What is BOM and what does it do?
BOM or Bakes On Mesh is a feature that has been introduced in August 2019, which allows system layers to show on mesh body parts that have been set up for Bakes On Mesh. Every kind of system layer (skin, tattoo, clothes, alphas, eyes etc…) when worn will apply to your mesh body/head just the way as system layers show on classic avatars. Think of it as different kind of applier system, similar to Omega, but without Huds/scripts and more layering options, but we get to that in the next point.
What are the benefits of BOM?
There is no more alpha glitching, less lag and layering is possible again! You will be able to wear up to 62 layers at once that will get baked onto the skin layer of your mesh head/body. That means no more worrying about if you wear makeup A you might lose makeup B \o/
BOM supports 1024×1024 resolution textures (before BOM it was 512×512), so the quality of the textures will be the same as applier skins/makeup/tattoos.
Also, since all BOM textures get baked onto one layer of the mesh head/body, there won’t be the need for onion layers on your mesh body parts anymore, which will reduce rendering cost and will make SL a better experience for all.
What is a system layer?
“System layers” is what we used to wear on our system avatars/classic avatars, before mesh bodies and heads became popular in SL (people who never switched to a mesh head or body still use them). It is sort of an inworld applier system without the need for huds/scripts. All you need to do is wear/add a system layer and the texture “applies” to your system body/head. BOM makes it possible to wear those system layers on mesh body parts too, if they are BOM ready.
What do I need to do to see system layers/BOM layers on my mesh body parts?
First of all you need a viewer that supports BOM (for example the latest Official Viewer or Firestorm). Make sure your mesh body parts are updated for BOM (some are already ready to go and some require a relay for now). Take off your alpha layers, wear a system skin that was made for your head/body and you’re set.
BOM tattoos and makeup will only work if you are wearing a system skin. If you’re wearing an applier skin, only makeup appliers will work.
Now you can add makeup, tattoos, BOM clothing as you please (up to 62 layers at once).
Please also check out Izzie’s FAQ and Applier/BOM Help pages for more infos.
Do I need a Relay Hud for BOM and where do I get one from?
If your mesh body/head has already been properly updated for BOM and you are using a viewer that supports BOM, you won’t need any relay or activation Hud. It will work right out of the box (for example Slink Redux). You just wear the body/head and don’t have to do anything further, just add system layers and see how they apply to your body/head.
Some heads and bodies offer a BakesOnMesh activation button on their body/head Hud (Catwa, LeLutka, Genus, Maitreya) and others offer a temporary solution with a body/head specific free Relay Hud (LAQ, Belleza).
Furthermore there is also a free BOM Omega applier Hud available that activates all Omega compatible body parts for BOM. To be able to use the BOM Omega applier, your body/head needs to be activated for Omega first, either by wearing the Omega relay or Omega installer hud for your body/head. You’ll find all Omega relays and installers here. Some mesh bodies/heads are already activated for Omega, in that case you can skip the relay/installer part and just wear the BOM Omega applier hud.
Please also check out Izzie’s FAQ and Applier/BOM Help pages for more infos.
Will Izzie’s offer BOM updates?
Some of you have probably noticed that I’ve been including BOM (BakesOnMesh) layers to all of my releases since April 2018, that’s when LL announced BOM will come to SL for the first time. Many of my older items include system layers (= BOM layers) as well, but not all.
I plan to update some of my older items, the ones that are requested the most by my customers, with time.
Items already updated:
Do you own an older item from Izzie’s, that doesn’t include system layers, maybe an item you’re wearing very often/on a daily basis and you wish it included BOM layers? Please let me know the name of the item (and for which mesh head/body it was made) inworld (IM or NC, both will work).
Old gacha items, group gifts and exclusive items, that were only available for a limited time, old Powder Pack items, as well as items that are not sold at my store anymore won’t be updated for BOM.
How will I get to know about Izzie’s BOM updates and how will I get a redelivery?
Since Izzie’s is not using any kind of scripted vendor system, the updates will be available for free at Izzie’s mainstore in the new releases area for the duration of about a week. If you missed the free update in that week and have purchased the item before, just contact Izzie Button inworld for a redelivery and I’ll send it to you as soon as possible. If you purchased the item on Marketplace, there is an option to redeliver by yourself (My Marketplace – My Account – Order History – find the item on the list and click Redeliver item).
Once there are BOM updates available, I will let you know on Izzie’s Flickr, Izzie’s Blog and in both of Izzie’s Update Groups.
Please also check out Izzie’s FAQ and Applier/BOM Help pages for more infos.
This was just a little and quick introduction to BOM, so you get an idea of what BOM is and what it does. There’s many videos, tutorials and info posts out there already, that go much more into detail. I’m going to link some of them below:
BOM Tutorial/Info Videos:
BOM Info Blogposts:
Activating Bakes on Mesh on your mesh head and body