Archive for the ‘Previews’ Category

The Missing Skintones

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Alaska Metropolitan

The original plan for the beauty by alaskametro<3 skin series was a grand total of 8 skintones, offering a great amount of customization and flexibility. Well, up to this point, I hadn’t planned to work on the remaining tones; with all the eyebrow options and so on I’d be looking at tens of thousands of L$ in upload fees (at least!)

However, the new ability to stack layers (and the new tattoo layer) means I can develop my skins as bases, and offer separate brow/hairbase/etc layers in a variety of hair colours. I enjoy the existing 4 hair colour options with alaskametro<3 skins… but why not push it further and see just how much flexibility one can get with a skin system?

From left to right: Latte, Bronze, Cacao, Olive, Rose, Ivory, Spice and Ebony. Click to enlarge.

I’m planning to release the updated skintone bases, hairless, in the future, along with up to 12 hair colour options as add-on packages. (Other creators also make brow/hairbase packs, so you can also use theirs if you prefer their hair shades). The skins have some revamped shading through the face, especially in the darker tones, the lips have been fixed so all tones have the same size (making makeup tattoos fit better!) and the cleavage has been enhanced.

While the 8 skintones are my attempt to reflect diversity and the fact skins shouldn’t only be available in Megan Fox Tan™, each skin is also tintable by 7%, so you can also tweak the shade to some degree. And yes, they’ll still have a freckles option.

Posted in New Releases, Previews, Skin/Makeup | Tagged alaskametro, dark skins, hair layers, light skins, makeup layers, preview, Second Life, skins, tan skins | Leave a comment

Hopeless skin perfectionist.

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Alaska Metropolitan

I find that creating skins never ends. I always find things to tweak and play with; I suppose since my skins are handdrawn I always look at things and want to draw them better. (With photosource, you’re pretty much stuck with the way the source photo looks!)

Lately I’ve been re-doing the face on the alaskametro<3 skins. I’ve been editing it to look softer through the nose/mouth, the lips definitely needed to be redone. A quirk in the darker tones: the lips are actually bigger on the Ebony and Spice tones. I needed to fix this so that producing makeup layers wasn’t twice the work!

Second Life’s new viewers allow you to stack on the tattoo layers. I’m planning to re-release the alaskametro<3 skins in the most customizable way possible. The base skins will be completely nude. From there, you can layer on eyebrows/hair bases (yay!)/pubic hair. And then makeups, etc. So I’ll soon have a few more hair colours than the existant 4, and there’ll be some new eyebrows to choose from too!

Preview photo (makeupless):

Unretouched photograph showing work-in-progress updated skin

Okay, don’t mind the rabbit teeth. I wanted to see if I could create them. If I ever do release such things they’ll certainly be another layer as an add-on. The jury’s still out on the mouth-breathing look. It’s used in fashion photography inRL to drop the lower lip and make them appear fuller (or add sensuality.) However, a photographer friend of mine in L.A. once referred to it as “the credit card slot” and that’s what it is, in my head, for all eternity. Maybe it’s useful inSL for photos.

PS – Today’s the last day to sign up for the mailing list to receive January’s gift; I’ll be sending the gift out at midnight!

Posted in Previews | Tagged alaskametro, brows, second life skins, skin base, skin texture, skins, tattoo layers | Leave a comment

Preview: Fall 2010 makeup looks

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Alaska Metropolitan

I’ve been hard at work preparing to release the Fall 2010 alaskametro<3 makeup series. There’ll be 8 looks total, lots of new nail polish, and a couple new false eyelashes. I’m liking it so much, I can’t resist giving you a preview…

alaskametro<3 makeup Fall 2010

Metallics are in this season… shimmering eyelids in bronze, gold and silver paired with a creme nude lipstick were on the runways for Fall 2010. Here I’ve interpreted the look with gold shimmer. Also shown: “Vida” prim lashes – clumps of single false eyelashes for a spiky dramatic look.

alaskametro<3 Fall 2010 makeup

Red eyeshadow… so striking, and not a look many of us can pull off in First Life. But this is Second Life where we can do what we want. Charcoal grey lids with red shimmer undereye shadow and a nude lip to give the eyes maximum impact.

alaskametro<3 Fall 2010 makeup

Red lips are a fall makeup staple… this season, they’re treated simply with little to no other makeup on the face. Also shown: “Here Kitty” prim lashes – extra false lashes at the outer eye corner create a dramatic “cat’s eye” look.

alaskametro<3 Fall 2010 makeup

One of the most surprising trends this season? Natural makeup – a clean, fresh face. This Second Life version uses pale beige and brown eyeshadow and pale pink blush for contouring, but the final look appears to not have any makeup on at all.

alaskametro<3 Fall 2010 makeup

As always, makeup is meant to be fun. Fall 2010′s trends tend toward bold colour and dramatic eyes, so embrace the looks and have fun with it.

The Fall 2010 makeup series will be available in store and on the marketplace in about a week. Join the subscribe-o-matic in world to receive notifications when new alaskametro<3 products are released.

Posted in Previews | Tagged 2010 makeup trends, alaskametro, bold eye makeup, fall 2010, fall 2010 makeup, lashes, lipstick, makeup, runway makeup, shimmer eyeshadow | 2 Comments

Preview: “Persephone” shoes from hunt

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Alaska Metropolitan

About a week from now, I’ll be holding a fun Spring-themed hunt (flowers will be hidden around the Second Style Island park and my store, with clues to find them all and complete an avatar look!)

Coming up with every part for a complete avatar has been challenging! So far, I’m most pleased with how the shoes have turned out. The “Persephone” shoe will be part of the regular Spring 2010 line once I release it, but this fiery orange/red look will only be around for the hunt!

The “Persephone” shoe has a leather upper, black patent leather sole, mirror silver inner sole and signature silver heart. If I owned these in First Life, I doubt they’d ever leave my feet. Except maybe to shower.

Once I put the finishing touches on the hunt avatar, I’ll be sure to post a preview and more details here!

Posted in Previews | Tagged 2010, fashion, leather, persephone, platform, pumps, shoes, spring, stiletto, texture, Wirefly | Leave a comment

Preview: Spring 2010′s makeup

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Alaska Metropolitan

The new skinline I am working on is very close to completion! New features in the Second Life 2.0 client have finally provided me with the ability to distribute SYNERGY (100% handdrawn, layered, customizable skins.)

SYNERGY is now renamed to fall under the general alaskametro<3 brand. I have been working hard on the base skins, to increase their contrast and glossiness. They are 100% handdrawn, have absolutely no visible seams, and can be tinted by 7% in the appearance view. All makeup, nailpolish, tattoos, etc will fall on SL 2.0′s new “tattoo” layer, allowing me to offer a LOT of base skin options and a LOT of makeup options!

Here’s just a preview of the Spring 2010 makeup:

The palette features dreamy pastels and bright, optimistic colours. The makeup will compliment the Spring 2010 fashion line. Prim eyelashes to coordinate with the makeup will also be available.

This is a much more cost effective way to define your avatar’s look! After sinking your L$ into the skintone base, makeup options will be varied and inexpensive. You can even make your own using our template if you know how to use graphics software.

alaskametro<3 skins will be available in April, 2010.

Posted in Previews | Leave a comment