How to make an alpha layer for Second Life
Since Baked on Mesh was introduced, a lot of mesh bodies are not working with an alpha hud anymore. This means you have to use the old alpha layers again.
While this gives you a lot of freedom, not everyone knows how to make an alpha layer.
I made this little tutorial to show you how and am selling a pack of basic alpha layers and their textures in my store.
The texture:
An alpha layer basically hides parts of your body that would normally peek through the mesh you are wearing.
When making a texture for it, all the parts on the texture that are solid, will show your body parts. All the transparent parts will hide your body.
Below is an example where you can hide your feet. On the left the texture is shown with the SL template still showing. On the right is the same texture without the SL template showing and the way it is used in SL.
Alpha layers have to be saved in the .png or the Targa format. They will show transparency in world. Any other format won't work!
While this gives you a lot of freedom, not everyone knows how to make an alpha layer.
I made this little tutorial to show you how and am selling a pack of basic alpha layers and their textures in my store.
The texture:
An alpha layer basically hides parts of your body that would normally peek through the mesh you are wearing.
When making a texture for it, all the parts on the texture that are solid, will show your body parts. All the transparent parts will hide your body.
Below is an example where you can hide your feet. On the left the texture is shown with the SL template still showing. On the right is the same texture without the SL template showing and the way it is used in SL.
Alpha layers have to be saved in the .png or the Targa format. They will show transparency in world. Any other format won't work!
The templates:
You have to download the Second Life templates so you can work with them in a painting program like Photoshop, Gimp, or any other program that lets you draw on a texture. All you have to be able to do is draw a solid color on top of the template and save it as a .png or targa.
I am using the templates that are free to download here
The layer:
To make the actual alpha layer in Second life you have to log in in world.
Go into appearance and click edit outfit. Then click "new clothes" and select "new alpha".
You have to download the Second Life templates so you can work with them in a painting program like Photoshop, Gimp, or any other program that lets you draw on a texture. All you have to be able to do is draw a solid color on top of the template and save it as a .png or targa.
I am using the templates that are free to download here
The layer:
To make the actual alpha layer in Second life you have to log in in world.
Go into appearance and click edit outfit. Then click "new clothes" and select "new alpha".
You can add your alpha texture to a few boxes as you can see. You have to put your texture in the according box, so it will hide the right places on your body.
The example above for hiding your feet, should be in the "lower alpha" box.
You can now name your alpha and save it, or add other textures if you want to combine them for an outfit, or anything else.
Once it is in your inventory it will show up there in the default "clothing" folder.
That's it! I hope this helps you.
If you want me to add something in here, or things aren't clear just send a message in world to Dalriada Delwood. You can also contact me on Facebook at the same name.
The example above for hiding your feet, should be in the "lower alpha" box.
You can now name your alpha and save it, or add other textures if you want to combine them for an outfit, or anything else.
Once it is in your inventory it will show up there in the default "clothing" folder.
That's it! I hope this helps you.
If you want me to add something in here, or things aren't clear just send a message in world to Dalriada Delwood. You can also contact me on Facebook at the same name.