But I knew I wanted to do something with these skins when a couple of months ago I accidentally (yeah... that is right.. never buy skin demos BEFORE your morning shot of caffeine or you risk ending up with the real deal) bought a set of skins and since I am never going to wear it (it's evennot the right skin tone for me) , I thought I'd dedicate at least a blog post to it so that my 4k is not totally thrown away (it hurts... 4k... could have done such nice shopping with it)So no review, no going into details about what I don't like about this skin. Then what? Hey... like it or not, but RaC IS one of the market leaders in SL. That means there must be wagons of people that DO see the worth of spending a lot of money on these skins. So I decided to open up the comments and ask you: Please enlighten me... what is it that you find so wonderfully attractive in these skins? OTHER than the cute face, I can see that, so no need to elaborate on it. Or if it is just that... and you think it;s worth the L$... well by all means... let me know.
Whereas I appreciate your positive comments, I also appreciate people commenting who, like me, are no fan of these skins. Just one request for all of you: keep it civilised? When things get nasty, I will have to close comments and delete offensive ones that have been placed already.
16 comments:
The newer RaC skins are a huge improvement on previous releases - smoother, less muddy textures and fewer seams. I still don't believe they are worth the price though - sure, you get a few different makeup options for your 4K but they don't offer enough variety to give you real value for money, since the options tend to be limited to slightly different shades of lipstick. I would happily pay a more reasonable price for single skins from the new range however. The pretty faces on these skins soon turn ugly on the wrong shape too, but a lot of people seem to buy them without consideration for that.
People really need to consider how they work with the shape. There are more than enough cute skins out there, and 4K is just too much.
I tried on a large handful of RaC skins, and I hated most of them on me. A close friend of mine has one and let me take a look at it, and it looks awesome on her shape. We've gotten comments that between the two of us, her RaC skin is more realistic, my main Gala skin is cuter.
I agree with you though, RaC skins aren't worth the money, and they just aren't something I would choose to spend mine on. There are much, much nicer skins available.
I agree -- I tried on the demos and wondered what the buzz was about -- for me the faces aren't even as nice as some great skins out there for much less, let alone 4k a pack. Now granted as a small avi of my own design I probably am not the best test, but I have skins from creators as varied as Alady, Celestial, Minnu, Tete a Pied, Sin & Tuli -- and while some look better than others and I've made a few mistakes, I've not been disappointed by either price or value. It's not clear to me that these would pass that test.
I bought my first pack of RaC skins back in February, but got the later version just a week ago and there's a world of difference -- rezzing is just plain better, textures are sharper, the seams don't show like before... everything is just a lot smoother now.
But yeah, going back to February '07...
It was really, really, really important to me to find a decent darker-toned skin. I've some southeast asian blood in my RL avi ^_^ and wanted my SL avi to have the same skin color. I searched through SL for TWO WHOLE WEEKS, trying to find a skin with that was not only that perfect shade of tan/brown, but was also of an acceptable quality. I almost gave up! Extremely few skin designers get it right... oftentimes the range of dark skins is limited to literally one shade, and that one shade is either afflicted with a cadaverous chalkiness, an odd whitish glow like an oily T-zone gone bad, or a radioactive orange. Looking for the right skin was a real pain.
To this day, RaC is the only place that offers the exact skin color I want, and in the quality I want. The only other places that have skins that come close to the color I desire AND don't do the god-awful photosourced-mottled-diseased look AND don't leave my avi looking like either a zombie or like she was attacked by an overzealous tanning booth sprayer... is Sin Skins and Naughty, and this is not for lack of searching on my part. I have quite an extensive collection of skin demos in my inventory, which I make regular use of for my body shape business.
As for the price, I think it's totally worth it. Sure, 4k is not chump change but you are getting six skins, so it works out to L$667 per skin. In the current market, some of the most popular skins are being offered in packs that are priced much higher; i.e. 6k for seven skins, or L$4800 for five skins. When you compare the prices of these "fatpacks", it becomes quite clear that RaC skins are priced very competitively.
And all of this without having touched yet on how cute they are. :D What's more, as someone recently pointed out on another blog, the variety of faces offered is unrivaled in SL. I simply cannot think of another skin store that offers so many *different* faces; nearly all other skins stores that I know of have the same face across the board, regardless of skin color.
As a sort of full disclosure thing, I'd like to say that yes, I'm currently employed at RaC at the customer service desk. I just started ^_^ and I am by no means a salesperson; I don't get a commission or anything like that. But before anyone starts saying "Oh look at that lackey defending her employer", I'd like to make it perfectly clear that I chose to work there -because- I am above and beyond pleased with the skins I've bought from there.
So yep, you can sign me "RaC Faithful" :p But I think it's clear that my loyalty isn't inspired by JUST the cute face -- like most other consumers, I also want the best quality I can get at a non-exorbitant price.
- mela
Mela, I agree with you, after the initial skins, the v2 of the skins were a much needed and very much appreciated improvement. Unfortunately (yes, being the skin fetishist that I am, I would like to see all skins perfect and 100% my taste, so blame me :-D) I still do see things that I can and will not accept in a skin that I wear, like eyeshadow that looks finger painted and such. It is personal, I know, but to me it looks like that.
Oh and while I am at it, what I really do appreciate a lot in RaC skin range, is indeed the great variety of faces. Which for other people can also be disappointing, because when you see a lovely fair skin and you would like to have a darker version, when you arrive at your skin tone, there are way different faces in the vendors. But I consider that a luxury problem. There is a lot to choose from.
And indeed, objectively RaC skins are not that expensive (anymore), but the fact that you can only buy sets and not a single skin just turns me down. By the way, when RaC first started out, a single skin was priced at 4k. I think that makes that RaC is still perceived as an incredibly expensive skin, especially by older residents.
I tried so many demos, all while wearing one of the earlier RaC skins that my first sl friend recommended. But what sent me back to RaC, in addition to the variety of faces and lovely range of skin tones, is the fact that the mouths look normal. The very full pouty lips on so many of the skins in sl may work for those interested in fashion model or escort work, but they don't feel like me. A bit too voluptuous, however pretty. RaC has a more "girl next door" quality, an understated sexiness.
My friend is a def. rac addict. When I tried them on they did NOT go with my shape- I ended up on a nyte and day skin. I wore that one until Tess came out from rac and decided on getting her. 4k was a LOT to spend and I was very apprehensive but my friend threatened to beat me if I didn't buy it. Why? RaC skins have minimal makeup. I am sure she was tired of me complaining about 'finding a skin makeup that didn't make me want to wash my face'. IRL I don't wear makeup and I don't like it in SL either on myself. I do understand what you mean regarding mistakes- seams and shading. Some of them have horrendous shading on the face. The bodies I love though (even though I spot seams). I cannot seem to like any other shading on the body except rac's. Bottom line it's the only place I can get a skin with minimal makeup and lipstick options - that's all I want to change anyway. :)
I have to agree that the make ups and the cute faces - depending on the one you choose make RAC a very attractive skin. However, as a bonafide skin freak, I don't believe in buying any skin you can't stand up naked and bald in and feel fairly comfortable that it isn't noticeably lazily made.
That isn't the case for me. The top of the head, the collarbones, the feet, the knees, the hands, these are all places I find flaws just to name a few and granted these are more difficult places on the skin - many skin makes manage to get it right - I don't see why RAC should be any different.
I do love RAC's hair though.
I don't think there is such a thing as "the" best skin, it all depends on what you want to emphasize or not, if you want to look like the RL you or not etc. I found MY best skin in RAC, so for ME it was worth it. They have my eyebrows and the nose shadings (for the nostrils) make it look very very much like my RL nose, which is a very strong feature in my face. I don't care much for makeup either. There is some difference in the face and body colours, but that doens't bother me enough. There are many many beautiful skins out there with much better prices, and I use them for ads sometimes, but they're just not "me", that's all.
I like the new and improved RaC and I really love the skin I got there recently. However, for somebody who likes a lot of different looks and make-ups, the lack of variation per face leaves very little room to grow into the skin. I will most probably get the odd skin every now and then but RaC would never become my main addiction.
Now, if they were to move in the direction of say Celestial Studios or Tete a Pied who are masters at variation.... well that would change everything. :)
I have to agree with what's been said about the pretty faces on RaC skins. I love them. And quite frankly, I don't plan on stripping any time soon. So seams and shading are not that important to me.
In fact, I've never noticed it. The price is steep,and that is why so far I've only purchased 2 RaC skins. But I've already picked out my next one! Just waiting on the $L to accumulate.
Nice to see the blog with a post again. :)
When I started trying on demos at RaC I didn't like the skin either. It wasn't until I tried on the Drew skin that I fell in love. A nice fresh look, and like Penny says the mouth isn't too pouty, the nose isn't reshaped like other skins, and the look just fit my avi. I just wish I could get different makeups than what comes in the set. Still, I find that I wear the skin a lot.
It was scary making the commitment for 4k and I feared I would end up disappointed. I'm not. I've gone back, but I still haven't found any other skin at RaC that I want, but I'm happy with what I did purchase.
The thing I like best about the RaC skins, in addition to the individuality and variety displayed, is the understated sexiness. I'm not advertising. The big pouty lips and overdone makeups of so man sl skins just don't seem natural to me. My current RaC skin, because of how I have created my shape, is a good approximation of my younger rl self, so I feel comfortable in my skin. And the other issues don't really bother me, since it's my face that gets the air time.
hi, i think its a great option you give here and thank you for ur article ;)
I have quite a few rac skin packs, I was always satisfied with the skins but im a skin addict. I like that it looks real actually as many skins in sl don't.you talk about shapes, Iam a professionel shape maker, and YES I see so many deformed shapes walking around in sl wich is my worst nightmare wrikles & ugh ya dont get me started but its NOT the fault of the skin lol it is your ability to tweak a shape to match^^ the skin u wear wich is a must to have a flawless look if you have trouble with that you can come to my store I be happy to consult you. :) A lot of you write that 4k is a lot money i think its the least i ever paid for a skin pack lol for real where do u shop girls??
Minnu packs were 6k now 9k ok including frecks now but yes and also naughty is 4k as well as so many others places i might not think of now. but I dont mind to spend its not about the money if i get what i want, then i dont mind paying.
But, there is one thing i hate when creators become a bit well snobby and think they are something better writing nc for customers what they dont do...etc we dont do this dont contact me for that ...blah they i get a bit uncomfortable in beeing their customer...well and the other thing is that rac who now is rebranded before offered skin packs only and NOW only single skins wich one is 1250$L if u buy 6 skins that is MORE then 4k isnt it....now and that sucks its still the same quality but much more price and no pack offer at all. I Imed the creator and the reply was that it isnt yet a defenite decision but, I can only say I wont buy single skins there i dont do it anywhere else and i wont start there. then one thing is for sure there are MANY more fabolous skin stores by now that offer the quality the customer appreciation and the pack option, so I rather spent my money there.
that is all i have ot say greetings yours SerinaJane Loon
I like the faces at RaC but, I still do NOT like the prices.
I know of other places, for the price they are charging NOW, I could get a complete set...
I know the pain of accidently purchases, I'm lucky tho, I LIKE my 2k hair set.
I have looked all over for an Afro-American skin that was not cartoonish (dark skin has red and blue in it, not just muddy brown). It seems that in SL, everyone's definition of beauty is a very fair skinned and angular Anglo face, so unfortunately for me, most skins have been dedicated to this type.
RAC's "Diana" in cocoa is a god-send! The skin looks fantastic on my av's round and full-lipped face. Having the right shape does count. I don't think this skin would look right on an angular face with thin lips.
I just bought one skin. I agree that the makeup options do not vary much from just lip color.
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