Understanding the IMVU Previewer

Opening the IMVU Previewer the first time can be such a confusing experience that many new developers freak out, get frustrated, and close the program ... often not to open it again for weeks, if ever.

Once you've got your head around the basics of the Previewer, though, you will be off to a great start.

This tutorial is much more of a guide or reference than an outright "tutorial". By the time you're done with it, though, you'll know everything a beginning developer needs to know about the program.

Understanding the Previewer: The Steps

Step One: Three Windows

When you first open the Previewer, 3 windows will appear. They look something like those below. From top to bottom, these windows are: Message Window, Preview Window, and Editor.

Step Two: The Message Window

Honestly, you should never have to even look at this window. It displays messages related to the running of the program; in other words, if the program's working, you'll never even look at this window. Do be aware that you'll see a lot of text in here - that's normal and just the way it's supposed to be. I've not opened any files yet, and this is a preview of what my message window looks like right now (in other words, minimize this window and don't let it freak you out):

Step Three: The Preview Window

This is another very easy one; the only time you'll look here is when you have a product open and want to see how it looks. We'll do more with this window in a minute, but for now just know that it will only show an avatar in it after you've opened a product file.

Step Four: The Editor

Finally, we get to the stuff we really need. The Editor contains all the functions in it that a developer needs to create and edit new "stuff" - the only thing the Editor can't do is create new meshes. To do any kind of mesh-work, you need a 3D program like 3DS Max which (1) costs an arm and a leg, and (2) has an enormous learning curve attached. Seriously, there is a very good reason there are so few mesh artists on IMVU. So let's stick with stuff that won't take us the next 5 years to learn, shall we?

To get started really understanding the Editor, we'll need to open a product. Do this by clicking "File" and choosing "Create a Derived Product".

After you click "Create a Derived Product", a dialogue opens that asks the number of the product you want to derive from. We're going to use 11955, which is the product number for IMVU's "Basic Short Dress".

Product Number

Any time that you open a product that you've never opened in your Previewer before, a screen will appear saying that some files are missing and ask if you want to download them. Click Yes. Then, in the following window, click "Download Product Files". When it's done, click "Close".

Warning

Download

Step Five: The Editor - Product Info

Now, we have a product open. You can check out your Preview Window and you'll see a girl avatar has shown up, wearing IMVU's basic short dress.

Noise

Okay, so the first thing you'll want to check out is the first tab in the Editor - "Product Info". Ready for your first crash-course diagram? Good, cos here it comes (click to view full):

Step Six: The Editor - Edit Textures

In the basic Previewer mode (which is all you need, unless you know how to mesh ... in which case, this tutorial isn't likely to be something you'd need to be reading anyways) the only other tab you'll ever need to mess with is the "Edit Textures" tab.

The actual textures included in any product will vary, depending on the product. So, the product we're working with has three textures - from the top (you'll have to scroll), there's a Body texture, the Dress texture, and a Head texture. Some products will include all of these textures, others won't. It doesn't matter - you don't want to mess with anything but the dress. Making changes to the body or the head won't carry through to a product, and will make any changes show up behind the clothes you're editing.

Your next (very brief) crash-course diagram? This one is two products side-by-side. On the left is the Basic Short Dress, on the right is WaltzingMouse's animated wings (product #32837). Why have I done this? Some nefarious scheme to be confusing? Nope - it's the only way to show I can think of to show how products differ ... just look (click to view full):

Step Seven: The Editor - File Menu

The last of your crash-course diagrams, this one shows you all there is to know about the Editor's "File" menu. After this, you should be ready to go forth and develop!

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