2024 week #14: SL CCUG summary

Posted on by Inara Pey
Memories of Dreams, April 2024 – blog post †

The following notes were taken from my audio recording and chat log transcript of the Content Creation User Group (CCUG) meeting held on Thursday, April 4th, 2024.

Meeting Purpose

  • The CCUG meeting is for discussion of work related to content creation in Second Life, including current and upcoming LL projects, and encompasses requests or comments from the community, together with related viewer development work. This meeting is held on alternate Thursdays at Hippotropolis.
  • In regards to meetings:
    • Dates and times are recorded in the SL Public Calendar.
    • Commence at 13:00 SLT on their respective dates.
    • Are conducted in a mix of Voice and text chat.
    • Are open to all with an interest in content creation.
  • The notes herein are a summary of topics discussed and are not intended to be a full transcript of the meeting.

Official Viewers Status

  • On Wednesday, April 3rd, the Materials Featurettes RC viewer updated to version 7.1.5.8472515256.
  • On Tuesday, April 2nd, the Maintenance X RC viewer (usability improvements) updated to version 7.1.5.8443777128.

Both of these updates were to bring the above viewers to code parity with the current release viewer (with bug fixes to to the Featurettes viewer as well). The rest of the official viewers remain as:

  • Release viewer: version 7.1.4.8149792635, formerly glTF PBR Materials Maintenance-2 RC viewer, promoted March 26, 2024.
  • Release channel cohorts:
    • Maintenance-W RC (bug and crash fixes), version 7.1.5.8443591509, March 29.
    • Maintenance Y RC ( My Outfits folder improvements; ability to remove entries from landmark history + Maint Z RC integration), version 7.1.5.8448596295, March 29.
  • Project viewers:

It is possible the glTF Maintenance-2 RC viewer might be promoted to de facto release status early in week ’13 (commencing Monday, March 25th, 2024).

Graphics / glTF

  • Work continues on the GLTF Featurettes viewer + support.
    • The view is in RC, but the simulator-side support is still working its way through the system for full deployment on Agni (the Main grid).
    • The RC viewer has been undergoing numerous bug fixes related to both PBR Terrain textures and Mirrors, some of which are in the most recent update, others of which will be included at the viewer continues to be updated.
    • The UI/UX changes required for Mirrors to overcome confusion relating to the placement of things like Mirror reflection probes (with the creation of Mirrors described a “not intuitive”) is still under discussion at the Lab and so yet to be implemented within the Featurettes viewer.
    • The pricing structure for uploading 2K textures is currently being finalised, although it is not ready to be formally announced.
      • As with other services / uploads, the pricing looks like it will be based upon subscription level (e.g. cheaper for the likes of Premium Plus / Premium than for Plus / Basic) and the overall resolution of the texture.
      • Further work will also be required on the back-end services to fully support the upload of 2K textures.
      • An upshot of this is that at the time of writing, there is a communications mismatch between the viewer and the Aditi test regions supporting 2K texture uploads, resulting in such attempts falling over.
  • The HDRI support (replacing the sky with an HDRI file when rendered locally within a viewer to assist creators in checking to confirm their objects render in SL as they are seen within the tools they use to create their content – e.g. Substance Painter – and any variations are not related to the shader / import pipe) is still being tweaked.
    • In particular, now it has been tested internally and seen as offering some potentially interesting uses over and above pure EEP settings, consideration is being given to making HDRI an actual sky setting with simulator-side support.
    • One aspect of this would be the ability to use the lighting effects of HDRI within EEP sky settings, thus providing more true-to-life lighting without losing the use of existing EEP settings. Another might be using HDRI maps inside buildings and structure and not having the sky setting lighting leak into the structure.
    • Again, it’s important to not adding back-end support for HDRI is a future implementation, rather than anything being worked on right now, and would require work on both the simulator and back-end services (e.g. a new asset type to support HDRI would be required).
  • Light sources: there have been requests for the likes of point light shadows (e.g. so a map on a table casts is own shadows); the ability to explicitly state whether or not a light source casts a shadow or not; ability to support shadows from multiple light sources (depending on rendering settings).
    • Some of this might be addressed through glTF scene import, and / or through further adoption of the glTF specification for lighting (e.g. punctual lights / physical lights  – such as spotlight cones, etc.).
  • The work of glTF scene imports officially commenced in week #14. This work will be tackled in a similar manner to the Featurettes viewer – elements added to the viewer but placed behind debug flags until such time as they can be properly tested as the simulator support can be added (initially via Aditi, the Beta grid).
    • The will allow the viewer to be worked on and tested (with user testing) iteratively, rather than the work disappearing into a viewer fork that doesn’t see the light of day for months.
  • It was asked whether or not EXR might be a better option for SL skies rather than EEP + HDRI.
    • Runitai Linden noted he has experimented with EXR alongside of EEP and found that while EXR comes “close” to matching EEP skies, its doesn’t quite have the same range, whereas the HDRI lighting overlap with EEP offers easier flexibility of use.
    • He also noted again that the primary reason for providing HDRI support was to allow creators that means of reference checking their content between SL and their modelling tool to ensure it is appearing as expected after going through the SL upload pipe, etc., when compared to its appearance into their development tool.
  • Does the emissive map “knock out” the normal map if it is bright? No, but it can overpower the normal may and cause bumpiness, etc., to be less distinct.

In Brief

  • There was a general discussion on reflection probes and why they are limited in terms of shape (sphere or cube) and supporting other shapes+ illumination issues where probes overlap.
    • The shapes are necessarily limited largely as a result of performance stability.
    • It was acknowledged that blending lighting between probes is more a matter of improving / altering SL’s default ambient lighting model – which may well be looked at down the road.
    • The current advice is to – if necessary – “bomb” a scene with reflection probes  – and if that doesn’t work, disable probe ambience in favour of the global ambience – it will still allow the probe radiance and so generate reflections.
  • Occlusion volumes: the question was asked if it will ever be possible to have occlusion volumes in SL such that a room and its contents are never rendered in a viewer until the user actually enters the room in question.
    • It was acknowledged that this is the kind of thing the work with reflection probes might lead to, in terms of the basic mechanics being similar from a user’s perspective.
    • However, there are no current plans for developing such occlusion volumes at present, and a feature request on how user might want to use them / see them as working has been requested so the idea can be more formally reviewed / considered.

Next Meeting

† The header images included in these summaries are not intended to represent anything discussed at the meetings; they are simply here to avoid a repeated image of a gathering of people every week. They are taken from my list of region visits, with a link to the post for those interested.

Cica’s Bubbles in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Cica Ghost: Bubbles, April 2024

Under the sea,
Under the sea.
Cica makes it better
Down where it’s wetter
Take it from me.
Up on the shore we work all day
Out in the sun we slave away
While down in the Ocean
We can be floatin’
At Bubbles for free.

OK, so those aren’t exactly Howard Ashman’s lyrics (and yes, they are probably cringe-inducing – but then, that’s what I’m here for 😀 ), but they do apply to Cica’s Ghost’s April 2024 installation Bubbles, a fun trip down into the ocean depths (well, semi-depths at least).

Cica Ghost: Bubbles, April 2024

This is a place where fronds of seaweed rise from a quilted sea floor, their growths interspersed with small carpets of flowers while the flat patchwork of the sea floor is interrupted by gatherings of pointed, steep-sided knolls and lumpy rocks, the latter often sprouting plant growths from their tips / tops. Within this undersea realm bubbles rise effortlessly and a host of sea creatures are waiting to greet visitors – some of which might be responsible for the strange little houses scattered throughout the setting.

From a static clam (or possibly an oyster – you decided which!) that sits open as a place to sit, through little fishes happily swimming in circles to a giant sea turtle, the denizens of this realm pose no threats to visitors. Indeed, several offer opportunities to sit on / with them or to play with them as you do handstands, whilst a starfish clings to the side of one of the houses as if engaged in a game of hide-and-seek and hoping it will not be discovered.

Cica Ghost: Bubbles, April 2024

The little houses are all unfurnished, but that’s fine; fish rarely need a bed to sleep on and chairs offer little comfort to lobsters or octopi. However, the shells to be found outside the front of some of the houses do offer the chance to get together and dance for a while (perhaps while singing Ashman’s actual lyrics from The Little Mermaid). For those who prefer to make some music, Cica has provided a little electronic piano sitting on a hill – and the fish circling it  seem only too willing to listen to anyone opting to tinkle the keyboard.

When visiting, do keep an eye out mer-like couple who may be the custodians of this little underwater realm; they might appreciate a little hello from you as well!

Cica Ghost: Bubbles, April 2024

SLurl Details

  • Bubbles (Mysterious Isle, rated Moderate)

SL21B: theme and Exhibitor applications

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Linden Lab

June 2024 will mark the 21st anniversary of Second Life opening to public access – and to mark it, Linden Lab has announced the 2024 Birthday celebrations as being marked across an entire month – from Friday, June 21st through until  Sunday July 21st, 2024.

Theme

This theme for Second Life’s 21st birthday (SL21B) has been given as Elements, which the Lab describes thus:

This theme invites us to explore the fundamental components that make up our vast virtual landscape and the diverse communities within it. From the fiery passion of creators and artists to the fluid adaptability of our social environments, from the solid bonds within our communities to the fresh breezes of innovation that propel us forward, “Elements” is a celebration of the core forces that shape our experiences in Second Life.

– From the official SL21B announcement blog post

Exhibitor Applications

The announcement also notes that applications for those wishing to host exhibits within the Birthday regions are now open, with the following notes:

  • Applications will be accepted through until Sunday, May 12th, 2024.
  • There will be both General and Adult rated regions available to exhibitors.
  • Exhibits do not have to be in keeping with the Elements theme – LL are keen to showcase the passions, interests and creativity of the platform’s users and many groups and communities.
  • Full rules for Exhibitors can be found in the application form.

In 2023, Exhibitor parcels were expressly stated as being 4096 sq m in size, with a Land Capacity of 1872 LI. While this is not stated in this year’s application form, there is no direct reason to suppose this will not be the case this year as well – although clarification from LL would be welcome.

Related Links

April 2024 SL Web User Group summary

Posted on by Inara Pey
The Web User Group meeting venue, Denby

The following notes cover the key points from the Web User Group (WUG) meeting, held on Wednesday April 3rd, 2024. They form a summary of the items discussed and is not intended to be a full transcript. A video of the meeting, recorded by Pantera Północy, is embedded at the end of this summary – my thanks as always to Pantera for recording it and making it available.

This meeting was more a seeking feedback type of discussion than it was an update on web project projects, etc.

Meeting Overview

  • The Web User Group exists to provide an opportunity for discussion on Second Life web properties and their related functionalities / features. This includes, but is not limited to: the Marketplace, pages surfaced through the secondlife.com dashboard; the available portals (land, support, etc), the forums.
  • As a rule, these meetings are conducted:
    • On the first Wednesday of the month and 14:00 SLT.
    • In both Voice and / or text.
    • At this location.
  • Meetings are open to anyone with a concern / interest in the above topics, and form one of a series of regular / semi-regular User Group meetings conducted by Linden Lab.
  • Dates and times of all current meetings can be found on the Second Life Public Calendar, and descriptions of meetings are defined on the SL wiki.

Official Viewer Search

  • It was noted by some users at the meeting that the official viewer takes longer to index new users so they appear within the web search People tab, whereas TPVs using the legacy search seem to index them a lot faster.
  • It was similarly noted that very short user / place names (3 letters of less) don’t always show up in search results.
  • It was asked why there is a L$30 fee for creating a Classified ad in a user’s profile / Search (short answer: to provide an additional search service of more “curated” locations over general search) and why such classifieds are not categorised (short answer: they are, via a pre-defined drop-down).
  • There have been some reports of the viewer search constantly requesting cookies be accepted, either on every use, or the first time Search is used during a user’s current log-in session.

In Brief

  • Ability for MP merchants to have their own “featured items” display pinned to the top of their store page on the first page of their MP store.
    • This idea has been floated by Sntax Linden a couple of times, and would allow Merchants to select items from their store (e.g. new items, best selling items, etc.) highlighted in some manner as featured items (possibly in a similarly distinctive manner to the Featured Items displayed on the MP home page).
    • It was met with broad approval / agreement.
  • LL are still looking at the way thumbnails of products are selected for display within users’ Favourite Stores lists on the MP, with a view to making it more useful to Merchants. This might be by:
    • Displaying thumbnails of their most recent releases, so people can use the list as a quick reference to what is new in their favourite MP stores.
    • Tying the selected thumbnails to the store “featured items” capability discussed above (if implemented).
  • General discussion on in-world store activity.
    • Some felt that the large volume of shopping events is having a negative impact of in-world store footfall, as people are event-focused, rather than opting to visit stores directly.
    • Some reported experiencing a steady decline in footfall within their stores, others no change / a potential increase in recent months.
    • It was pointed out that besides events, creator-merchants don’t necessarily help themselves by not updating the SLurls to their stores / items as listed on the Marketplace when they move (probably in part because there is no easy mechanism for them to do so on the MP if individual listings include SLurls).
  • The above led to a broader discussion on market forces, such as the fact that content creation is now for more the purview of these wishing to do so on a full-time basis (in order to remain competitive) rather than something the “hobbyist” creator can enjoy as a means of generating revenue as a means to help support their in-world activities (land tier, etc.).
  • Th question was raised as to whether CasperVend should / will be remained as it is now a LL property (just as OnRez and XStreet SL were purchased, with the latter going on to become the SL Marketplace).
    • The above included comments relating to the unfortunate / unwarranted knee-jerk reactions some users have had towards the Lab (and CasperVend users) in the wake of a certain article published within the social journalism website Medium, and which has been officially commented upon here (and, if interested, I’ve offered my tuppence worth of commentary here).
  • It was asked whether people have made any attempt to use generative AI in their content creation. The broad feedback was – no. This saw a series of follow-up questions:
    • Do people think AI tools could be useful – possibly, but not far enough developed to be sure.
    • Should content produced using AI tools and sold on the MP be marked as such – yes.
    • Are there any preferred tools already in use with content creators – not really.
    • This lead to a subjective (i.e. only a handful of creators) discussing how AI tools are viewed  / currently used within SL (e.g. to generate vendor images).
  • Sntax noted that feature requests made via the Feedback Portal board for the MP /Web are recorded and used to help inform and direct WUG meetings, particularly where it is felt broader / deeper feedback on ideas is required.
  • A further request was made for store / brand names on within SL to be unique (as with avatar account names), to both help secure branding against copycats and also to make it easier for users to find the content they want when searching the MP.
  • A suggestion that when there are Marketplace issues and updates, a mechanism is put in place to pop-up a notice when users access the MP, rather than replying purely on GridStatus (+ its outlets on Social Media), as many users aren’t even aware of the latter, whilst having notices actually on the MP means they are eyeballing them directly.

Next Meeting

  • Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.

Memories of Dreams in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Memories of Dreams, April 2024 – click any image for full size

Susann Decuir is responsible for drawing me to Memories of Dreams, a marvellously Japanese-themed Homestead region design by Yxes (Yxes Evergreen). she did so when I caught her write-up on the setting in her blog whilst I was largely outworld of SL during March 2024. As regulars to these pages know, almost anything with an Oriental theme will pique my interest, so I noted the SLurl and at the first opportunity on getting back in-world, off I toddled (or rather, my alt toddled!) so I could poke my nose in and have a look.

Spring in a Japanese styled sim….a place to sit and reflect once you’ve explored all the small nooks and crannies. Be sure to notice the Orcas migrating along the coast.

– Memories of Dreams, About Land Description

Memories of Dreams, April 2024

The setting is one of those which amply demonstrates the adage “Less is more”. Yxes has used a little of 50% of the region’s Land Capacity to produce a wonderfully evocative setting that does not need to be filled to the brim with objects in order to achieve its stated goal.

At least partially surrounded by off-region mountains (I’m actually not sure if it is supposed to be entirely surrounded, because for some reason the 3070 GPU on my current PC has a devil of a time rendering region surrounds where my old 970 rarely worked up a sweat in doing so), the setting is suggestive of a quiet retreat located on a (little-visited?) islet within the Japanese archipelago. The summer retreat, perhaps of a once-powerful Shogun.

Memories of Dreams, April 2024

The island’s rugged form is dominated by a large pagoda-like building. Perhaps once a home perhaps once a temple, it surrounded by a variety of trees – Japanese maple, Sakura, plum trees and more – which give colour and vitality to the knobbly and uneven mass of the island’s central knoll in a manner flowers and shrubs would not be able to manage. In addition, the trees obviously provide shade and a sense of coolness for those wandering this wildling garden as it sits around the main building.

Below the main structure, to the north-west and north and both sitting withing the island’s shallows, are two further structures. The each sit at the end (or start, depending on your point of view!) of a stone stairway set into the island’s slopes.

Memories of Dreams, April 2024

Located at the end of the potentially grander stairway – it being quite broad at its lower extent and semi-defensively boxed-in by walls on three sides – is a single-roomed building set upon stone slabs set above the coastal waters. Now a place to enjoy a quiet meal, it’s general design suggests that it may have once been where boats bringing people to the island came alongside.

The second building is also single-roomed, but sits slightly off-shore within the walls of what might be a man-made island. Torii gates and stepping stones over the shallow waters provide access to its gates, and the structure itself, located in a formal sand garden crossed by further stepping stones, has the feel of perhaps once having been a walled temple or shrine, but which is now given over the the art of the tattooist.

Memories of Dreams, April 2024

Close by this walled setting, and sitting on a low-lying headland, is a Japanese Zen garden offering a walk around its gravel paths and a way down to the island’s eastern beach, where visitors might to watch passing Orca as they frolic off the coast. A second arc of sand lies on the south side of the island. Located within a shallow cove, it is reached by walking down the grassy slopes from the main building.

Throughout all of this, subtle depth is added through the placement of small artistic touches – umbrellas apparently caught on a mysterious updraft so they hover above the entrance to the main building; a broken Torii gate with payer papers still pinned to it; Toro and other lamps scattered around to help hold the night at bay from the paths and steps; sculptures giving further voice to the presence of human hearts and minds on this little isle; and the gentle, watchful eyes of Buddha observing all who come and go, and the dance of Japanese Crane.

Memories of Dreams, April 2024

All told, a beautifully idyllic and beautifully relaxing (not to mention utterly photogenic) location, and once well worth visiting and appreciating.

SLurl Details

Memories of Dreams (Hawksong, rated Moderate)

Moni’s Discolouration Disrupted in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
IMAGOLand Art Galleries: Moni Beebe – Discolouration Disrupted

Having been caught up with things in the physical world for much of March (and still trying to clear up the last few issues as April 2024 starts its merry dance to becoming at part of the year’s history!), I’m caught in something of a game of catch-up with events, exhibitions and what have you. In terms of some exhibitions, there are some I simply won’t get to, as their days are numbered and they’ll have likely ended before I can get to them.

However, there is one exhibition I really wanted to try to cover before it vanishes into the ether (it having opened nigh-on a month ago at the time of writing, on March 6th, 2024). It is Monique Beebe’s Discolouration Disrupted, which (again at the time of writing this piece) is still available at Mareea Farrasco’s IMAGO Art Galleries.

IMAGOLand Art Galleries: Moni Beebe – Discolouration Disrupted

I’ve been an admirer of Moni’s work ever since her first exhibition in Second Life in 2017. Her work, which has until relatively recently focused on avatar studies, is always marvellously expressive and rich on both narrative and, frequently, a degree of subtext as well. Her exhibitions tend to be thematically driven and often highly sensual in nature, and the former is certainly true of Discolouration Disrupted, as evidenced by its subtitle Unveiling the Beauty in Imperfection, which itself might also be seen as a subtextual comment on modern society’s obsession with perfection when it comes to the human body.

No liner notes appear to be provided for the exhibition, allowing viewers to plumb the depths of the pieces and discern their relationship to the central theme for themselves. The pieces are a mixture of still life and animated works – be sure to enable the media option in your viewer (click the movie camera icon towards the top right corner of the viewer window) to see the latter in motion – and all appear (and forgive me if I’m wrong here, Moni) to be digitally generated.

IMAGOLand Art Galleries: Moni Beebe – Discolouration Disrupted
The still life images perhaps offer the clearest link to the theme of beauty in imperfection in the manner they juxtapose clearly beautiful / handsome figures (aka society’s “perfection”) with styles and colour mixes that whilst not undermining the stated beauty of the figure(s) within them offer a degree of discordance with their beauty, drawing the eye from them and imbuing a sense of mismatch or an unfinished feel to them – thus presenting the idea of the imperfect. Yet at the same time it is these very clashes of style and / or the sense of the unfinished which actually provides each piece with a depth of beauty that reaches well beyond what might have been had they been presented as “unblemished” works. The animated images share this to a degree, but also offer additional dimensions to the core theme – the blurring of images, the use of a mask and veils, etc.

And while it may just be my personal interpretation, some of the pieces perhaps present subtextual commentary on society in other ways as well. The likes of Break Away, Hiding, Undisclosed, Empowerment, and even Fish in the Sea, all appear to offer a degree of commentary on current reactionary moves in (particularly) patriarchal / pseudo-religious circles towards matters of a woman’s bodily autonomy, the dismissing of female equality / empowerment, the right to gender identification and self-identification and choice in general.

IMAGOLand Art Galleries: Moni Beebe – Discolouration Disrupted

But again, this is an interpretation informed purely by matters that impact my own thinking, and not necessarily those intended by the artist. You might well – in fact most likely will – find the images within Discolouration Disrupted speaking to you very differently. As such I do urge you to visit this exhibition, and to do so before it does vanish from IMAGO altogether, possibly in the next few days.

SLurl  Details