh head back in April 2019, I liked it a lot and it became my main head for over a year, even though it had issues from the start! Those issues were never updated, so eventually customers and brands flocked to other brands.
For everyone that still doesn’t have a mesh head, you need to join the GenusProject group right now and get the free Strong Face Gift001 mesh head. If you’re wearing other brands and curious to try Genus, this free fully-functioning mesh head is exactly like their other heads sold in store, if not prettier. I decided to give Juicy a makeover, cos she was tragically running around SL as a baby panda.
When Bakes on Mesh went live six months ago, I thought it would change the way we wore skins and phase out appliers completely. This did not happen. In fact, I recently learned that with BoM (just a fancy name for system layers that we’ve had since the beginning of SL), it’s not possible to have high-resolution appliers. LeLutka responded by launching a new BoM-ready mesh head with brand new HD applier zones, thus continuing your dependency on appliers forever. Genus followed by delivering a BoM script to customers and encouraging the continued use of appliers. Did BoM make things easier for anyone? No.
I see lots of SL residents and friends saying that they won’t use BoM, or they don’t understand BoM. Even though the concept is simple, the way mesh head brands have merged appliers with BoM created chaos. I think it would be easier if brands broke their mesh heads out into 3 products: Mesh Head w/ Appliers Only (what we had), Mesh Head with Just BoM (one mesh, removing all the “onion layers”), and Mesh Head with a Combination of BoM & Appliers (the direction we’re headed in). Something for everyone. Does this create more work for designers? Absolutely.
I said I would only go BoM when my skin was available, and that day came with the latest Pink Fuel Gaia release. I had to give up my EEP Viewer to use the latest official SL viewer. The new Gaia and Maia skins from Pink Fuel are system layers, so if you don’t currently have a BoM-activated Genus mesh head, you can’t wear this skin. This skin is made for Genus, and will not fit any other brands. Of course, you can try, but the result would not be pretty.
From left to right: The basic Pink Fuel Gaia system skin in Peach tone | w/ added eyeshadow & lip gloss system layers (included with skin package) | with Applier eyeliner, and applier HD lipgloss | Vampy System tattoo makeups w/ applier HD lipgloss
I’ve played around with a combination of wearing only system layers makeups, only appliers makeups, and a combination of both. BoM is still new and kind of confusing, but once you get it and use it correctly, your customization options are endless. I’m having fun incorporating bits of my old makeup brand, cheLLe, into my current look.
Are you ready to try BoM? Get this Limited Edition Be Mine 2020 (Genus BoM skin) from Pink Fuel for just $50L!
Are you using BoM? Do you find it easy or challenging? Let me know in the comments!
Bakes on Mesh is live on the main grid! Before you read my post, I recommend reading Aems Bakes on Mesh post to learn about BoM and what products you can buy to make your mesh body parts BoM-ready.
I only started using BoM yesterday, when I updated my viewer to the latest SL Viewer. I’m not dying to wear system skin or system makeup, cos I think the newer skins are much prettier and more high-res. Old skins and makeups typically used 512 size textures, cos SL limited the size of uploaded textures. It’s still fun to try out this new feature while waiting for brands to update and deliver me better quality textures to wear.
Genus Mesh Head + System skins
What am I wearing here? Left: Genus Baby mesh head + system Pink Fuel skin + default Genus lashes (with applier added) Right: Everything above + system Blush + System Eyeshadow + Applier lipstick
The reason I can mix system skin and system makeup with my mesh head appliers right now is cos Genus has NOT updated their head to be BoM-ready. With a BoM-ready product, you should not be able to use applier makeup, cos all those extra layers will be removed. All of your makeup needs will be done through wearing layers inside your inventory. You can re-arrange your system tattoo layers by going to the Appearance tab, clicking on the Edit this outfit button, then use up/down arrows to re-arrange layers.
What it looks like when I’m wearing all of my layers plus mesh head
Did you know that you cannot use BoM with an applier skin? You must use system skin. I will wait for my applier skin to have an accompanying system layer, to truly enjoy BoM. I’m not sure why SLers want to wear OLD system skins, but they seem to want to, LOL.
Last Friday, I picked up the Bailey Coffee Table & Bailey Picture Shelf from What Next. I want my house to have a cohesive look, so I limit the furnishings to just a few brands. This picture shelf matches the rest of my stuff, and only has 1 land impact! You can also change the texture on the shelf, frames, and pictures. All of this for 1 li – that’s magic!
My House
Do know how to be a good neighbor on Bellisseria? Follow these laws, written by me.
Do you ever feel like being a way from the grid for a month is equivalent to being away for a year? I seem to have missed so much that an entirely brand new (to me) mesh head is now so popular that all of my friends are wearing it.
Photo credit: Kavar Cleanslate
I saw this ad from Kavar and immediately fell in love with all 3 of his avatars! The girls are wearing Genus heads, which is entirely new to me! I’ve heard of the name and knew that they are Genesis part II of some sort… but I haven’t ever demo’d a Genus mesh head. Until this week….
Kavar did give me some great recommendations on skins and some tips about Genus that will help me if I do make the switch. Should I make the switch? Do you wear a Genus head? Let me know in the comments!
What I’m Wearing:
Exile – Alessa
Tee*fy – Belle bodysuit (Bloom), Belle Bra (Sweet)
Pink Fuel – Kiera (LeLutka Head Applier) Biscuit
