Coming from The Sims or other games?
Unlike many games where the avatar is a single unit, avatars here are built from many interchangeable parts made by different creators. This gives you incredible freedom! The modern standard is to use a "Mesh" body and head, which we'll cover below.
The Core Components of a Modern Avatar
A high-quality look is achieved by combining these essential parts. Think of them as layers you put together.
The "Shape" is your avatar's invisible skeleton. It controls your height, body proportions, and facial structure. You can edit this at any time to fine-tune your look.
How to Edit: Right-click your avatar → Appearance → Edit Shape.
This is a high-detail 3D model that replaces the default "classic" body. Most modern clothing is designed to fit a specific mesh body (like Maitreya, Legacy, or eBody).
A mesh body is the foundation for a high-quality look. You wear it like an item of clothing from your inventory.
Similar to the body, a mesh head provides a high-detail face that allows for more realistic features and expressions. Most heads are designed to fit specific mesh bodies.
Mesh heads are essential for detailed facial customization and using modern makeup layers.
A skin is a texture that applies to your mesh body and head. Modern skins use a system called Bakes on Mesh (BOM), which allows them to "wrap" around your mesh parts seamlessly.
Skins, makeup, and tattoos are all layers you can wear. BOM makes this process simple!
An AO is a script that overrides your default animations. It gives you custom stands, walks, sits, and more, bringing your avatar to life and giving it personality.
Without an AO, your avatar will use the basic, robotic default animations. An AO is crucial for looking natural.
Modern clothing is "rigged mesh," meaning it's a 3D object designed to move with your mesh body. You'll also find mesh hair, shoes, and jewelry to complete your look.
Pro Tip: Always look for a "DEMO" version before buying clothes to ensure they fit your specific mesh body!
Suggestions for New Content and Images
To Make This Guide Even Better:
This guide would be greatly enhanced with new, specific images. I recommend creating the following screenshots and uploading them to an /images/new/ directory:
mesh-body-example.jpg: A screenshot of a "grey" or untextured default mesh body (like Maitreya or eBody) to show its shape.mesh-head-example.jpg: A close-up of a grey mesh head (like LeLUTKA or Catwa).skin-on-mesh.jpg: The same body/head combination but with a skin texture applied, showing the transformation.ao-in-action.jpg: A side-by-side comparison of an avatar with the default T-pose stand versus a custom stand from an AO.avatar-fully-dressed.jpg: A beautiful "final product" shot of a fully customized avatar in a nice setting to inspire users.
By showing the step-by-step layering process visually, you will make avatar customization much less intimidating for new users.
Ready to Build Your Look?
Visit our marketplace or explore in-world shops to find mesh bodies, heads, skins, and clothing that match your style!
Visit Marketplace Next Guide