How To Create On Second Life

Processes

Details and Tips

1. Create a Second Life Account

a. Go to http://secondlife.com/ and click <Join Now>

(click the image to see a larger picture)

b.There are 11 starting default avatars you can choose.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

c. Create a Username. You will need to use it to log in to Second Life.

username (click the image to see a larger picture)

d. Fill out your email and basic information in the box and click <Create Account>.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

e. Select the type of your account. For the purpose of our class, select the <Free> account.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

f.Voila! Your account has been activated!

(click the image to see a larger picture)

d. If you are in Patterson 401 lab, you do not need to download the software. The program is already installed in the computers in the lab. If you are at home, you can download the program and install in your computer from the following link: http://secondlife.com/support/downloads/?lang=en-US

2. Log in to Second Life

a. Open Second Life program.

b. Key in your username and password to log in.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

c. After logging in, accept Term of Service before continuing.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

3. Explore Second Life

a. The place you will be starting is Destination Island. You will see 8 different portals: Art Portal, Roleplaying, Popular, Social, Music, etc. Click on the portals and start exploring Second Life.

(click the image to see a larger picture)
Tip1: Be patient and wait a little bit for graphics to load and show on your screen.

Tip2: Screen is too dark? Go to <World-->Sun> to change the daylight setting to Midday. (See below)

4. Go to our place

a. After visiting other places and wandering around, visit our class home space: AED 322 Virtual Gallery in Penn State Isle. This will be the base for our class projects, and a safe space to change your avatar and create/build things you need for projects.

b. How to get there? There are several ways you can teleport in Second Life.
(1). Use the World Map: Go to <World--> World Map>. Type Penn State Isle in Find field and click <Find>. Click on the upper left part of the map and then click <Teleport>. You will see our class meeting space right next to you.

(2). Click here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Penn%20State%20Isle/208/209/35. It will open up a map page in a Web browser. Click the orange button <Visit This Location>. It will open up the Place Profile in Second Life program. Click <Teleport> to go there.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

Tip: I recommend the second method, becuase it will create a Landmark for you, so you can just click the Landmark in you Inventory in Second Life to go back to the place next time. If using the first method, you can also create a Landmark by clicking the star icon on the top bar after you arrive the place.

5. Change avatar appearance

a. Click the <My Appearance> in the side bar. Under My Outfit, you will see the default avatar outfit you chose. Click to open up the list of details of your avatar components. Click the <Edit this outfit> (tool icon) button on top to start editing your avatar. Don't forget to save the outfit after editing.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

b. An avatar is composed with three types of components: Clothing, Attachments, and Body Parts.

c. Click on each component, Adjust the sliders to change your avatar's body shape.

Don't forget to save your change!

Tip1 : To exit appearance editing, simply close the side bar or click the green arrow in front of Editing.
Tip2 : Quick replace outfit: Right click on an outfit and select <Wear - Replace Current Outfit>

Tip3 : Learn more about how to change your appearance in Second Life: View this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4q8Mg1z-LM
There are more Second Life tutorial videos on the same channel. You can learn more about Second Life by watching these videos.

6. Get freebies for your avatar

a. There are several ways to get new stuff for your avatar, and you do not need to spend any money to buy things. There are many freebies to find, if you know how to find them. Here are some tips to get freebies.

(1) On the second floor of our class meeting building, there are some free things to get. Simply click the objects with description text and you will get a message for receiving objects. Click <Keep> to receive the objects. The things you receive will appear in a folder in your Inventory. Click <My Inventory> (luggage icon) on the side bar to open up your inventory to see it. Click the triangle to open up the folder to use them.
Tip: Right click an item and select <Wear> to wear the clothes, accessory, or body parts.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

(2) On the second floor of our class meeting building, there is a map on the easel, click the pin on the map to receive several Landmarks to go to free shops to buy new stuff.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

(3). Some people blog free things they find in Second Life. Here are some blogs about freebies: http://fabfree.wordpress.com/, http://slfreestyle.blogspot.com/, http://freebietelegraph.wordpress.com/, http://secondlife24h.com/

(4). Go to Second Life Marketplace and search for L$0 things.
Tip1: For example, type "jeans" in the search. Click sort by <Price: Low to High> and change the search price from 1 to 0 on the left side bar.

(click the image to see a larger picture)
Tip2: You need to sign in your account in the site to purchase. Also, you will need to log in to Second Life at the same time to receive your purchase.
Tip3: Add the item to your cart and click <Cart> on the top right side of the screen. Then click <Checkout> --> <Continue> --> <Place your order>. Wait for a few moments, you will receive a message in Second Life of the item. Click <Keep> to receive the item of your purchase. See here to learn more about how to open up the boxed object of your purchase to use the item.

(click the image to see a larger picture)

(The button is on the bottom of the screen. Other items shows on the screen are just suggested items not your purchase. Click the image to see a larger picture)

(This window will pop-up in Second Life program a few moments after you click <Place your order>)

7. Create objects for your avatar

a. You can also create your own things/clothing/objects for your avatar.

(1). In the outdoor space of Penn State Isle 2, active your group tag (you will receive our group invitation once you create your avatar and submit your avatar's name) to start building in Second Life.
Tip: you can only build in your own land, group land, or public sandbox in Second Life

(2). Go to Build--> Build on top menu to open up building tool window.

(3) Click the create tool and select a shape. You mouse cursor should change to a magic wand icon. Click somewhere on the ground near you to make the shape appear in Second Life (this process is call rezz).

(4). You can change the texture and color of your object in the <Texture> tab.

(5). Rename and take your object back to your inventory.

Under <General> tab rename your object, so you can find it in your inventory.

Then, close the building tool and right click the object and select <Take>.
You will find the object disappears on the ground and it will appear in your object folder in inventory.

(6). Wear the object

Right click the object (e.g., HeavyBox) and select an attachment point (in this example, we select skull to attach the box on the avatar's head).

(the result)

(7). Learn about Second Life building tool here.

Tip: Second Life building tutorial: InAEA building tutorial