If you want fantastic photo-realistic skin for your avatar in SL, you will have to pay. You will have to pay a lot. To make an investment of this kind in a virtual game environment requires a lot of thought about what you want out of the environment. Do you plan to play in this world a lot? Or are you just a sometime tourist? If you are a tourist, then I would suggest not putting so much into a skin. There are many small and cheap vendors that offer good skin without requiring you to put real world dollars into the system. Granted, these cheaper skins will not be photo-realistic but they will be presentable and carry you well in the world. Now for the rest, the people who want to immerse themselves as models, creators or dancers, you will want fantastic skin. And again, it will require a lot of money.
For true photo-realism my main favorites are as follows:
Second Skin Labs
[IC] Skins (This blog is dedicated to all of IC's projects not just skin)
I use Second Skin Labs, Evie 2.0 as my main skin. The color and detail are the best in SL in my opinion and I have yet to see their equal. The Evie skin comes in all colors from pale to dark. Namssor Daguerre is also working on gorgeous Black skin line called Renie and new lighter skin called Radiant.
The close runner to SLL is IC Skins. I own an ALT skin from this store and I take it out every once in awhile when I need a change. Again, the detailing is beautiful on this skin. IC doesn't have too much in the way of ethnic skins but this is changing. As IC is setting up a big main store in Skin City and will be releasing new skins. Her site has put up examples of a darker female skin called Etana.
Both of these stores offer male skins as well. For men, I suggest IC Skins over SLL for now. IC Skins has more to offer in the way of looks and coloring. SLL will be expanding in the male line as well. Right now, neither of them have too much in the way for darker, ethnic skins for men.
After these main favorites, I have two more that I use on a regular basis.
Laqroki Skins(Formerly RAC)
Skin Within
I'm also impressed with:
by Mia Snow
All of these skins are a combination of photo-realism and painted textures. Laqroki is a particular favorite in world. I have an older RAC skin that I rarely use anymore but it is beautiful. There is a slight problem with visible seam lines that annoys me. This snafu may have been fixed since Laqroki has a whole new store with new skin lines. So far, the demos look good.
Skin Within is dedicated to ethnic skins and now has a whole new line of Persian and Greek skins. These are quite lovely. There is also a Native American line as well.
Mia Snow also has beautiful skin lines but right now no ethnic skins. She concentrates on the blond, surfer girl look. I'm considering buying another alt in her store. She also has a wonderful gothic skin that looks based upon Rachel from Blade Runner.
The difference between true Photo-realistic skin and partly painted photo-realistic skin is that the painted will look prettier. Painted skin goes for that fantasy based Vogue model look. There isn't too much that you can do to a Painted/PR skin that will make it look homely or "average". Since the virtual world is dedicated to fantasies, these painted/PR skins are the most popular. Everyone walks around looking like a super model. Also Painted/PR skins are a wee bit cheaper than the true Photo-realistic lines.
Now Photo-Realism is not for everyone. These skins will look beautiful or they can be an every-day average. Because photo-realism's main goal is realism in the virtual, there will be intended anomalies that mimic real skin. Perhaps there will be a lot freckles, a scar, frown or laugh lines. If all skins depend on shape for their look, this will count double in a photo-realistic skin. A PR skin will make you stand out in a crowd of painted beauties. It will also cost a lot of Linden dollars. Which means you must, must think long and hard before purchasing a skin of this type. Will you feel comfortable with little "flaws" that make these skins look real? Especially when faced with meeting gorgeous model avatars on a day to day basis? There is also the question of the Uncanny Valley effect. Where your avatar could look so real that it verges into the territory of weirdly unreal. I notice this when my avatar tries on animations that give expression to her face. I hate to see her smile since it makes her look like a botoxed monster. This problem isn't really a factor on painted/PR skins. If you plan to be a model or dancer these skins may not be for you. Since both require fantasy.
One thing is certain if a PR skin is not as "gorgeous" as a painted/PR it will certainly be a slam dunk with the new windlight browser settings. Believe me, PR skins do NOT need face light attachments to look good in the dark.
Another warning, all of these skins will not look the same on your avatar as they do in store. You will have different shape settings that will not mimic the model shape that is used on the store skin. My SSL Evie Skin looks radically different than the model shown in-store.
Examples
My Shape:
And In Store Shape:
The shape issue means you will have to collect many demos before you decide to buy. Live with these demos for a bit. Play with your shape settings to get the best optimal look that you want with the demo you're wearing.
Once you know what you want in a skin, it will make your VR experience more enjoyable and unique.Labels: internet, mmorpgs, second life, technology
