FeliciaDivine: We are here today with the best auto mesher on IMVU…KrystalSkye70…thank you
for taking the time to do this 🙂
KrystalSkye70: You are quite welcome
FeliciaDivine: Krys thinking back…what drew you to IMVU…how did you get involved?
KrystalSkye70: It was accidental, really. I happened upon a link to IMVU, and decided to check it
out. Having been a user of the “Excite Chat” service, I understood
the basic concept of chat-rooms. Being a fan of the game Sims 2, I was familiar with 3D worlds,
and decorating and such. The two together seemed like a fun thing, so I stuck around
FeliciaDivine: so you started early as a mesher?
KrystalSkye70: no. Not really, anyway. I had experience with 3D when I was in college for
mechanical engineering, but that was just a basic “this is what 3D is.” I
didn’t start meshing until about 6 or 7 months after I started IMVU
FeliciaDivine: What was IMVU like back in those days…i heard it was somewhat chaotic…and what
made you choose to do vehicles?
KrystalSkye70: Not sure that “chaotic” is an accurate description, really. There were some things
I didn’t care for (such as people just pulling me into their private
chats, and immediately wanting cyber-sex)
FeliciaDivine: that still goes on, probably always will…men still use the dumbass line (this
doesnt work guys) U Butiful, I Luv U, I Cyber U, Skype?
KrystalSkye70: keep in mind, I was in IMVU before Skype was created (I do believe, anyway)
FeliciaDivine: i joined the internet in 07…skype was limited at the time to 15 people
KrystalSkye70: ok so Skype existed when I joined IMVU..but..I never knew what it was. I still
refuse to use Skype.
FeliciaDivine: me too
KatDivine1: I have it, but I chat through SMS…
KrystalSkye70: I have always been a fan of cars, since I was a wee girl. While browsing the
catalogue one day, I saw SPY00’s 67 GTO lowrider mesh, and after doing
several re-colours, I decided to dust off my copy of 3DS, and really get into 3D modeling. I had
several ideas about cars I wanted in IMVU, and thought the best way
to have them would be to make them myself
FeliciaDivine: so I have to ask…what is your relationship to VanGoGo?
KrystalSkye70: He and I are friends. He loves to re-colour my meshes
KrystalSkye70: I will often ask his advice about some cars that I am working on. He has a decent
understanding of what sells here, and we both have similar opinions
about favourite vehicles.
FeliciaDivine: you two do work well together 🙂
KrystalSkye70: he also mentions some of my flaws that I don’t notice, hehe
FeliciaDivine: lol, great to have that extra set of eyes 🙂
KrystalSkye70: Exactly
KrystalSkye70: I am completely jealous of his re-colours. I’ve gotten (a bit) better at
texturing, due to trying to compete with him.
FeliciaDivine: Besides Van is there anyone else you met you would like to credit for your
success, another mesher or designer you admire??
KrystalSkye70: oh, certainly
KrystalSkye70: DarkAngel5 is one of my primary inspirations. When I was still new to IMVU, she
sent a random homepage message to me, just wishing me a good day. I’ve
saved that message all this time. SPY00 made that 67 GTO, which inspired me to create cars.
LadyWallace asked me for special meshes, and she really pushed the
envelope, and got me to learn how to be much better. msSlinkySilks and I worked a project
together (that it took me far too long to complete hehe). So many others, I
feel bad for not mentioning all their names, but the article would go on for days if I kept
naming them. Many many people have been motivators for me. You all know who
you are.
KrystalSkye70: Of course VanGoGo, KimAthos (KimDeFere) and many other of the people who re-colour
my items, as well
KrystalSkye70: They are all important to me.
FeliciaDivine: wow all great people 🙂
FeliciaDivine: is there a special memory you have, maybe a funny story you would like to share?
FeliciaDivine: you must have a few…meshing that many vehicles and meeting so many great
people…i bet there have been days you had that eureka moment and days you
just wanted to scrap the mesh
KrystalSkye70: Funny story….I was in a room, and I had my avatar set to AP (I was all nakie),
and I got an invitation to a chat. I almost always accept invitations,
because I never know if it is a customer with questions or concerns about my products. It was
JamiDiaz, back when she was a major person in the offices of IMVU. She
requested me to mesh a car for her.
FeliciaDivine: oh oh 🙂
KrystalSkye70: So when I loaded into her room, I was still all nakie. Kind of embarrassing for me
hehe, but she was ok with it
FeliciaDivine: thats good
KrystalSkye70: She left IMVU not long after, though, so I never did get that project completed
FeliciaDivine: I presume you had lots of projects at the time…what makes you choose the
vehicles you do…requests, your personal likes or a bit of both?
FeliciaDivine: you said you love cars 🙂
KrystalSkye70: A bit of both. I have my favourites. People have their requests. Then there are
the famous vehicles that many people remember.
KrystalSkye70: and I always have lots of projects. usually about 100 or so at a time
FeliciaDivine: I retextured the Zonda…I think that it’s a variation of the McClaren…I’m not
really knowledgeable about cars but it’s a great design
FeliciaDivine: 100 projects? and people say I’m insane for multi-tasking??
KrystalSkye70: Pagani Zonda is a car designed by a former race car driver. The company is Pagani,
so no, it isn’t a variation of McClaren. It is powered by Mercedes-Benz.
FeliciaDivine: that is good to know, thanks Krys…I’m writing that down
FeliciaDivine: so what are you working on these days, still lots of projects to do even after all
these years?
KrystalSkye70: Always
FeliciaDivine: that’s good to hear, better to keep busy than not be busy
KrystalSkye70: As new cars are released in real life, some of them grow in popularity. To get
them to the IMVU public, I must do LOTS of research.
FeliciaDivine: I can imagine. Van helps?
KrystalSkye70: Yes and no. As for popularity of certain vehicles, yes, he helps.
KrystalSkye70: Then there are movies that make some cars famous, and those are typically popular
in IMVU as well.
FeliciaDivine: lol, Batman?
KrystalSkye70: Batman. Blah. Fast and Furious series stands out more.
KatDivine1: Vin Diesel’s car from Fast and Furious…
FeliciaDivine: oooo I love Vin Diesel movies
FeliciaDivine: I bought the entire Fast and Furious boxed set…all 6 movies together
KrystalSkye70: Nicholas Cage, and Dwayne Johnson also have done movies that feature some striking
cars
FeliciaDivine: ah yes Eleanor
KatDivine1: Nick Cage…Eleanor???
KrystalSkye70: The Riviera and the Charger he drove in the movie Drive Angry, as well. The list can just
keep growing…
FeliciaDivine: I have not seen that one, I’ll check it out
KrystalSkye70: I’m good at picking out cars in movies. Movies most people have never seen, I can
name off “popular” or “famous” cars used just for them
FeliciaDivine: well sounds like you will always be in demand…I have seen your meshes and
understand why you’re considered the best…
KrystalSkye70: Well, I do have some competition….
FeliciaDivine: mmm I heard of one but can’t remember the name…does new supercars. Your name
everyone knows
KrystalSkye70: Supercars are a special thing. They take a lot of research to do correctly, and often can’t be accessed with my own personal camera.
FeliciaDivine: are you branching out as well…vehicles is just one thing…but you do a whole
lot more…I just want to make that clear…you are a true mesher
KrystalSkye70: Well, I have my talents for automotive items, but I have done other things as
well. You can tell what I am better at, though hehe. I am trying to mesh
some hair styles, and clothing, but those sorts of items are FAR different than cars.
FeliciaDivine: I don’t want everyone to think you’re a specialist in one area
KrystalSkye70: well, I am, though. But just because I specialize in automotive, doesn’t mean I
CAN’T do other things. I just don’t take requests for much of anything
other than the occasional car.
FeliciaDivine: ok good to know 🙂
KrystalSkye70: Avatar animations I am NOT good at, so I’m learning that sort of thing slowly.
FeliciaDivine: msSlinkySilks is perfect for animations
FeliciaDivine: so this is the dangerous question…
FeliciaDivine: what do you most like about IMVU and what change would you like to see happen?
KrystalSkye70: What do I like most…..the interaction from across the globe. I love how I can
chat with people from 8 different parts of the world all at the same
time. It opens the mind to all sorts of different ideas.
FeliciaDivine: 🙂
KrystalSkye70: One of the things I seriously want changed is the Shopping Experience. I want the
shop to be taken OUT of the client. FAR too many people never know
there are product pages made, with item triggers listed. Too many people re-colour my cars, and
omit the triggered animations entirely, just because they don’t know
the animations exist. Also, I’d love for IMVU to implement some sort of “wish list” for re-
colourers, that can favourite what they want to re-colour, without needing
to worry about people gifting them ugly, non-coloured items.
FeliciaDivine: mmm have you put that idea in the forums? lots of changes are made just from IMVU
user posts
KrystalSkye70: I have. More than once. They don’t like me in the forums, though hehe
FeliciaDivine: lol, I’m not popular there either even though I’m friends with all the mods
FeliciaDivine: ok…what are you hoping to do in the future…anything special you can give us a
hint about??
KrystalSkye70: Get better at what I do, of course!. VanGoGo, MissPix, ChicbyTrinity, and sooo many others are pushing the bar
for texturing and landscaping and such. msSlinkySilks and Mocap are
pushing the boundaries for avatar animations. DarkAngel5 pushes the bar with her animated and
textured critters and animals. Of course, all the hair and clothing meshers out there. If I am
going to be more helpful to the IMVU community, I need to
get better at ALL of that. I want to create a completely epic animated-type room.
FeliciaDivine: wow
KrystalSkye70: I need to be better at about all aspects of creating in order to do that
FeliciaDivine: I think for you it’s only a step away, you have always excelled.
FeliciaDivine: is there any advice you can give to all the new meshers out there?
KrystalSkye70: Yes. MAKE YOUR OWN WORK! Don’t just take items from famous video games, slap your
name on them, and call it a day. Do your OWN thing.
FeliciaDivine: mmm that’s why I don’t know the name of that new supercar guy…taking from new
video games
KatDivine1: follow your own drum, in other words…
KrystalSkye70: Well, I won’t name names for such things. But, that is another major change IMVU
needs. The mesh and texture “thieves” need to go elsewhere. I don’t
agree with selling meshes or textures, either, because that can eventually lend itself to issues
FeliciaDivine: which brings me to another question…when I worked on the Zonda…I’m not an
expert at design and cars have lots of parts…how does one go about making
textures for a car…you need door seams, dashboard dials and stuff (ya I know I’m really
technical pffftttt)
FeliciaDivine: even tires are complex for a novice like me
KrystalSkye70: You can find those parts using Google Image Search. Look for things such as
“bucket seat” or “dashboard gauges” or what-not. Using your paint program to
crop and customize such images makes them all yours.
KrystalSkye70: Lighting, and tire treads, and rims, and all that stuff can be found. Or, carry a
camera around, and take photographs of real car parts (like I do).
KrystalSkye70: You REALLY need to know all the tools of your paint program, to help get the best
custom images, though.
FeliciaDivine: thank you 🙂
FeliciaDivine: do you use just 3DMAX?
KrystalSkye70: No, I use Sketch-Up also.
FeliciaDivine: for texturing what do you use? I use Gimp but Sketch-Up for meshing
KrystalSkye70: I use Paint Shop Pro. I’ve been using Paint Shop Pro since 1996. I was a beta-
tester for Jasc Software, from PSP v.5 till v.9, when they sold to Corel.
FeliciaDivine: mmmm do you recommend joining a group that has Tutorials…I know you’re against
file sales, but there are groups like Gimp Developers School?
KrystalSkye70: I recommend joining groups with tutorials, yes. I also recommend looking at the
tutorials posted in the forums. I’ve used those tutorials myself, when I
first started learning meshing. I basically taught myself, but I had help with the forums, and
asking the correct questions.
FeliciaDivine: yes I noticed a lot of meshers and designers take time to answer questions which
is great…Darkideas, DarkAngel5, MissVix, JakMesh, MsSlinkySilks to
name a few…its great how the IMVU Community rallies around each other…some don’t get along
and many don’t want competition but…still…many take the time for
others…one of the reasons I think IMVU is the best place to be
KrystalSkye70: I’ve helped several people as well. While some competition can be detrimental to
total sales, I find being helpful is far more rewarding.
FeliciaDivine: yep unless there is more you want to add?
KrystalSkye70: when the issue of thievery comes up, I get a bit squeamish. Some people get very
offended about it.
KrystalSkye70: But I am VERY out-spoken about thieves.
FeliciaDivine: well it’s a subject that needs to be addressed…MattMan and I have had many
discussions about it
KatDivine1: Krys, my WL is about to have a major breakdown…I only got through the first 25
pages of your catty…
KrystalSkye70: 25 pages, and you’ve been filling your wish-list?
KatDivine1: yep…all I need is a ’76 Mustang…and a ’76 Thunderbird…
KrystalSkye70: ohhhh
KrystalSkye70: I’m working on a 77 Thunderbird (close enough)
KrystalSkye70: I’ve named all my (real-life) cars….
KrystalSkye70: my car IS an entity, and she certainly deserves her own name hehe
FeliciaDivine: Eleanor I liked that name
KrystalSkye70: that [Eleanor] was a code name though hehe
FeliciaDivine: mmm I call mine Duct Tape Forever
KrystalSkye70: my car’s name is Lydia
FeliciaDivine: who was Lydia?
FeliciaDivine: I sense a story here
KrystalSkye70: my car? well, Lydia was the name of the younger girl in Beetlejuice, and Lydia was
the name of the female lead character in the movie Innerspace
KrystalSkye70: but my car is a Lincoln LS, and I was trying to think of a name…and “Lydia” just
popped into my mind.
KrystalSkye70: but the Beetlejuice character was exotic-looking, with black hair. and my car is a
European-styled luxury/sport car, painted black, so it kind-of fit.
KrystalSkye70: People can buy a 3D model of my Lydia, here in IMVU, if they really want one hehe
KrystalSkye70: although…in the catalogue, the car is called K’s LS, not Lydia
FeliciaDivine: 🙂
FeliciaDivine: oh I have another question…what is your favorite thing you’ve created?
KrystalSkye70: not sure I can choose a favourite, really. I have many that stand out.
KrystalSkye70: my Munster’s Koach stands out as a favourite
my Lamborghini Veneno, and my Brian’s Skyline (from 2Fast 2Furious), as well
FeliciaDivine: ok what one stands out the most that you did with Van?
KrystalSkye70: Van and I never really worked on a project together. He’s done soooo much amazing work with
sooo many of my cars, it is hard to pick out a personal favourite from him
FeliciaDivine: well we have been here awhile, and I am very glad we are friends…is there
anything you would like to say to your adoring fans? 🙂
KrystalSkye70: Thankies sooo much for your support of my products! Every time I meet someone who’s
purchased an item, I thank him or her. I also want to say “Thankies!”
to all those who have re-textured any of my meshes. I am very appreciative for all that my
supporters do for me.
KrystalSkye70: And thankies to YOU for calling me your friend, Felicia.
FeliciaDivine: well IMVU is a better place having you here, thank you so much Krys 🙂
KrystalSkye70: Thankies, and the same goes for you. Take care, and have fun!
KrystalSkye70: I forgot to give a shout-out to Dutch in my interview. He’s the one who taught me how to animate my meshes.
How could I be so foolish as to forget HIM??
Without his guidance, my cars would be boring, lifeless furniture bits, and my rooms would be plain…..
Editor’s Note: Just after this we all had to stop and have dinner, it was getting late…we did
have a great time chatting though, i hope all those reading this
enjoyed themselves as well 🙂