This is Part 3 of my quick and dirty guide for Version 6 intended for new and lapsed and returning users Before starting this you need to have introduced yourself to Sculpt Studio Version 6 by being familiar with everything listed in Part 1 and Part 2 of this guide.
Ok I know its mostly WORDS 🙂 but knowing the terms helps you ask the right questions, and get the right answers. So it pays to learn them. And it won’t work just to read it, unless you’re already quite experienced, you need to work along with this guide otherwise I think it will be much tougher for it to sink in.
Introduction
Although better geared for the lack of tools in version 4, Ghanie’s balloon is still worth working through (if you’re a masochist :)). By the time you’ve got a decent grasp of the concepts in Parts 1 and 2 of this guide you should be able to adapt what you’ve learnt so far to work through it. If you’re still very new to Sculpt Studio and SL building, and if you want to make a speed balloon using the newer tools, read on. I’m going to use common Sculpt Studio and standard Second Life building terms in this guide. If there’s a term you’re unfamiliar with, check the wiki or ask in the Sweet Sculpties group.
Assuming you can rez a stack already, and make a sculptie, you will require knowledge of the following concepts and related terms to make the speed balloon:
- HUD
- Loading Slice-shapes
- From-to
- B-Spline
- Sculpted slices
- Poles
Step 1 – decide whether you want to work through the 32 slice or 64 slice version of this workbook
For the advanced users working with the 64 slice stack version:
I’ll be gearing the instructions towards the 32 slice stack users assuming the rest of you are more advanced, so if the instruction I’m giving is different for the 64 slice stack (will only be the slice numbers i’m referring to) I’ll put the alt numbers in brackets.
It would even be possible for me to use the same instructions for the balloon shape section of both 32 and 64 slices by one of the following methods:
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Step 2 – Rez a slice stack – 32 or 64 slices
- Click the studio base (or the words ‘Sculpt Studio’ on the HUD)
- Choose Rez slices > Blank > 32Slices (64slices)
Step 3 – Change to sculpted slices
You can skip this step if you want, but it will help you visualise your balloon.
- Click the studio base (or the words ‘Sculpt Studio’ on the HUD)
- Choose Settings > Sculpted Sl.
Step 4 – Load the pole slices (Slices 0, 6 and 31)
- Touch Slice0 (Slice32) (use the HUD or touch the slice direct)
- Choose Load Slice > Pole*
Not essential (so you can skip this bit), but food for thought:If you’re working on the 64 slice stack, you can also load poles to Slice0 and Slice31 now.
Also at this point, 64 slice stack users may want to select slices 0-31 and drag them to the side or resize them to get them out of the way, although its not necessary, it might make things easier to see.
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Step 5 – Resize the taper point
I’m talking about the bit of the balloon where the knot is. I’ve chosen Slice 6 (slice38) for this , we’ve already made it a pole.
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Because of SL scaling limitations, to make the slice very small we need to make it taller first.
- Edit Slice6 (Slice38) using sl building methods – Right-click the slice, choose edit from the pie
- Make the slice taller – Use Stretch and grab the Z(blue) handles (make sure Stretch both sides is also checked)
- Resize the whole slice – Use one of the corner white handles to shrink the slice down
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Step 6 – Set up the sizing B-spline
- Set up a from-to for Slices 6 to 31 (Slices 38 to 63). Either click slices 6 and 31 and choose from .. and to .. respectively, or use the HUD to get the From-to menu for that slice range.
64 slice users will need to change HUD pages to see slices 38-63.
- Save your work before continuing*
- Select B-spline from the menu – the first B-spline controller will rez
- Click the B-spline controller (transparent pink ball)
- Choose Locks.. > Unlock S X (size X)
- Do the same thing to Unlock S Y
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Step 7 – Activate the B-spline controller (just checking)
- Click the B-spline controller (pink ball) and choose Activate.
You’ll see something happen the slice sizes will change. Resize the controller and they will change a bit more. Its not enough yet, so lets add a couple more controllers
Step 8 – Add 2 more controllers
- Click the B-spline controller
- Choose Add Ctrl +
- Click the controller again and choose Add Ctr –
Step 9 – Reactivate and resize/move the controllers
- Click any control and choose Activate
- Using regular SL buiding methods, Resize and move (up and down) the controllers to get closer to the balloon shape you want

Step 9 – Make the balloon end
- Save your work (touch the base, choose .txt Slices)
- If you’re happy with your balloon shape, you can kill the controllers now.
Unfortunately these can’t be saved (yet), but this was pretty easy right? you could recreate what you just did in a flash. - Use the HUD to get the From-to Menu for Slices 1-6 (33-38 for the 64 slice stack users).
- Choose ‘Size‘ – ok you get the idea, its not quite right, but if you move (and resize) slice 1 to get it looking more balloon endy and do it again, we’re nearly done. (Do From-to 1-6 again and choose Position, after you move slice 1 to get them nicely spaced)
- When the balloon end is looking right, touch Slice 1 (directly or using the HUD) and choose ‘Copy…‘ > ‘Copy Posi‘ from the menu.
- Touch slice 0 (directly or using the HUD) and choose ‘Paste…’ and ‘Paste Posi’ from the menu.
Step 10 – 64 slice users only
- Save your work (touch the base, choose .txt Slices)
- Resize slices 1 and 30 to very small
- Bring slice 31 to where you think the string should start (tuck it inside the balloon end). Being a Pole slice you don’t need to resize it, which is pretty convenient cos we will still be able to grab hold of it
- Copy the position of slice 30 to slice 31
- Place slice 1 where you want the string to end
- for now leave slice 0 where it is, we can move it later
- Get the from to menu for slice 1-30 and choose Size
- Get the menu back and choose Position
- rez a B-spline controller, this time leave the size locks on, and resize the controller, make it smaller since we’re working in a small space
- Rez a couple of additional controllers, maybe even more, depending on how curly you want your string
- Make them all small enough to grab hold of
- Activate them and pull them around, you can curve, twist, loop and even knot the string
- When your string is stringy enough, copy the position of slice 1 (touch it using the HUD might be easiest) and paste the position to slice 0
on Jan 8th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
[…] you’d rather make a balloon first, try my new improved balloon tutorial, or see Ghanie’s older ones noting that they’re more geared to earlier versions when […]
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 2:51 am
awsome tutorial just by loocking at it and messing around im already getting the hang of the studio im not quite there yet but im looking at every tutorial to get the basic ideas of it working first then i can go and hopefully create some nice sculpts 🙂 i tryed to shape the balloon as shown above and ended up making some vase looking thing (bump) lol suppose i need to get my shapes in order
on Mar 9th, 2011 at 3:05 am
any ideas when i load the b-spline from 6-31 is loads 3 instead of one is this normal for version 6.04 instead of clicking the controller and using Add Ctrl +