Lab Chat returned and the entire video and transcript is available! This time the Q and A session chose a question of mine, about art:

…..What art related tools might there be in the proposed Sansar viewer? Will we have windlights and the ability to create them? What about filters? I have read that Sansar will have the possibilities to sell scenes; will the true be said of artists who would like to sell say 3D scenes, but without using Maya? – John (Johannes1977 Resident)…..

Don’t know about windlight, but ultimately we want people to be able to have fun with special effects and atmospherics, and various ways to create a unique range of look and feel. I think for starters, we’re staying in the what you can author; so we’re not really thinking [about] filters or ways to just wholesale change the look and feel of things like that. But, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to go there; it’s too far out. It’s later, so no clear answers on that.Endowment for arts? If it’s something that’s required for that community to be successful, then we’ll do something like that. Hopefully, the cost of land will be something we can have come down far enough that it becomes less of a critical need. But if there’s a need for us to support the arts, I’m sure we will think of ways, because I think that’s a really critical piece.And some of those experiences, so clearly why they need support is, they’re difficult to monetize. And it would be sad if you didn’t have that kind of creativity going on, because people couldn’t afford it.So, first: what can we do to ensure that it’s not too expensive to do that; and then if it’s still an issue, I’m sure we can think of ways to make sure that it gets supported sufficiently……

Source: Lab Chat #2: Ebbe Altberg – Additional Questions | Inara Pey: Living in a Modem World