If you ever want to make an entrance in Second Life, you need a gown and a crown. The Rosalinda Crown from Sparkle Skye comes as a full double crown or two separate headbands. You can even get creative with the mix-and-match color options. I have no idea where I’m going in this look, but when the moment calls for it, I’ll be ready. You can find this crown at Midnight Order.
Just Because is one of my favorite spots for gowns. The price is fair and the HUD gives you tons of colors and options. I’m wearing the Magnolia gown from Just Because, and I love that you can toggle the flowers on or off if you want something a little simpler. It’s no secret that I love gowns and dressing like I’m a 19th century lady.
I’d say gacha is back, but let’s be real, it never left. I’ve been in Second Life long enough that the thrill of gachas wore off ages ago, well before they were officially banned. Blind buying duplicates got old fast. At some point, I stopped chasing full sets and rares. I just didn’t care anymore.
I have a lot of friends who are still deep in the gacha game. I’ve been there too, dropping L$3,000 to L$5,000 on a single machine just to complete a set. It happens.
So yeah, I’m a little surprised to see gacha returning in its original form. Miepon had its flaws, sure, but at least you could see what was coming next. Even if it wasn’t the item you wanted, the transparency was better than the old-school roulette wheel. Gacha is a form of shopping torture. You might get what you want, but chances are, you won’t. Designers love it though. In their own words, it made them a lot more money. And that’s what this is really about: profit. Your money going into their pockets.
I’ve always compared gachas to MLMs. Once you buy in, you’re stuck reselling the stuff you don’t want, unless you’re okay taking a loss. That means wasting time listing duplicates at yardsales or on Marketplace. Or, if you’re feeling generous, giving them away to friends like a broke fairy godmother.
Sure, people are excited gacha’s back, but ask yourself why these events are popping up again so fast. One is launching in two weeks. It’s all about the cash flow. Designers cash in, events need regions (which means more money going to Linden Lab), and shoppers? We’re just the endless source of funding.
I’ll still pull the occasional gacha if it’s really good. But most of the time, I’m fine with whatever I get. I don’t chase anymore. I already have too much. And yet, like the little addict I am, I keep getting more, until my inventory overwhelms me and I start deleting things in bulk. Sometimes I wonder if my entire presence in Second Life is just one long donation to the system.
Because in the end, this game, for me at least, is a shopping game.
I went to Skin Fair! I tried on lots of skins and discovered a bunch of new to me brands. While I am genuinely excited about the 2k BoM options available, I had hoped to find Maitreya LaraX versions of new body skins, which I did not find this year.
I recommend stopping by Sparkle Skye’s booth to check out the new floral body art sets and the free gift. Although I am not a huge fan of tattoos, because I don’t think I could pull it off, I still appreciate beautiful body art, stickers, and similar items.
Sparkle Skye – Love Me (Flower Body Art)
This weekend, I’ve been experimenting with the official Second Life viewer and updating all of the third-party ones. I’m excited to try the new Khronos tone mapper, but I will need to adjust all of my EEPs because now everything just looks way too bright. Currently, my EEPs are designed for the ACES tone mapper. If Khronos is the future, I hope Second Life and all third-party viewers will prioritize it as the first choice rather than a secondary option. I do not plan to release any EEPs until everything stabilizes; it is quite frustrating to redo them each time there is a color change in any of the viewers. Have you had a chance to try the new Khronos tone mapper in Second Life? I’m still getting over the shock of PBR colors, so now PBR + Khronos will be yet another new thing to adapt to.
I’m absolutely loving ReShade! I recently started exploring it, and I’ve noticed a lot of SL residents using it to enhance their snapshots. However, there are some downsides. It can be a bit tricky to use, and you’re limited to taking screenshots at your display size rather than high-resolution images.
The graphics settings in Second Life have improved significantly over time. With certain third-party viewers, you can access features like depth of field, tonemapping, and color grading, which means that while ReShade is still entertaining to play with, it’s not as essential as it once was. That said, it can create stunningly ethereal effects, making your photos truly pop! See all of my ReShdae snapshots on Flickr.
ReShade is a generic post-processing injector for games and video software developed by crosire. Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth of field effects, color correction and more … ReShade exposes an automated and generic way to access both frame color and depth information (latter is automatically disabled during multiplayer to prevent exploitation) and all the tools to make it happen. Download here: https://reshade.me/
If you’re curious about experimenting with ReShade in Second Life, there are plenty of tutorials out there to help you get started. I began my journey with it back in May but got sidetracked by PBR. I’m still on the lookout for my favorite ReShade add-ons, so if you have any suggestions, drop them in the comments!
Now, let’s discuss my look for today. I’m a huge fan of Wings hair, but I’ve noticed lately that the bangs sit very closely against my face and lashes, leading to some stubborn alpha glitches. I really think the designer should consider tweaking the front strands to sit a bit further from the face, or at least provide some customization options.
I usually tackle alpha glitches in my photos, which is why I always recommend demoing hair before you buy. I’ve adjusted my shape and face somewhat, but I’m not keen on widening my face just to make this hairstyle work. Finding the perfect fit is crucial!
After putting this look together, I realized I could totally fit into the world of Bridgerton. I absolutely adore this outfit in Second Life. While I usually stick to casuals, when it’s time to “dress up,” I naturally gravitate toward elegant historical gowns. In a crowd of everyday wear, standing out in something romantic and girly is a delight.
You need to check out these Aurelia Drop Earrings from Sparkle Skye. They’re incredibly versatile and can be customized with different color options in the HUD. The shimmering gems are absolutely to die for! You can find these earrings and more stunning pieces at The Engine Room.
When I’m dressed like this, I feel like I should be called Lady Gorgeous Waterton of Cloud.
What is your Bridgerton name?
“Lord” or “Lady”
Your 1st name (SL or RL)
Add ‘ton’ to the end of the last thing you drank (SL or RL)
Hello from the serene Buddha Garden! I discovered this gem through the Destination Guide, an excellent resource for finding picturesque spots and experimenting with EEP settings.
I was pleasantly surprised by how tranquil and well-designed this homestead region is. They’ve kept things simple due to prim limitations, but this simplicity enhances its charm. As a long-time admirer of Second Life water, being surrounded by it here is a dream come true.
The default EEP settings in this region were quite dark, so I created a new one specifically for my photos. Interestingly, I didn’t plan on making an EEP or shooting a short video, but I was inspired to capture the stunning new Second Life skies in a PBR viewer.
Adjusting to PBR has been a challenge, but I’m coping better by fully embracing the PBR viewer. By doing so, I avoid making constant comparisons with the old viewer’s water. Surprisingly, I’m starting to miss the beautiful pre-PBR water a little less each day.
Sometimes, diving in headfirst is the best approach to adapt to a drastic change.
My photos are straight from Second Life with very minimal edits—just a bit of blurring and cropping.
Hello from the 4th of July Block Party! This delightful mainland parcel may be small, but it packs a punch with its many photogenic spots. When it comes to Summer holidays, gingham print always springs to mind, reminiscent of a classic picnic blanket.
To celebrate the Fourth of July, I’m rocking this Spring Tied Halter top from Fashionably Dead. To complete the ensemble, I’ve added the Blair Headband (4th of July print) from Sparkle Skye. Both of these items are part of the weekend sale at their main store, so grab them while you can!
Since transitioning to using a PBR viewer full-time, I’ve been tweaking the colors of my skin and body. I previously wore a body skin from Not Found but have since switched back to The Skinnery. The Luna body skin from The Skinnery is stunning, offering a myriad of options. I’ve reviewed it before, and was thrilled when they released the fabulous Body Bundle—it addresses several of my personal preferences, prompting me to give the body another go. Now, if only skin designers could offer face skins with neck options or none at all, it would make blending with our body skin choices so much easier.
It was time for Gogo to get a fresh new portrait to celebrate the new PBR lighting in Second Life! The last time I changed my profile photo was 4 years ago. Despite taking selfies all the time, I rarely think a photo is good enough for a profile update. Hopefully, this one will last for the next four years!
My friend Sparkle has crafted the most darling Emily Pearl Headband set. You can snag it at her main store on Sparkle Skye. Right now, it’s 50% off the fatpack, and there’s a special discount pack for the weekend sale. It pairs beautifully with the new Destiny hairstyle from Doux—a match made in virtual heaven!
These photos were taken at my Linden Home using the JuicyBomb – Country Skies EEP Settings. Even though I made these settings pre-PBR, the viewer automatically adjusts the lighting—it’s fantastic that they still work so well for photography. If you have this pack, you can easily tweak the lighting to suit your needs.
I’ve been fashionably late to the Bridgerton viewing party. Typically, my taste in historical dramas veers towards the darker, more intense ones, like The Tudors, where beheadings are surprisingly frequent. However, at the insistence of my friend Sparkle, I gave Bridgerton a try, and found myself falling in love with the scenes and fashion. It’s a delightful swirl of pastel dreams and romance.
Currently, I’m embracing my inner Miss Bridgerton in Second Life, fantasizing about a chance encounter with Duke Hastings. Sporting the Breeze hairstyle from Truth, straight from Hair Fair, and adorned with the charming Kaori Mini Hat by Sparkle Skye, also a Hair Fair gem, I’m fully immersed in this whimsical world. Bridgerton-inspired gowns have been my go-to this month, particularly the Jane Regency Gown from Just Because, allowing me to live out this Regency fantasy to the fullest.
Hello from Aurelias woods! I wore a super cute outfit for my walk here, which is the Punk Doll Set from Red Blossom. You can buy the dress or the shoes separately. This outfit is really adorable and comes with a HUD packed with lots of customization features.
Does anyone else use a PBR-enabled viewer for blogging? The lighting is way too dark, and I’m not a fan. I use a PBR viewer only occasionally, to get used to it in case it becomes mandatory. I’m not liking the intense colors, and other lighting issues don’t seem to be fixable with the EEP sliders. Plus, the water is just too bright. It feels like my complaints are ignored by Second Life, as they haven’t fixed these issues.
I’m currently trying the Alchemy viewer. There are several things I appreciate about the Alchemy viewer, like the poser, and it shares many features with Firestorm. It also offers a Lightbox with tonemapping adjustments. If you liked the BlackDragon viewer before, you might enjoy Alchemy since it doesn’t have that annoying intro music, and the controls are similar to SL/Firestorm. Unlike with BlackDragon, I don’t have to mess with key bindings for movement, which was always a hassle. The Alchemy viewer also comes with a built-in AO tab just like Firestorm. Give this viewer a shot; it seems promising.
