New Beach Building Kit

One thing I'm passionate about is subtle detail - the sort of detail that's often lost in the low poly environments of virtual worlds like Second Life.
So, for example, it's pretty easy to upload a sand texture through your Second Life sim terrain settings, throw some virtual waves and rocks around along with some wave sounds and get quite a pleasing beach.

For me however,  it's just not enough! I need more detail in my virtual world!

Beaches are a good example. I like to see sand darken and smooth out as it gets wet. I like to see pools form around rocks and ripples form in the sand where waves have lapped. If I have waves I would prefer that they wash up the contours of the beach. In short I want detail in my beach!

So guess what? I made a building set that give us detail. Yay!

It's a mesh set with a number of beach shapes you can res and fit together to create your virtual beach.  The waves are mapped to the beach shape and gentle washing wave sounds complete the atmosphere. All models and textures are set up and ready to go.

Now we can stroll the beach thinking "mmm, I have detail"

More info here.

On yon bonny banks...

Happy new year!

I'm getting my rear in gear for 2013 and getting some new products designed, built and launched. Yes I am!

My first of the new year is something I've been meaning to make since maybe the middle of last year! So I guess my resolution has some catching up to do! One of the things about Second Life that I've always felt is that the detail of landscape is just simply lost. For example, those simple curves and textures that make up a riverbank - impossible to achieve with standard landscaping tools of course. So here we go, Studio Skye to the rescue - presenting my new River Bank Building Set. Enjoy!

More details here.

Lincoln Garnet

It may of be of four years vintage now (eons in terms of Second Life) but I am pleased to see my Yasumidokoro House doesn't seem to have lost it's appeal. But then, thinking about it, why would a traditional Japanese house design (albeit an interpretation) date in just a few of our modern years!
Anyway, I really love what Lincoln Garnet has done with his image below, using the house as a backdrop for a poetic and evocative scene. It is inspirational in many ways. Have a look at his flickr stream here for more stunning images.

Neva Did It Again

I totally love what Neva Crystal does with my stuff! She sent me this image with the Beach Combers' Bar. Thanks Neva!

Geometric Relief Wall Textures

Check it out! New textures! This set is design to give your interior build a bit of a feature lift. Geometric relief patterns really add to your design arsenal.
It was a fun set to make - in a slight departure for me, these are partially rendered using physical lighting. This basically means they look pretty realistic in Second Life. I hope you enjoy!

Beach Combers' Bar

Do you have tikifatigue? Are you getting sleepless nights over dry palm fronds. Here's your cure!
This is my new scene for Second Life - a beach bar thrown together from storm debris - split mast, ancient whisky crates and oil drums  and it's the perfect getaway beach hangout.
There's a bunch of animations built in with menus for up to five AVs.

It was a bit of a long haul to make - lots of textures and detailed modelling - hopefully you think it was worth it!

Boardwalk Building Set for Second Life

Somebody once said to me "omg! OMG!" which I took to mean they were excited about something. Today I can safely say "omg! OMG! OMG!!" which you can take to mean I'm very excited about something!

If there's one thing that helps tie a sim layout together it's a nice road or path. Everybody loves them.

So enter stage left the Boardwalk Building Set - a beautifully finished wooden raised path to add luscious detail to your project.

The really exciting thing is that it comes in both Beach and Grassy Flavour for ultimate flexibilty.

I've been notching together boardwalk sets all day - up and down hills and dunes - and it is a whole pile of fun!

The set includes all models and textures

Check out my demo sim areas - one for each type

Beach Boardwalk

Grassy Boardwalk

Hey BOSLers! Some free textures samples for you :)

Those lovely folks over at BOSL are writing an article on Studio Skye - so to thank them and YOU, their readers, I've posted some textures samples below - feel free to download and use in your Second Life project. Usual licence applies - please don't resell or give away as simple textures (although you may sell builds using these textures). Feel free to pass this link around of course!

And here are some other pages on this blog with free texture samples for Second Life:

Inlaid Wood  Mosaic Stone  Italian Marble  Skye Fabrics

Geometric Tiles - full set here

Laced Leather - full set here

Patchwork Leather - full set here

Snake Stud full set here

Glass Mosaic - full set here

Painted Metal Panels - full set here

Bead Charms - full set here

Italian Glass - Full set here

Exotic Skins - full set here

Izzie Made Her Jump

As you all know by now, there's nothing makes me happier than lovely people getting up to creative shenanigans with my designs. Check out Kaelyn Alecto's wonderful picture story - much fun!

Summer's about done - new work coming soon. Sand Dunes!

Hey! It's been quite. I know it. The sumer sort of took over and before you know, a month or two evaporated in the rain and now I must make new stuff. I left of on a beach theme and that's my starting point for the next wave.

One thing that's always tricky to conjure up in SL is the border between things. Black and white is easy, blurry is a doddle but interesting transition seems to elude more often than not.

To spout an example, dunes are the glue between the beach and a somewhat more expansive and grassier world. I love them, as do many - they're magical places to be.  But in SL they are tricky to conjure up. That sort of detail is kinda lost between beach sims and grassy sims.

So here starteth the glue: