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| World’s End Garden (moderate) |
I spent some time trying out the new Beta↑ this morning and I’m very pleased with it. Textures loaded very quickly – even with (the new equivalent of) shadows turned on as I traveled. The only graphics hiccup I saw was the sunbeam in one location that turned opaque black every time I cammed into something near it.
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| SiniStyle (moderate) |
The big news, as far as this Beta is concerned, would be the fact that it is the first release with Materials Processing↑ included. I can’t explain this new development – I can fall back on my ability to cut and paste nouns & verbs – so it means that normal and specular maps are now possible on object surfaces. What I can see↑ is a huge improvement in the graphics capabilities inworld.
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| Mad Ninjaz (moderate) |
As I wandered around some of the weird and wonderful places on the grid, I spent a bit of time feeling a little sad and nostalgic. Don’t get me wrong – I’m thrilled that these advances are being made. Our world has to evolve and improvements in these areas are welcome!
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| Koreshan Pointe (moderate) |
The first thing that appealed to me when I stumbled into Second Life was that the building tools were provided to everybody inworld and even I could create things that formed part of the grid landscape. I might not do it as well as many others, but I had the same resources they did.
Then came sculpties, mesh, and now materials stuff I can’t even begin to fathom. The world’s creative process has moved far beyond my meager abilities – I am definitely relegated to the position of spectator. So you technical wizards damn well better give me great stuff to look at! :)
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| Mysterious Wave (general) |
Honour's Post Menopausal View (of Second Life) 
Inara Pey
/ June 2, 2013Normal and specular maps can be applied to surfaces in the same way as textures. The problem is creating them – but even this is simplified by the use of very easy-to-use pulg-ins for the likes of Photoshop and GMIP (for normal maps, at least, which give the “bumpy” feel to textures).
And by “easy-to-use” I mean *so* easy to use, even I understand them :).
I’m already spying-out regions I hope will get materials added. There are some wonderful, wonderful builds out there which stand to get an added “wow” factor if they do get a materials treatment.
Ta for the link as well :).
honourmcmillan
/ June 2, 2013I watched a video a while ago that showed the variables which would be added to the texture tab – I haven’t got a hope! :) I’m looking forward to seeing some brilliant stuff though.
Wizard Gynoid (@wizardgynoid)
/ June 2, 2013Check out SL10B for some great stuff to look at.
honourmcmillan
/ June 2, 2013ooooooooh I plan to :p
valkendal
/ June 3, 2013“The first thing that appealed to me when I stumbled into Second Life was that the building tools were provided to everybody inworld and even I could create things that formed part of the grid landscape. ”
I know exactly how you feel!
we’ve lost just a little something special in the name of progress – but I’m not a Luddite – just acknowledging that you put in words a vague feeling I had been having too
honourmcmillan
/ June 3, 2013:) As long as I can keep taking photos …….