skins, skins, skins.

Well, I had two more mainstream makeup options left in me for SKIN 2.0. After I release these two, I will be working on some more eccentric looks. I still have to convert these makeups for all the skin tones so they probably won't be released for another week. But I'm posting previews anyway, done in a fashion editorial style with the look that I can see the skin going well with:

"Smoke" is a dramatic evening makeup, with smokey dark kohl- rimmed eyes and lightly glossed lips. I worked hard on the eyeliner shape to make it compliment the shape of the eyes well. I've tried this skin on a variety of shapes and it always looks good.

I saw this makeup as a rather punkish rockstar look (in fact I almost named it "Rock Star.")

skin: SKIN 2.0 in Tan, Dark Haired - Smoke makeup
hair: long photoreal by Naughty Designs
choker: "Recycled" by Shiny Things
cuff: "Industrial" by Shiny Things
pants: Leather lowrise by OPIUM (forthcoming)
shirt: Rockstar by OPIUM (forthcoming, likely freebie)

"Gloss" is a trendy, glowing look with shimmering lips and eyelids, and a light glitter powder dusting on the face. I can't guarantee this looks good on every shape, so I might offer a demo. On my high-cheekboned avatar's shape, however, the shimmer looks good.

"Gloss" felt like a red-carpet look to me. It's very elegant without being heavy on the makeup.

skin: SKIN 2.0 Tan, Light Haired - Gloss makeup
hair: Ash Blonde pack by Rita Groshomme (highly recommended)
necklace: "Decadent Hours" by Miriel (Relay for Life auction item)
dress: "Ysandre" by Dazzle

No Photoshopping was done to the skins at all in these pictures.

And now I must talk briefly about my original vision for these skins.

I saw SKIN 2.0 as the ultimate in skin options for your avatar. When I was first working on them, I was really pushing a proposal for more "tattoo" layers that original skinner Chip Midnight was anxious for years ago, and was never implemented. If Linden Lab had actually gone ahead with this proposal, we might have two layers for our skins, one base layer (perhaps called "Skin texture"?) and one layer overtop to take the place of the "Makeup/Tattoo" layer we have now. This would allow us to have a base skin and wear tattoos overtop of it, rather than have to bother skinners to add custom tattoos or wear tattoos as underwear, undershirt layers.

Well, this proposal was ignored by LL for over a year and still is being ignored today, despite the fact it might be easy as hell for them to implement and would give us much better options for customizing our avatar's appearance. I really don't know why LL would think we'd actually use either the default slider skins or the default game hair, as both are hideous and I sincerely hope a real game designer wasn't responsible for them. I can only assume it was a game programmer with MS Paint.

So let me tell you what SKIN 2.0 would be if this proposal was actually listened to:

You go to the store and pick 1 base skin, your favourite out of countless options. You choose a tone, you choose a hair colour, then you look at further body detail. Tan lines? Moles? Body definition? Freckles? This is a bigger investment than skins are currently, because this is where the detail that makes a skin unique comes into play.

Then, you can buy additional makeup "layers" (that might even work with other people's skins!) for cheaper. The makeup/tattoo combos are put on like a skin is now, but overtop of your base skin. I'd probably sell these for less than L$100, and offer HUNDREDS of options. Some come with tattoos built in. Perhaps you buy the textures for head, body, legs and combine to make your own skin/tattoo combos.

If this gets implemented in the near future, this is what I will convert all my skins to. It just makes sense to me, as the designer (converting makeup for different skintones is a waste of time compared to offering it as a new layer universally!) and to the customer (why pay for each makeup option, when the skin itself is the true investment?)

Any Lindens reading this blog? :)