November 2010
More Than Pixels an eMagazine is made up of various NON-RP IMVU Groups. Any Group is welcome to join this venture visit our IMVU Group Page at More Than Pixels eMag. More Than Pixels is a proud supporter of the CancerAwareness IMVU Group Endevor. You can visit and learn more about this group at
Cancer Awareness IMVU Group
November 2010 Issue of
More Than Pixels eMagazine
Fall is finally here, leaves are a changing, the weather for many is cooling off, and school is in session. As we roll into our second issue of More Than Pixels eMagazine, you have to wonder whats in store for month full of such changes. The different affiliates are doing their best to bring you a fun filled month.
In this Issue
You can learn how you can help Support the Fight against Cancer at the Third “Cancer Awareness” Gala.
See who the Cancer Awareness Gala Poster Winner is….
Real Advice about Real Life from Open Advice
Read a note from our new Columnist Sens and find out how you can ask her about developing on IMVU.
Find out about the Upcoming Events Hosted by the our Contributors
See who won the CFA September Picture Contest “BACK TO SCHOOL”
Sign up for the Personals Ad (A place to meet and greet other members of IMVU)
Check out the fun photos taken from the events.
Find some delicious recipes.
As with all New Venues there is probably gonna be a few changes in the style and layout of
the pages below, and of course as time goes forward we will be able to tell you more about whats coming up in the next issue. However since you are already here why not scroll down and see what we have in store for you, in the 3rd Issue of the
“More Than Pixels eMag”.
Upcoming Events
Click each Groups Image to find out more about their EVENTs!
EVENTS BEGIN AT 9 EST/ 8CST/ 6PST
GGA Events begin at 10 EST / 9CST / 7 PST
CFA Has weekly Board Meetings on Tuesdays
Cancer Awareness Group Events are reserved for Special Occasions
Upcoming Events!
You can learn how you can help Support the Fight against Cancer at the Third “Cancer Awareness” Gala. Congrats to AllieKitten The winner of the Cancer Awareness Poster
Make sure you stop by this Event and help fight cancer.
Each Month Cancer Awareness will be hosting a Gala Affair.
(Donations made during the event are given to help promote Cancer Awareness)
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See who won the CFA October Picture Contest “HALLOWEEN” by attending the Awards Ceremony
Host: AnikaNight
Date: November 14th
Room Location: CFA-Halloween-Awards-Party
Theme: Halloween Costumes |
Birthday Party for all the November Babies
Host: NikkysFoxxyClo
Date: November 21st
Room Location: TBA
Theme: Belly Dancer Birthday |
Opacity Maps for beginners and those uncomfortable making their own.
Op maps can appear daunting at best, especially for those new to creating. In actuality they are fairly easy once you understand the basics of them.
Wire frames.
This is the starting point of an opacity. Every mesher should have a wire frame available for their mesh. If not, skip it and find another mesh to use. I say that for several reasons and a couple are. If they do not have a wire frame, chances are they may not of made that mesh and would not be able to answer questions or concerns that may arise. Also if you do not understand the working of an opmap, the absence of a wire-frame will cause further confusion as well as making it almost impossible for you to make something of your own from that mesh.
For this tutorial we will be making a simple top and miniskirt opmap from this mesh http://www.imvu.com/shop/product.php?products_id=7020863
We will also be working both in your art/graphic program and previewer at the same time. I use Gimp but will be making this generic enough to use in any program that you might have, be it Gimp, Photo shop, Paint-shop Pro etc.SLEEVELESS TOP
Step 1. You must have something in mind already. Have an image, sketch or outline of what you want to make. In this case a sleeveless top over a miniskirt.
Step 2. Download and save the wireframes (there are 3 for this mesh) to an easily found folder. I make folders for each mesh I use to find them easier since I have so many.
Step 3. Open your art/graphic program and open previewer by clicking on derive from product toward the bottom of the mesh page http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/derive.png It’s the simplest way.
Step 4. In previewer notice there are 3 places for textures and opmaps on the Materials TabYou have M00, M01 and M02 … We will be going primarily in order with 1 exception. M00 is for the top, M02 is for the pelvis area or panty. M02 is for the skirt. Also notice that is shows Diffuse Color and Opacity on each of those. We will be working with Opacity only for this tutorial.
Step 5. In your art/graphic program. Click start or create new image the size 512×256. Color it solid black and save it. This is an opmap that will make part of the mesh disappear. And since we need to see the top and pelvis, for the moment we will make the skirt “disappear” we will change this later. Find M02 in previewer click opaciy, then change texture, select the black opmap that you made & saved then apply changes. http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/transpskirt.png
Step 6. Open the wire-frame 631LongerTopIVMap in a new window, this is your starting point. If you have the MCG for females open that as a new layer, if not, grab it here http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/mcg.jpg Once you have those two layers, choose the mcg layer and lower the opacity bar for that layer until you can just see the red but the bottom wire-frame is fully visible. http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/mcglayer.jpg
Step 7. Add a new layer, can name it base, and bucket fill black. Make that layer invisible for now. Now add another layer and make it transparent. On the transparent layer, use a small brush and the color white. Find the center of the wire frame, in this case will be the center line between the breasts. Already knowing what you have in mind, start filling in the area under the breast on one side only. http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/halfpanty.jpg
Duplicate and horizontally flip that layer, merge down. This way both sides are exactly the same
Step 8. Add a new Transparent layer… Now since we are doing a sleeveless top we decide how much of the underarm, chest and back we want to show. Also keep in mind that to have this item GA all the red showing on the breast must be covered. So a tank style. Study the curve of the wire-frame on the breasts. Find our center line between the breasts and since we want to show a little cleavage, we can see the shape of the breast. Draw the area around the breast and up to the shoulder in a shape for a tank… example… This is where previewer comes in. Turn the base/black layer back on and save the op as it is, and in previewer find M00, click opacity then change texture, click on the opmap you just saved and apply changes, should look something like this…
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/firstopstage4.jpg. If it’s as you want it, make the base/black layer invisible again. Duplicate the the layer you just made, flip horizontally and merge down. *note you can leave these stages in layers, belly, breast and back to make easy changes later for a new item.*
Step 9. Add a new transparent layer, This is the hardest part. Matching the back strap/top with the front. We have the front strap about midway of the shoulder area, so on the back area we will draw our opmap in about the same place on the shoulder and down to meet the the the opmap on the lower back. http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/firstopstage5.jpg Check in previewer to make sure the back strap meets the front smoothly at the top of the shoulder. If it does not, using your mouse or arrow keys, slide it by small increments until it does… Duplicate the layer and flip horizontally, DO NOT merge them yet. Not all seems on the shoulder are the same. So Save the new image and test in previewer and if it’s a smooth seam, merge your layers. *On this particular Map the shoulders are the same from side to side.*
Step 10. At this point you will notice your Opacity Map has some jagged edges. To smooth them, use Gaussian blur set to 0.5 . It will smooth the edges and make them clean. If you still have the parts of the opmap in layers, do this for each layer. Make the base/black layer visible again and save your Opacity… You now have an opmap for the top http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/topop.jpg
Pelvis opmap
Step 1. Same Steps. Open the wire-frame for the pelvis, 631pelvisUVMap, open as layers the mcg and lower the opacity until you see the wire frame through it. Add another layer for the base and bucket fill black. Make it invisible for the time being. Add another transparent layer for the opmap.
Step 3. This is just a panty, so what we want to do is cover the red areas within the wire-frame to make it GA. Using a small brush and white, find your center and work on one side. Outline the red areas and bucket-fill. Duplicate the layer, flip horizontally and merge down. Use 0.5 Gaussian blur. Make the base/black layer visible again and save. It should look like this http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/pantyOP-1.png
Skirt.
For a simple opmap on this particular miniskirt wire-frame. Open the wire-frame, 631skirtUVmap, Add a White layer and save. Since this is already a miniskirt no changes are necessary to the opmap unless you want to add a slit, make it shorter etc. Choose M02 in previewer, click on opacity then change texture, choose the solid white opmap you just saved, then click apply changes. http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j381/ClothosDesigns/Tutorials/finished.png Look it over in previewer and make sure this is the shape/look you want.
You now have 3 simple opmaps that can be used and interchanged with others. Build your textures from there.
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Open Advise
Everyone has been in a position where they are unsure of what to do. Repaying the pros and cons in their heads and never knowing which way it the right way can take it’s toll. Even asking a friend sometimes leaves you still wondering. Well now you can come ask away and have offered to you an objective opinion and advice.
If you have a question you wish to get our opinion on please email it toeMagOpenAdvice@yahoo.com. When emailing please advise us of your Avi name and if you wish your name to appear with your question in the eMag or if you prefer to remain anonymous. We respect your privacy at all times and no information will be shared without your permission.
Question:
Anonymous: I am unsure what to do. My husband has left our son in the car while running into the store on a couple occasions. I have reached a point that I am considering calling the police on him. Our relationship is rocky and I have been considering divorce. If I do I will fight for full custody and think reporting him will help me do this.
Advice:
eMag: As many times as we are warned of the dangers of leaving a child in the car unattended many are guilty of doing it. Most do not realize that if caught it is a felony. You have to understand that if you do report you husband there may be some severe consequences. You have to be sure you are not doing this out of spite. There is no turning back once you do report him. Before you do, sit him down and let him know this is unacceptable and if it is to happen again you will be left no choice. Your child’s safety comes first.
I suggest you contact a lawyer and see what your rights are and depending on what state you are in what would be required to seek full custody if you do decide on divorce. When children are involved you have to take them into consideration in your decisions and how they affect them not only now but in their futures. You also have to realize that when you have children involved in a divorce you are not so readily rid of the person you divorce.
I hope this advice helps you in making your decisions and best of luck to you on the path you decide to take. |
Advice from Sens IMVU Developer
Hello everyone,
I would like to start this column by introducing myself. My name is
xSensualTemptationx or Sen for short. I have been a developer on IMVU
for close to 2 years. My products include stickers, rooms, furniture,
hair and a few pieces of clothing. Through my work i have reached the T4
level and am currently working on my pro status (which is not easy) lol.
I hope Through my contribution to this page i will be able to help
our upcoming developers with hints and suggestions. I want to focus on
ideas that will solve many of our headaches when it comes to solving
deriving problems. This being said i welcome and suggestions for topics
you all would like to talk about. Please don't hesitate to throw it out
there, no question is more important than other. I hope everyone will
enjoy reading this column and am looking forward to participating in
this community.
Happy deriving to all
Sen
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A Tribute to our Furry Family Members
Baby Kitty
At times when we least expect it, along comes someone that steals your heart and brings you something you had not realized you were missing. This can come in many forms but one form in particular is the animals we bring into our homes and lives, making them a part of our family. It is with this love and constant consideration that I decided to dedicate this portion of the eMag to those loving furry friends we call ours.
This memorial is a tribute to not only Baby Kitty, but to all those pets we have loved and lost. Whether it is from death, to new homes, or maybe they belonged to another and yet you felt that they were a part of your life too.
Baby Kitty, was found under our home one day by my oldest son. I had thought it was one of the cats we have stuck and had asked Cody to rescue it. He came inside with this tiny creature that was crying its head off. ‘Who knew such a loud sound could come from such a tiny creature?’
Granted I have had kittens and cats around me for most of my life, but within the last year had realized I was now allergic to them, so when my son brought it in, I went “Oh no”. As a mother of 5, owner of 4 cats the idea of a baby kitten seemed overwhelming. Sure the kittens we had before were a lot to handle at times but they had a Momma Cat around, this tiny creature for all intense purposes was alone in the world.
With the guidance and help from family, friends and articles online, we learned that it was barely 2 weeks old if that, and that a dropper, syringe or pet bottles were needed and fast. For the first few hours my Son and I fed it by placing milk on our hands and having the kitten suckle it off. Then we got smart and got out a syringe that had come in an Ink Refill Kit (thankfully never opened) and began giving it milk from that. Did you know that baby kittens want their milk warmed just like a human baby? After some good advice and a few trial runs we finally were able to get Baby Kitty to eat from the syringe.
I remember what it was like to feed a newborn, you get it started and the baby will handle the rest (for the most part), with a kitten though you have to position your hands so it can knead the milk or making biscuits (as my son calls it). Without this support Baby Kitty didn’t seem to believe that it could eat. So, Syringe after syringe we fed her/him (was still too early to be sure, but it didn’t matter to us anyways) until it stopped mewing and settled down. This was our life until a pet baby bottle was found. Once that happened I mistakenly thought it would get easier, boy was I wrong. Baby Kitty had to relearn eating all over again.
Baby Kitty was also a cold little thing, and constantly needed wrapped in something soft and held close. His/her favorite places to lay was on your neck, on your chest or wrapped up like a tiny newborn and cradled in your arm. The picture taken with this story was in that first week after we were blessed with her/his appearance. Baby Kitty had finally gotten its tummy full and was nice, warm and fast asleep. Yet as you see did one thing I never thought I would see an animal do, and that was suck on its paw.
This picture symbolizes the loss and treasured memories of an adorable Baby Kitty. We have other photos of her/him with us, but this one seemed to represent just how fragile our furry loved ones really are.
For 3 weeks we were able to feed Baby Kitty, cuddle, sleep with (yes kitten had to sleep with someone every night), teach it how to potty, love it, cherish it and ended up making it a real part of our lives. True we were attempting to find it a home, and I can say from my side that was hard. However on the Morning of the 18th I realized how much harder it could become.
As we were getting up and ready for school (which we were running late), I had looked for the kitty and was told by my youngest daughter that Baby Kitty was gone. There lying on the bed was a nightmare that became reality, the kitten had passed while we were asleep. I have spent hours pondering the what-ifs, whys and how comes. Was there something we weren’t doing? Was there something missing? Or was it nature simply running its course? I don’t know the answer to that, I feel very responsible as its surrogate mother and am now coping with the fact that there may have been nothing we could have done.
I have lost pets throughout my lifetime, some were very close to me, and some another member of the family. This kitten, this tiny Baby Kitty, though seems to be the hardest loss of a furry loved one so far. There are no words to describe the loss and grief. There is one hope that I am my family cling to and that is that Baby Kitty is in Heaven, (yes we pray for our pets) and that she/he is happy, healthy and learning how to play.
Her cries will be missed, her purrs never forgotten and her complaining at us to hurry up with the food a treasured thought. As someone that works at home alone daily, a close companion is now missing from my life, and I hope and Pray that our Baby Kitty knew she/he was and always will be loved.
With all our love and thoughts,
Your Family.
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 Scrumptious Recipes
Thanksgiving Menus for Beginners to Experts
Whether this is your first time preparing Thanksgiving dinner or your fiftieth, we’ve got a menu just for you. (Click any of the Names below to get the recipe for these delicious foods.)
Easy Menu
Keep it simple and classic
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Advanced Menu
Add new twists to the traditional meal |
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- Store-bought rolls or bread
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See our complete collection of Thanksgiving Recipes at ALLRECIPES.COM.
Next Month Some Favorite Thanksgiving Day Treats
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Sign up for the Personals Ad at the More Than Pixels eMag IMVU Group
September Events by the Members of
More Than Pixels
NP Homecoming
CFA Masquerade Ball
The Contest for the Month of October is “Halloween”.
Each Month Charlie’s Fallen Angels has a photo contest for its members. Once the contest closes the members of CFA get to vote for their favorite pictures. Want to get a chance to enter a fun contest? Wanna help chose who wins? Then join CharliesFallenAngels today and look for the contest threads.
Join Charlie’s Fallen Angels IMVU Group
Charlie’s Fallen Angels August Avi Competition Winners
During October the members of Charlie’s Fallen Angels voted for September’s Contest “Back To School”, these are the Winners of that Contest. Winners of the Contest receive prizes from the Charlie’s Fallen Angels Group.
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Overall Winners
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Purplefrenzy
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AnikaNight
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Category
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Winner
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1st Place
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AnikaNight – So when is it NapTime at CFA
Kindergarten |
| Most Fits the theme |
AnikaNight – Days of IMVU High
AnikaNight – Can you say “Overwhelming?”
Purplefrenzy – Team Spirit |
| Best Animated |
AnikaNight – Days of IMVU High |
| Most Comical |
Purplefrenzy – Mystery Meat Again |
| Best 2 Avi Pic |
Purplefrenzy – Stolen Moments |
| Best 3 or more avi pic |
AnikaNight – So when is it NapTime at CFA Kindergarten |
Members of More Than Pixels Developer Banners
The members of More Than Pixels are not only a Fun and Great Group of People but they are also talented members of the IMVU Developers. To Salute these great Developers we are hosting their Banners with links to their catalogs below.
Want to get the eMag in your Inbox? Click the Sign-up form in the top right of every page.
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© 2010 by More Than Pixels eMag All rights reserved.
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the pages below, and of course as time goes forward we will be able to tell you more about whats coming up in the next issue. However since you are already here why not scroll down and see what we have in store for you, in the 3rd Issue of the
