Preliminary cover

I needed a cover art to submit today (Monday) for the RTIR (Radio-TV Interview Report) mid-February issue.

I had a concept to have male avatars either all in tuxes or all in different attires to represent the diversity of people in Second Life.  However, because of my graphics card issues, I can't log into SL to do a photo shoot of avatars.  Thankfully, I had taken one photo of the arrangement of the steamer baskets that I built for the shoot.

My sister Sam had given me advice about the typography, but, of course, I didn't listen to her.  :D  She even sent me a new version with the nice fonts, but I can't unzip the fonts and when I found them online, they cost US$60 and US$99 each.  (I think I'm in the wrong industry.)  So I searched for other fonts that were free and moved stuff around, and here's the result:

I still like the idea of the avatars inside the steamer baskets, but that will have to wait.

Book cover photoshoot cancelled for now

I have to cancel the photoshoot for now, due to graphics card issues.  Thank you so much to all who volunteered willingly and to all who "volunteered" after I twisted their arms.  ;)

The reason for this rush is because of a popular marketing newsletter that pitches to the media about books.  The deadline for the mid-February issue is on Monday, and I was targeting that date.  I may have to send a preliminary book cover art instead, which will be different from the final cover art.

Meanwhile, I'll be using MetaBolt to get inworld, but MetaBolt is text-only viewer, so I can't do much in it.

I need a few good men...

Several, actually.

I'm working on the artwork for my book cover (www.LoveLikeDimSum.com), and I need male avatars (preferably human) in a wide variety of styles -- formal (different styles of tux), casual, punk, beachwear/surfer, construction-type, professor-type, biker dude, diver, pilot, hawaiian shirt, long hair, short hair, different ethnicities, older men, younger men, soldier, doctor, medieval, goth, modern, clean-cut, grunge, skinny, muscular, chubby, short, tall, ....  The more "real", the better.

The photoshoot will be this Saturday (Dec 17) at 4pm SLT at this location.

Please RSVP by sending a picture of what you'd be wearing (one for each style, including one in a tux) in any of the following ways:
    * a 1024x1024 texture inworld (title it "LLDS: <your name> in <short description of outfit>")
    * an attachment in an email to opallei@gmail.com (include your SL name)
    * a link (via notecard or email) to a photo in Flickr (include your SL name)
The photos don't need to be fancy.  I just need to see beforehand if I have enough diversity among the respondents.


On the day of the shoot, I would have boxes set out with steps to do.  If I'm distracted when you arrive, please touch them in sequential order for instructions.

Step 1 - Touch to get a copy of the model release form.  It will be a standard model release form.
    a) Create a new notecard.  It must be created by you.
    b) Change the properties to:
                MODIFY: NO
                Copy: yes
                Transfer: yes
    c) Change the title to "Model release - <your name>"
    d) Fill in the blanks inside with your name in the appropriate places.
    e) At the bottom, specify how you want your name mentioned in the book; you can use SL alt name, SL main account name, RL name, nickname.
    f) Remember to "Save".

Step 2 - Ctrl-Drag the notecard to the next box.

Step 3 - Sit on one of the red spheres and override the sit animation with the standing animation you chose for the shoot.  The sphere will not be invisible yet.

Step 4 - Ctrl-Alt-click on the blue sphere.

Step 5 - Grab a cup of coffee or tea, or take a nap, or do something else.  I'll drag your avatar into position.  Or I might ask you to sit on another poseball which has a specific animation.

And that's it!

Many thanks!