Inara Pey has an article out titled: Parametric Deformer: Qarl updates (2). Qarl Fizz, the former Linden writing the Mesh Deformer code, participates in the Metareality Podcasts. In the Apirl 20 broadcast. Smoke and Mirrors, Qarl talks about progress on the Mesh Deformer, known to some as AKA Parametric Deformer.

The audio recording is over an hour long – 1:23:00.

The audio starts out talking about the coming SL9B celebration. Geez, Drax and I see the reaction to the SL9B announcement similarly. This and the coming Myrylyn Shinn interview I’ll be publishing have me reconsidering my mental state. But… Yay, Tateru Nino. Whatever, if you are considering doing something for SL9B, listening to the section is worthwhile. It runs from about 01:00 to 26:00 minute marks.

Botgirl’s SL9B parody song is at 25:20.

27:20 Discussion on Max Grafs standard sizing for mesh clothes starts.

The part where Qarl talks about the Deformer is at 28:00 and runs to 28:54. It’s just a few words. Basically Qarl has been busy and hasn’t worked on it for a time. He put some time in on it 4/16 and is moving on it. He reiterates that Linden Lab is committed to getting it working. He would be seriously surprised if the Deformer was rejected. In his opinion that just is not going to happen. To get the sense of things you have to hear this section it’s less than a minute.

Standard Sizes

You may or may not be following the discussions on Standard Sizing for Mesh Clothes in the SL Forum. The discussions are about what sizes to use, how to use them, and how the Deformer will affect mesh clothes. A significant thread in the discussion is in: Mesh Clothing – Viewers w/Deformer 0.1 and 0.2 started by Imagin Illyar.

Qarl addresses the sizing issue – 30:00 – I’ll try to convey the ideas rather than paraphrase. To understand some of the problems you need to understand how the avatar works and how the Deformer works. Take a look at: Mesh Deformer 0.2 Update for details. Notice how the feet changed between Deformer 0.1 and 0.2. Distortion and crumpling is much less in 0.2.

Also, in: #SL Bare Feet I get into the problems we can expect with standardized sizes verses what we use now. In the interview Qarl is pointing out some of those problems. In the Mesh Feet – Deformer 0.2 image we can see the avatar shape settings affecting the feet.

For instance: Qarl says a hoodie-sweatshirt is going to react to facial expressions. I’m not sure about that because I don’t know how we rig a mesh to anything other than the skull bone. So, I’m not sure how the jaw can affect the rigged mesh we make. But, he has the code to experiment with and watch. So, he should know.

Texture stretch is a concern too. Back in: #SL Mesh Deformer Worries written in January I discussed the problem of mesh clothes designed for a Dolly Parton avatar and the Ruth avatar. Not only are there fix issues there are texture stretch issues which Qarl is pointing out in the audio.

The take away from this is that we will likely have clothes sizes as a permanent part of Second Life® Mesh Clothes. Wearing a top designed on the base avatar with a Dolly Parton size avatar is going to stretch the texture and look awful. So, we will have different size clothes to reduce texture stretch and mesh distortion.

Gianna Borgnine, Meatareality hostess, gets into why the Deformer was not part of the original mesh project. 32:00. Mesh was considered a solution for building things not clothes.

Charlar Linden has spoken to the issue. The Mesh team saw few people in the beta testing doing clothing. When mesh was released and everyone started using it for clothes and totally surprised the Lindens. In hindsight many of us think the Lindens should have seen that one coming. I see it as another example of how users and programmers get out of touch. Gianna also points out much of the beta was a boys club. They were fascinated with the tech and Gianna was the only woman complaining about the clothes not being pretty.

In Closing

The Mesh Deformer is moving ahead. From outside it appears slow… probably because it is. Obviously I’m on the outside.

The mesh Deformer is not going to resolve all the clothing issues. There will need to be sizes for large and tiny avatars to deal with texture stretch and mesh distortion.

It also means there is very likely going to be a market for custom tailored clothing. Because we will likely be able to flag mesh not to be deformed, we can have custom fit clothes, which is possible right now. I’ve been considering making some for my avatar based on my shape.

If you think people are attached to their shape now, wait until they start investing in custom clothing designed to their shape. I am adjusting my shape now. Recent articles by Penny Paton and the Deformer issues being discussed have me writing a new article on the importance of your shape. Several things I am writing are requiring more research and thought than usual.

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