Tinies! Salon (Edited Transcript)

((Note: I shall try to add some pictures from Miss Discovolante's slide presentation in the near future.))

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Before we start, let me request that any immediately unneeded HUDs or other scripted devices be removed or put into sleep mode for the comfort of all here. Please also disarm, as Tinies are dangerous enough without mechanical assistance.

The contents of the tipjar here at the edge of the stage will be given to our speaker at the conclusion of the event. Bitte, show your appreciation for her time and talent.

I should like to introduce our speaker now: Fraulein Martini Discovolante. Martini Discovolante is a 5-year resident of Second Life, nearly 4 of them in Caledon. She creates here for both SL and RL projects. She is a Dean of Caledon Oxbridge,and a founder in Caledon Kittiwickshire. That is where you will find her Tiny Shops, and quite often, her. Fraulein, the Salon is yours.

Martini Discovolante: thank you so much!

i must say i am pleased and surprised to see so MANY tinies, and types of tinies here! i have concentrated my presentation mostly on the Wynx Variety, and that iw who i make for.... but i see i will ahve to start revamping my reperatoire!

Welcome to Tinyology, a pseudo-scientific look at the virtual folk known as Tinies. Today's presentation was prepared in advance, and will show as green text in your chat window. It will be augmented by elaborate illustrative slides appearing here on the large viewer. Please let me know if things go too fast, or too slow, or if you need anything repeated. Or explained -- this study is full of lots of esoteric L$5 words, many of which were made up especially for this presentation! Should you need clarification, please ask: but in the interest of time, it would be best for all concerned if you simply nod, harumph, and look knowledgeable, like everyone else.

There are many varieties of small avatars in the Metaverse. But in Second Life, taxonomy divisions are not by the standard Genus or Species, but instead by Origin. Here we see a round up of some of more prolific types: The Tinies of Extrovirtual are the oldest, the most prevalent, and >koff!< many firmly believe the smartest, most talented, and most attractive of the smaller-statured in Second Life.

A Short History:
"Tinies" are quite literally the dream-become-virtual-reality of Miss Wynx Whiplash, a RL artist: "After making the first widely-popular shoulder pets (a term she coined) in Second Life®, Wynx had a vivid dream one night. In the dream, she was surrounded by dozens of small biped animals. They were dressed in clothing and telling her how much they loved her. Wynx woke up a woman obsessed. After securing the rights to the magic shrinking animations of fellow avatar maker, Kage Seraph, Wynx made 3 very short animal avatars and dubbed them Tiny avatars. Kage Seraph is indeed the father of us Short folk! "The Tinies" struck a chord with the Second Life® population and suddenly Tinydom was a fad bigger than any previously seen on the SL grid."
~Source: www.jazzpaws.com

Wynx has gone far beyond those initial three avatars -- Shown here are just the bipawdal Tinies: you will also find Four-footed or Quad avs in the form of bears, ponies, ferrets, and others.

Communities began to spring up to serve what has gone from a novelty to a full-blown culture. Zayn Till developed Raglan Shire -- today a Tiny Nation of great stature, where Tinies of all persuasions live, party, create, and sell. It borders Extrovirtual, home to the creations of Wynx Whiplash, Abramelin Wolfe (Abraminations), and Noramyr Gullwing (Flights of Fantasy), all tiny-centric creators in whole or in part.

Says Zayn: "…our goals within Second Life and Inworldz the last several years (non profit, encourage people to interact, collaborate, create and share with each other, the silliness, PLEASE LEAVE THE STATUS QUO AT THE DOOR lol)
Zayn continues… Wynx and myself are a unified front with Jazz Paws as we try to bring The Tinies & Raglan Shire and everything that goes along with this world and its inhabitants to the real world as an animated project."
Please check out www.jazzpaws.com for another great example of Second Life translating in to Real Life!

Some Choose Tinytude as a way of Second Life, some, like me, are half-time Tiny, and many many more have a Tiny in the closet, a second self, for when times call for a Little change. Martini Discovolante: But being Tiny is not for everyone. You have the Tiny in you or you do not. For me, I find being Tiny liberating -- to be a creature of imagination and memories, without even a vestigial representation of my first or second self, and without the burden of the cumbersome role play that bots, monsters, dragons, and other alternative forms seem to require. Tinies can possess great humanity, but without any nod to human features... unlike the anthropomorphic furs, that display characteristics of sexuality or contemporary beauty.

And there is the cute: you can get away with a lot being this cute. Even defoliating most of a rose garden can be forgiven! Sorry again, Miss Snook!

Here we see two entirely random, unknown and unidentifiable Kitty Pirates stealing sheep from the Hatchie World Domination Headquarters and Snack Corral: Isle of Wyrms. Tinies thrive in nearly every kind of environment and open community (places that do not limit themselves to strictly human representation). Despite many misconceptions:

Tinies are possible because of their unusual, and highly sophisticated anatomy. Tinies have evolved beyond the need for knees and elbows, and get along well in this efficient compact form. Demonstrated here via a Modern X-Ray Machine. (Children, and those with delicate constitutions, may wish to turn away for a moment!) Also not for the Squeamish: Strictly for scientific purposes, and with his full permission we disassemble a frog. Note the basic construction of the CUTEaneous exo-primature, and how the all important Kage Seraph folded AO is central to the Tiny physique. Thank you, very much, Mr Green! You may get dressed now!

As you may surmise from all this, Tinies require special sits, animations, and all garments and accessories are attached prims. (In your Swag Bag, you will find a Tiny Mushroom Seat, created just for this meeting. Decorative in the garden, it will also provide your Tiny, or Tiny Guest with a comfy and cushiony perch. It is Mod/Copy and will serve many different Tinies.) Mr Black is included!

Working on this small canvas requires the designer to telegraph their intent by balancing detail and broad strokes without burying the Tiny avatar in the process. Basically, we are decorating prims and applying them to the Tiny's prims, or replacing them entirely (don't worry! any body parts supplanted by clothing are stored safely in the avatar folder!) And--many joys!-- today's Tiny Wynx Avatars have their scripts in the head, and all other body parts are copy/mod. You can even "Rezz, Dress and Rename" limbs separately to assure proper fit when cheering, playing Critter Ball or Jousting. And the new SL Viewer allows multiple items worn on a single attachment point, just use ADD to Current Outfit, ADD, or WEAR and choose the appropriate part. Tiny Life is much easier these days!

Tiny folk love to dress up, have parties, themed events, and live in many environments. And they love to dress the part. My Tiny work is generally in the Costume, Formal and Victorian realm. I chose the elements most prone the evoke the era aimed for, and create textures for each prim-portion that needs covering. You may recognize my look today as "Dr. (Miss) Ephemera Wirefly, my character in the Primgraph's Graphic Novel, "Quest for the Golden Prim." As a Lady of Science, she sports her own invention, the Cavorite Steam Bustle, and a rather worse-for-wear summer dress. Her travel boots replace the original Tiny legs. And the hair is a modified version of a Biggie Favorite from Matreiya. Martini Discovolante: The Hairpins are courtesy of Mr Marion Questi, and his amazing particle-abilities.

Tiny ladies demand fashion and glamour as much as their Biggie counterparts. Gowns, heels, even faux furs are in high demand, plus eyelashes, and lipstick can be bought in Raglan. Tiny gents tend to be more casual, but many dress the part when in the Steamlands, or on special occasions. Here is the first Tiny outfit i ever made: for the Guv'nah of Caledon, Desmond Shang. Made for his occasional Tiny self, it is a faithful reproduction off his well-known everyday --and i DO mean EVERY-DAMN-DAY-- Guv-suit :)

Most often I find myself making new "legs" to complete the outfit. I do believe mine were the first Tiny High heels, and they are still a big hit. Now nearly every outfit I make includes shoes for gents or ladies. Makers rejoice! Tinies can wear many of the same accessories Biggies do; they simply need to be repositioned to accommodate Tiny limb placement. And we may be TINY, but our heads are big! Kitties are especially notorious for their mammoth melons, (heads that is -- we are talking TINIES here!). Hair and hats may have to be LARGER than on our Human counterparts.

With such a challenging avatar-type, Tinies are for the most part quite resourceful and adept at adjusting their prims. But I always offer Free Adjustment and Fitting Services, and I must say, they have rarely been requested. Most Tinies are excellent Alteration Tailors. (By the way, NEVER use those words to a Tiny Puppy or Kitty!)

An important secret to prim-dressing folks who live in active, yet laggy sims is using "zoned textures": Textures involved in one outfit are organized on a single texture, then carefully placed on the proper prims via positioning windows in the EDIT>texture window. Sounds like a pain, but get it down once, and you will find there are economies of scale. Four textures made, only one needs to rezz! Most outfits require only one or two zoned textures. And instead of placing 4+ textures on the prims, you need place only the one.

Raglan Shire hosts regular themed events: Medieval~ including jousts, Rat-on-a-Stick and a plague-wagon, The Wild West, Steampunk, Mardi-Gras, and many other communities have Tiny-centric events, liek our ValenTiny's Day party last year in Caledon Tanglewood Pirate Week ~ with a pirate cove and kraken hunt, Prehistoric Days, and --of course-- Halloween, Valentine's and Wootmas events. For a complete calendar, visit www.raglanshire.com/events/ Free vend space is provided on theme areas for creators, and the Creativity Level is pumped up to 11.

Being Tiny and Creating for Tinies is a pure joy to me. I am still exploring vehicles, poses and gestures but clothing is my main love. Distilling the essence and energy of a genre, and making it resonate on this small canvas is a challenge I relish. I try to interpret style, create faithful reproductions, and have had a lot of fun taking contemporary clothing beyond the cute, and into Couture. I thank you all for indulging me this afternoon -- I hope I have given a glimpse into something I love, and that you have been inspired to take a little TIny time yourself!

Martini Discovolante: With your permission, I will end by showing slides of a few Tiny things I have made while taking any questions you may have.

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Fraulein Martini, shall we start the Q&A?
Martini Discovolante: sure!

Chrono Cogshine (chronometria) raises her hand as she has a question
Chrono Cogshine (chronometria): I am curious to know how the relationship between hatchies and tinies began, seeing as they are different races and from different places
Martini Discovolante: oooh-- honestly? i think it was Miss Peaches Latrell's ponies broke the ice!
Sea (sea.warcliffe): hatchies and tinies are natural friends IMHO
Martini Discovolante: the hatchies loved them.
Martini Discovolante: adn after that i becah to see a lot of sharing of cookies and waffles going on.
Chrono Cogshine (chronometria) nods
Ceejay Writer: Ah yes. the Waffles.
Martini Discovolante: but that was the first time i saw a lot of hatchiees in Raglan
Martini Discovolante: oh! and it you like-- visit the Hatchie Haven in Isle of Wyrms... i helped work on it! :)
Chrono Cogshine (chronometria): ah yes i know of it, i`m a scholar studying dragons there, thats how i learned of hatchies, thankyou
Solace Fairlady: what are \hatchies, a version of Tinies?
Alexis Radikal (alexzev): Lickle dragons.

Martini Discovolante: Mr Pearse?
Edward Pearse: Something I had to mention, because it still does my head in
Edward Pearse: Some time back I saw a shop selling a full range of tiny BDSM gear
Edward Pearse: Leathers, st andrews cross
Baldr Wingtips: !!!
Jimmy Branagh: 80
Daeliah: :O
Martini Discovolante: not on Raglan, i can assure you!
Pippy: Eww.
Devnet Caratauc (devnet) raises an eyebrow.
Vic Mornington: O.o
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Wow, SL has something for everybody's dream, even the ones you didn't know you had
Devnet Caratauc (devnet): That's a little icky.
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): Grooossssssss!
Linus Lacombe: Diffrent strokes for diffrent folks
Edward Pearse: No it was on the mainland :-)
Nika Thought-werk (robotnika) nods.
Martini Discovolante: it is a sad sad thing.
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Mainland.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Tinies are known for a lack of sexuality.
Nika Thought-werk (robotnika) nods.
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): And dat's how we LIKES it
Alexis Radikal (alexzev): Iz married, but when tiny, we only hugs.
Capella Teal (capellateal) sighs
Stereo Nacht: (Despite the number of bunnies...)
Alexis Radikal (alexzev): Tinies hug. Nots other stuffs.
Sheryl Skytower: tiny leather.... hmm.... iz good for weather!
Edward Pearse: Must be "plushies" then :-)
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: It's one of the appeals, however.
Astari Saiman: Bunnies are nice!
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Tinies grow their own fur and leathers

Martini Discovolante: Gracie, you had a question?
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): I wanna knows wot shop you sells dat dress at? In Raglan at da wharf?
Martini Discovolante: oh! i never put thsi on out!
Martini Discovolante: i am a lazy lazy bunneh
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): pffft
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Your shop is a ship, nein?
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): Well, iz lovely
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): smiles
Martini Discovolante: edward, thisis the cloosest most tinies get to teh leathers----the Tiny CatFights!
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): Been t'da shop at Raglan Wharf...jus' not see dat dress
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): hehe
Martini Discovolante points to the slide
Gracie Saint Possum (morganne.darkstone): Thot mebbe wuz new

Seraph Timeless: How do tinys feel about micros? Are they usually friends?
Martini Discovolante: i pretty much think Tinies liek everyone
Martini Discovolante: and they are getting more and more popular
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Tinier than micros. I met my first micro at last Relay For Life -- he's a powerhouse!
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): A bit hard to see though
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: The Herr with Passionate Redheads?
Ravelli Ormstein: micro on a stick...
Leona Mantarai (lilfae): Wow, now thats small
Linus Lacombe: I remember one at RFL... Mr Smalls, it seems, was his name
Sheryl Skytower: XD
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Ja Mein Herr.
Martini Discovolante: they are small but have a big foot print
Vic Mornington: Lomgren Smalls....yup
Further Monday: there are also the new mesh petites
Tanwy Hazelnut: I know him!! He fit perfectly into the mini-Steelhead we made!
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Smalls. Brilliant.
Linus Lacombe: Yes, Lomgren Smalls is who I was thinking of.
Sheryl Skytower: mesh petites?
Astari Saiman: Was Biggy Smalls tiny?
Ceejay Writer: So many advances.
Further Monday: i'm wearing one now :)
Solace Fairlady: Essentially micro avs, made from mesh, brand name is \Petite
Sheryl Skytower: wow......
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: The fairy avatars are also micro, ja?
Kara Kent (kara.timtam): Evidently, Tinies are perfectly happy with Micros. It would be hypotrical not to.
Leona Mantarai (lilfae): Mine is a Mesh Petite from Fallen Gods ^_^
Martini Discovolante: the ones from Fallen Gods are beautiful!
Daeliah: Seraph are you a micro too?
Seraph Timeless nods
Daeliah: ? cuuute
Seraph Timeless: Thank you

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: We have about 15 minutes left.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Other questions?

Steadman Kondor: yes
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Ja, Herr Steadman.
Steadman Kondor: about poses and anims - any tips
Steadman Kondor: can we use qvanimator like normal?
Martini Discovolante: remember to disengage Joint limits, in Avimator, Steadman!
Martini Discovolante: then if you liek i have a fold you acna use.
Martini Discovolante: can use, but i thik i have to email it to you.
Steadman Kondor: ok thanks!
Eilidh McCullough: With the zoned textures, do you use a larger resolution, such as 1024x1024?
Martini Discovolante: you canna export from SL ;(
Steadman Kondor: ill send you the email
Martini Discovolante: i do indeed, Eili
Martini Discovolante: as i am zonind 4 512s it still comes out more efficinet
Martini Discovolante: and i chave put in more
Martini Discovolante: have*
Martini Discovolante: i have on a build, used 16up
Edward Pearse: Arcadia Asylum was a big proponent of zoned textures
Alexis Radikal (alexzev): Iz sent Steadman a link for a fold, Miss Martini.
Leona Mantarai (lilfae): Since my 'micro' walks and acts like a biggie, are there scripted systems that can lower your jump heights, slow your walking/running speeds, to look somewhat more natural?
Martini Discovolante: oh thank you Alexis!
Martini Discovolante: i am not sure about Micros, Leona
Leona Mantarai (lilfae): Guess I have to code my own D:
Martini Discovolante: ther eare many Micro Groups, Leons, adn they are very helpful.
Edward Pearse: Micro humans are still new Leona. given enough time I'm sure there will be dedicated AOs
Martini Discovolante: when i first got mine it was indispensible
Martini Discovolante: Fallen Gods should have a group.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: If there are no other questions at the moment, one last chance to tip our excellent speaker before I pick up the jar and everybody can riverdance.
Leona Mantarai (lilfae): I'll look into it, code my own if need be.
Alexis Radikal (alexzev): ~ Time to Tiny River Dance ! ~

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: THE TRANSCRIPT WILL BE PUBLISHED AT AETHERSALON.BLOGSPOT.COM
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Come back next month, third Sunday of each month at 2!

Martini Discovolante: ravelli-- what do you think of an expanded Tiny Class for Oxb?
Ravelli Ormstein: as a regularly event?
Ravelli Ormstein: i don't know if there would be enough interest for a weekly tiny class, but perhaps doing it in a bigger timeframe
Martini Discovolante: i will think on it Rav.. perhaps MAKING yuor own tiny class ;-)