Layering

At first, I was very happy with this picture. I have almost achieved what I had in mind when I have started to photoshop it. I like the pose, I like the light, I like the shadows, I like the cloak and I absolutely love that shawl.

BUT… argh the shawl; I have forgotten to correct the layering of the shawl with the turtleneck. I thought I had taken care of it but I guess at some point, I have mixed my layers in photoshop.

I always try to have the clothes, the hair, the accesories to layer up as you would logicaly expect them to. Most of the time, as I work in a studio (aka sky platform made with 2 planks),I take 3 or 4 snapshots with the same angle: first one with the whole outfit, the second without the cloak, the third without the scarf and the fourth without the hair. Then I rebuild the picture in photoshop. There are a lot of tools in that program to help you improve your image but in the end, I often find the copy / paste of details to work best.

Here is the original for comparison.

Credits:

Mesh head: LOGO Infinity Alex Hybrid Mesh Avatar v3.0
Skin: *YS&YS* Beatrix Tone02 Skin Applier LOGO ALEX Mesh Head
Hair: Exile::Cozy Winter Nights Blondes @ Collabor88
Coat: -Pixicat- Stockholm.Coat (White) @ Collabor88
Shawl: Zaara : [Mesh] Kashmiri Shawl *jardin* @ Collabor88
Pose: Marukin

Corset

Details:

Skin: Deetalez Skin Kimber (Freckles) brown Mixedtype
Eyes makeup: [KoKoLoReS] BP – Smokey Eyes – black @ Cosmetic Fair
Hair: Exile::Check Out Time @ Collabor88
Corset and panties: -Pixicat- Vintage.Set (Allure) @ Collabor88
Choker: ZC : Nizam Pearl choker *white*
Earrings: Zaara : Ayanna Jhumka earrings gold
Body: Slink Physique
Hands: Slink
Pose: DM – Miss Ornamental

Pink shopping

Details:

Skin: DeeTaleZ Skin A.T.W. Jule Brows 2 Mixedtype
Hair: [elikatira] Cassidy
Eyes: IKON Eternal Eyes – Pond (S)
Blouse: -tres blah- Open Collar Blouse (M) – Pink @ Uber
Cardigan: tram -J.I cardigan[RIGGED][TexChangerHUD]D
Pants: Emery Andy Leopard Jeans Mink_Small @ Fameshed
Belt: Emery – Belt Double #Lidil (Low)
Bracelet: Zaara – ZC : Vyomini chained bracelet *turquoise-silver* (upper R)
Necklace: ~SIGMA Jewels/ Anemi necklace (gold) chest~
Ring: Zaara : Raga oyster ring *paua* (silver)
Earrings: OVH – African Earrings – Blue – 1
Shoes: Zaara : Janya jeweled sandals (rigged) *coral- turquoise*
Poses: Vibe

The Beginning of Summer

Details:

Skin: DeeTaleZ Skin Anouk brown Mixedtype
Hair: Exile::West Coast @ Summerfest
Bikini: Zaara : [Mesh] Naisha Bikini top S *cobalt* @ Summerfest
Kimono: -tres blah- Summer Kimono (M) – Floral @ Summerfest
Necklace: (Yummy) Sea Trinkets Charm Necklace
Glasses: (Yummy) Captain’s Aviators – White @ Collabor88
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant

Ivory and New Windlight Setting

I have added a new windlight setting to my Windlight Settings page. This one is rather neutral, even greyish but I have made it to ease my work in photoshop. In the picture above, you can see a before / after postprocessing. It allows me to stay closer to the colors from Second Life while still adding contrast to make the avatar pop out. This setting is made for studio photography, unless you like to see a purple sky.

About the styling, I have chosen to wear one of the new dresses from coldLogic which has very nice cut out sleeves to show your sexy elbows.

Details:

Skin: –Belleza– Ava Med BL 0
Eyes: IKON Vanity Eyes – Denim (S)
Hair: coldLogic dress – capriati.ivory (XS)
Hair: >TRUTH< Swift w/Roots – seasand
Jewels: Zaara : Atiriya stone necklace (chest) *aquamarine-silver*
Mesh hands: Slink
Pose: LAP (no longer available)

Zaara Aamani Dress

Credits:

Skin: –Belleza– Ava Med Red 2
Eyes: IKON Ardent Eyes – Glass (S)
Hair: Magika [01] Give
Dress: Zaara : [Mesh] Aamani wrap dress *print-leaves*
Earrings: Zaara : Ansuka pearl drop earrings *night*
Ring: Zaara : Raga oyster ring *paua*
Necklace: (Yummy) Simple Pearl Necklace
Shoes: [Gos] Boutique – Lolita Espadrilles – Jade
Poses: D.Luxx and Marukin at Pose Fair

Light

Details:

Skin: Glam Affair – Amberly – Artic – Candy 04 D at C88
Hair: Analog Dog.b – fix – light reds
Tank top: Tee*fy Elyse Wrapped Tucked Tank Black at C88
Lace top: (NO) Shabby Chic Sweetheart at C88
Pants: Baiastice_Lima trousers-emerald
Jewels: Zaara : Atiriya set *carnelian*
Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular
Bag: The Secret Store – Tiny Satchel – Scarlet
Shoes: [Gos] Angelina Peeptoe – Black Python
Pose: Diesel Works at C88

Never Enough

That’s it! The Gacha mania has struck me at The Arcade event. For prices ranging from 25 L$ to 100 L$, you can buy items made especially for the event. It is a game. Each time you buy from a machine, you receive one no copy transferable version of an item. There are several colors and some are common while other are rare. I was lucky to get the Thruth hair in blonde fade, boots from ISON in red and the skirt from The Sea Hole in crimson so I was able to combine them to create this outfit.

As soon as I have seen the League Corset availabe at the Whore Couture Fair, I had to get it to complete this look which was way too lovely, romantic and adorable before. It needed some strong sexiness. I have braved the lag to get my corset. Be warned it is awfully crowded as The Arcade is.

Of course, I couldn’t be reasonable and stop the gacha mania at that point. I have played and played again, even getting three times some rare colors for the ISON boots. Fortunately, Yard Sales are being organized to resell the colors you don’t like or the ones you had in double. I am selling my extras here and there. The prices there are monitored. You have to sell the gacha for the same price you have bought them which is pretty fair for the designers and still allows you to buy more gacha or get the colors you are missing.

There are a lot of other items at The Arcade. It is a very fun event for everyone.

Details:

Skin: *League* Isla Medium DeepSmoke -Brunette (Cleavage E)
Eyes: IKON Utopia Eyes – Bahama Green (M)
Hair: >TRUTH< Video Games – BlondeFade
Corset: *League* Nyx Corset -Leather- Burgundy Medium
Skirt: The Sea Hole – (One Size MESH) Lorette Skirt – Crimson
Stockings: Zaara : 8 Chanchal stockings *onyx*
Necklace: [celoe.abihail.necklace.oman]
Boots: ISON – hawkin boots (red gold)
Poses: Glitterati

River

Credits:

Shape: Dunes River (work in progress)
Skin: -Belleza- Ava Med 1
Eyes: IKON Eternal Eyes – Pond (S)
Hair: [e] Sound – Brown 04
Top: ISON – detzel leather shirt -M- (tan) at Collabor88
Pants: Color.Me.H.O.F Mesh [Briston Trousers[Khaki]_M at Collabor88
Ring: Zaara : Raga oyster ring *paua* (silver)
Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular
Shoes: [Gos] Grace Sandal – Silver Snake – M
Pose: Diesel Works

Cold colors

There are two new releases at Zaara‘s this week-end. The Kavya summer pants are mesh clothing while the Nina tube top is part layer for the tank and part mesh for the bow. As there is no alpha around the brest, Zaara Kohime took time to make extra sizes to fit as many shapes as possible. Also, thanks to the top being in two parts, you can mix and match different textures like I did here.

Credits:

Skin: *League* Isla Suntan Feline Blonde (Chest D)
Eyes: IKON Horizon Eyes v2 – Light Turquoise (M)
Hair: >TRUTH< Froukje w/Roots – driftwood
Top: Zaara : Nina tube top M+ *blue ikat* + Zaara : Nina tube top *aqua*
Pants: Zaara : [Mesh] Kavya summer pants (M) *ivory*
Shoes: Kyoot – Platform Wedges (Turquoise)
Earrings: [MANDALA] CEEKEEEY Earrings/Polly white
Poses: Diesel Works