creating NEW models?

[ian80]

Recolouring is fine and dandy, but I want to do more! I was under the impression we were going to be able to make NEW clothing/hair styles/glasses, but all I can do it recolour them. Is there a way to remodel clothing? Ditto for hair?

Also, I remember them saying that they were going to include texture mapping. I do not see where this is. Again, have I just missed it?

[KatAnubis]

Recolouring is fine and dandy, but I want to do more! I was under the impression we were going to be able to make NEW clothing/hair styles/glasses, but all I can do it recolour them. Is there a way to remodel clothing? Ditto for hair?

Also, I remember them saying that they were going to include texture mapping. I do not see where this is. Again, have I just missed it?
For one thing, we don't have the "complete" version of BodyShop. Evidently that will ship with the game.

Also, the "mesh" changes may need another program. In the chats they spoke of needing to find a way to interface with MayaPLE to do the 3D modeling. Or they will give us "white papers" so that we can use Maya to do the modeling.

So, I don't believe you've "missed" it. It's just that we don't have everything that we will eventually get.

Another thing they've talked about is that there will be a program which is similar to Homecrafter so we can do wallpaper and flooring. But I suspect that will come along later, as will the other object and mesh making information.

[FaeLuna]

I'v seen the texture mapping files when I was recoloring clothes, but since I don't understand WHAT I'm seeing I haven't tried to change those yet. :p Try exporting an outfit for a project and when you open all the files in your project folder, one of them is the texture mapping file. The other two are the actual clothing to recolor or otherwise alter and save, and the Alpha filters, which is black and white and greytones.

[allstargrl117]

Recolouring is fine and dandy, but I want to do more! I was under the impression we were going to be able to make NEW clothing/hair styles/glasses, but all I can do it recolour them. Is there a way to remodel clothing? Ditto for hair?

Also, I remember them saying that they were going to include texture mapping. I do not see where this is. Again, have I just missed it?ahhhh i don't even know how to make new designs for the clothes. I'm new and so maybe there is something that i don't know but i'm confused!! PLease help!:D

[Ebjan]

ahhhh i don't even know how to make new designs for the clothes. I'm new and so maybe there is something that i don't know but i'm confused!! PLease help!:D
You will need a graphics program such as Paint Shop, Gimp or Photoshop. You open the file in the program and just fool around to get the feel, save then view in Body Shop. There are many help sites online that can help you to learn to use the programs. Using them you can change color, shape, and even add things such as lace to your outfits or change the skin colors.

[Mizz Rose Bud]

Also, I remember them saying that they were going to include texture mapping. I do not see where this is. Again, have I just missed it?
The texturemapping file is the blue .BMP file, but you´ll need a video card with at least 128 MB to see anything changing. If you don´t have such a V/C just paint it plain blue with your Fill-tool or else it would look odd to people with a V/C 128 MB ... so I was told :cool:

Rose

[nanshi_nibble]

I'v seen the texture mapping files when I was recoloring clothes, but since I don't understand WHAT I'm seeing I haven't tried to change those yet. :p

In order to change my texture files [body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName], I use this approach.

I use the body~stdMatBaseTextureName I created and open it into irfanview (free program - www.download.com) or any program that has an emboss feature, make the item negative then emboss, then recolour to that purply colour then save over the original body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName file. It's ALWAYS the last thing I do. I may do other things to it as well, like open photoshop and use the filters - my favourite is the texturiser feature that comes with the original, I sandstone everything!!

Um I should also add, if you want to see how I did this, download the pink underwear and have a look at the body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName file to give you an idea (use the create feature to check it out).

[KatAnubis]

In order to change my texture files [body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName], I use this approach.

I use the body~stdMatBaseTextureName I created and open it into irfanview (free program - www.download.com (http://www.download.com)) or any program that has an emboss feature, make the item negative then emboss, then recolour to that purply colour then save over the original body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName file. It's ALWAYS the last thing I do. I may do other things to it as well, like open photoshop and use the filters - my favourite is the texturiser feature that comes with the original, I sandstone everything!!

Um I should also add, if you want to see how I did this, download the pink underwear and have a look at the body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName file to give you an idea (use the create feature to check it out).
Cool. I want to try that. I have Corel Painter 8 and it doesn't have an embossing feature (impasto, yes. Embossing, no.) Thanks for telling us the program which can do it.

[nanshi_nibble]

Please remember to negative the image first before embossing (this feature is also in irfanview) otherwise the emboss will invert - do you get what I mean? The texture will look as if it is sunken in as opposed to pushing out!

[suitemichelle]

Nan, I just want to say you are doing some terriffic work... I just love some of the skins you've done. Keep it up.

[wize_guy123]

The design of the clothing... very easy to change color... use hue/saturation... most programs have that... such as Photoshop and GIMP... but if you are looking for the design of the clothings shape... go to the alpha... everything in white will be viewed.. and everything black will not... I have not done much on the new clothing but... I have made a set for The Sims 2.. its called
The Sims 2 Go Retro...
Well... then for the hair... I have made one of the examples from the first downloads from TS2 official site.... its the for the adult male... with the little piece of hair...
I put exported the file... when using the alphas I blacked out the little piece of hair in each... and now Its not there... YEAH...
Then with the top of the hair... I made it green in each BASE... and the spike front blue...

MY CREATIONS ON BOTTOM

[wize_guy123]

With my previous files... The Sims 2 Go Retro... I accidentaly cut off a baby.. as you see on the left hand side of the picture.. you only see the hand

[wize_guy123]

Nanshi.. very nice work... just a question.. when creating new clothing... does the creases within always stay the same.. to make it look real?

[nanshi_nibble]

Nan, I just want to say you are doing some terriffic work... I just love some of the skins you've done. Keep it up.

Wow, thanks! Does the heart good to hear this!

[nanshi_nibble]

Nanshi.. very nice work... just a question.. when creating new clothing... does the creases within always stay the same.. to make it look real?

Hmm...this is kind of difficult as it depends on the file. If you are doing a straight recolour, then yeah it does, because essentially you are not changing anything in the files - just the colour. The creases are available in the body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName file - so if you don't touch it then it remains the same.

If you have a look at some of my body~stdMatNormalMapTextureName files, you will see that I have added other texture effects (particularly in the underwear). However this does have a downside as those with non-high spec video cards only see the item as flat - (not such a bad thing but I truly recommend upping your video card before buying TS2 - it will blow you out of the water!) and so they lose what I was aiming for.

People like amysims (who is brilliant IMHO), also do things like shading/lighting effects in their clothes (body~stdMatBaseTextureName) which I don't (this has more to do with experience - I am just a newbie!! - & she may also be using a better paint program!) which I think works particularly well for people with low spec video cards.

Not sure if this answered your question!?!

[KatAnubis]

People like amysims (who is brilliant IMHO), also do things like shading/lighting effects in their clothes (body~stdMatBaseTextureName) which I don't (this has more to do with experience - I am just a newbie!! - & she may also be using a better paint program!) which I think works particularly well for people with low spec video cards.
Nanshi_nibble, it really surprises me that you say you are a beginner. I've been very impressed with your work. In fact, I've downloaded more of yours than of many others. It's very good!

[nanshi_nibble]

awwhh gee thanks KatAnubis! :embarrassed: I had never skinned prior to getting BS and just gave it a go... I'm glad you like them, made my day all these nice comments, also I just want to encourage people to use the program as well - I want to see and use your stuff too!

I ahve always been a pretty uncreative person [very right brained problem solver] - and BS has unleashed the arty beast in me - and I want it to unleash it in you too!

BTW I'm always open to requests!

[KatAnubis]

awwhh gee thanks KatAnubis! :embarrassed: I had never skinned prior to getting BS and just gave it a go... I'm glad you like them, made my day all these nice comments, also I just want to encourage people to use the program as well - I want to see and use your stuff too!

I ahve always been a pretty uncreative person [very right brained problem solver] - and BS has unleashed the arty beast in me - and I want it to unleash it in you too!

BTW I'm always open to requests!
I've actually been learning my paint program and making things with BodyShop too. However, just about the time that I was going to start uploading to SimStuff because I finally thought my stuff was not so poorly done, I've been busy with work related stuff. Grrrr. Someday you'll see it, but I still feel like yours is better (at least so far.)

[FaeLuna]

Keep unleashing the "arty beast" and making more skins! I think you're doing great too! :D The flower border on the undies is CUTE!! (I want them in real life, haha!)

[nanshi_nibble]

thanks Faeluna...this is what is coming up! I have really enjoyed creating these. The pinstripe underwear is based on underwear that you can buy from www.dreamgirl.com.au, I really love them... and plan to talk to the ball and chain about buying me some!

[KatAnubis]

thanks Faeluna...this is what is coming up! I have really enjoyed creating these. The pinstripe underwear is based on underwear that you can buy from www.dreamgirl.com.au (http://www.dreamgirl.com.au), I really love them... and plan to talk to the ball and chain about buying me some!
Nice!

I started looking at all the pretty underwear that I had downloaded of yours, Nanshi_nibble and started wondering why I had such a big collection. It's all your fault. My poor Sim ladies won't have that much opportunity to wear them (since we don't dress our Sims in layers) but I just like your stuff so much that I've got quite a collection now. I suppose they'll wear them around the house, but what if they get visitors. They'll have to go quick and put on some clothes! What if the dresser is too far away and the visitors leave before they get a chance to get to the door wearing something that is visitor appropriate? My poor Sims are going to have *such* a dilemma! :winks:

[KatAnubis]

Nanshi_Nibble. I have a question for you.

Do you just use Irfanview to get the negative and then use your regular paint program after that?

I downloaded Irfanview but I can't figure out where any of the tools are. It allowed me to make the negative, but nothing else.

If all I needed Irfanview for is to make the negative, my Corel has that feature. I thought there was more to the embossing than just making the negative.

What am I missing here?

[nanshi_nibble]

Not sure if it means anything but I have version 3.85.

However this is what you do. Open the wonderful creation that you have spent hours creating :D then go to 'image' then 'negative'. Then go back to 'image' and go down to 'effects' then go to 'emboss'. I then go to 'image' again, then 'enhance colours' and put the settings to these 5,2,-12,132 which approximately gives you that purply colour. (I have attached a screenshot of this) then I save over my textures file. And voila - texturey goodness!

[KatAnubis]

Not sure if it means anything but I have version 3.85.

However this is what you do. Open the wonderful creation that you have spent hours creating :D then go to 'image' then 'negative'. Then go back to 'image' and go down to 'effects' then go to 'emboss'. I then go to 'image' again, then 'enhance colours' and put the settings to these 5,2,-12,132 which approximately gives you that purply colour. (I have attached a screenshot of this) then I save over my textures file. And voila - texturey goodness!
Thanks, Nanshi. You gave me the hints I needed to find the color parts. It's under image/effects. I couldn't find it before. Now I just have to try it!

[FaeLuna]

I think I'm using a different paint program but I'm going to try to approximate that negative image technique and see if I end up with texture! Thanks!! :D

And thanks for all the pretty undies too! ;) I may have to suggest that site to my hubby when it's my birthday next year... :p

[KatAnubis]

thanks Faeluna...this is what is coming up! I have really enjoyed creating these. The pinstripe underwear is based on underwear that you can buy from www.dreamgirl.com.au (http://www.dreamgirl.com.au), I really love them... and plan to talk to the ball and chain about buying me some!
I got the Texture mapping to work and did my first one. I made nicer undies for the poor elderly ladies. I put one of the ones I did up on the Sims Showcase. (And I thanked you, Nanshi_Nibble, for teaching me how to do it.)

Thanks for the help! I can now go off and make Texture maps. (Now I just need to get the nice edges figured out.)

http://thesims2.ea.com/sim_detail.php?asset_id=19983&lastURL=%2Fmyuploads.php

[nanshi_nibble]

Well done...looks fantastic (and I have downloaded it as well!!)

[wize_guy123]

Nice work Kat... I really wish I new how to work that program... but I know nanshi has already explained it... I will have to read back... and for what your doing... what is it... making the alpha? okay.. cya in a lil

[nanshi_nibble]

and for what your doing... what is it... making the alpha?

Hiya wiseguy, no this is sort of a cheaters way to make a 'texture' file.

[wize_guy123]

Oh okay thanx

[KatAnubis]

Well done...looks fantastic (and I have downloaded it as well!!)
Thanks. I'm still working on technique. I did a whole 'nother set of elderly ladies' undies today. I wanted the hip cut a little higher and the bra cut a little lower. I also decided to make some roses rather than just plain circles this time. (I kept thinking of yours, but mine tend to be marching down the front, as opposed to your more artistic arrangement.) However, I didn't do as much shading as with the first one because I wanted to try something with surface texture. I think I'd rather have it shaded a bit, however, so that the edges look more 3D instead of painted on their skin.

One of the problems I've had with the front edge is trying to come up with an edge treatment other than flowers which looks good on that near diagonal. I haven't been happy with just a plain edge at all, no matter how I shaded it. But then, I don't want to have flowers on all of them. I tried sort of a squared lacy bit, but I didn't like that either. (Real sewing sometimes is much easier!)

As much as I'd hate having bigger files, I almost wish that the pixel count was a little higher for these. It would make diagonal lines more smooth. :winks:

[nanshi_nibble]

as opposed to your more artistic arrangement.
:D

Uh, like most things in life I chucked it down and it just kinda worked! I just grabbed one flower and pasted it over and over again down along the diagonal line (do you get what I mean?). Rather than paste a line of diagonal flowers.

I understand what you mean. The underwear with flowers look much better than any others I have done. I also tried doing just plain dots (see the nightwear section for elders) that created a sort of scalloped edge - that looked ok. Other than that I am also scratching my head as what else to do...

[wize_guy123]

Hey... not sure that I'd be making any... womans undies... but could you check out my work?

Check it out here

ts2spot.simgames.net/pafiledb/pafiledb.php

[nanshi_nibble]

I would love to but that link does not work...

[FaeLuna]

I'm looking around for images of lace to use for the edges. ;) Seems like that might work to add interest and soften up that diagonal line....

I got your link to work wize_guy123, and I liked the beard you did! I need to learn to do beards, I want to do one based on my hubby's beard. :)

[wize_guy123]

Fae... I will make a thread for it...

[KatAnubis]

I'm looking around for images of lace to use for the edges. ;) Seems like that might work to add interest and soften up that diagonal line.... :)
I tried that idea but the problem I ran into was that diagonal. I couldn't get the lace to line up so that it made a nice diagonal edge. Straight edges are no problem. It's that silly diagonal. (I eventually got sick of looking through fabric, trim and lace sites. I never thought I'd ever say that since I'm a fabricoholic.) :winks:

[FaeLuna]

haha I'd never heard that term before, "fabriholic" :D But I suspect I might be one too.... ;) I have way too many fabric sample pics stored away in folders... needing organization.... :rolleyes:

And thanks again wize_guy123 for making the beards tutorial :D

[nanshi_nibble]

Wiseguy...managed to get on this time :) fantastic stuff - also thought the beard was pretty good!

[wize_guy123]

Fae your welcome again... Nanshi_nibble I did make a tutorial for the beard... if you'd like to use it.

Fae mind posting a pic... to see how it came out? okay thanx..

[KatAnubis]

haha I'd never heard that term before, "fabriholic" :D But I suspect I might be one too.... ;) I have way too many fabric sample pics stored away in folders... needing organization.... :rolleyes:

And thanks again wize_guy123 for making the beards tutorial :D
I wish it was just fabric samples. I have over 50 "66quart" boxes filled with fabric, as well as 2 closets full of rolls and bolts. I also have a full closet with rolls of trim. It's all organized so that I can find what I want easily. My husband built me racks for the boxes. I had them stacked floor to ceiling at first and it was a big pain to try to get to the box on the bottom. Now with the racks I just pull down the box I want.

My other hobby is as a historical costumer. So, when I buy fabric I usually have to get a minimum of 7 yards, but I usually try for 10-20 yards. However, I haven't been doing that as much since I retired because even though I have a ton of fabric, getting the other stuff you usually need to go with the fabric, such as underlinings, linings, stiffeners and the like tends to get expensive. Believe it or not, Sims and computer stuff is *much* less expensive to do, even when you have to buy a new computer to do it!

[wize_guy123]

You should use your fabrics to an advantage... take pictures of them with a digital camera... then make some new skins with them... I usually use a little piece of fabric I find on the internet and take small pieces of it and fill it into the skin... comes out pretty good.

[KatAnubis]

You should use your fabrics to an advantage... take pictures of them with a digital camera... then make some new skins with them... I usually use a little piece of fabric I find on the internet and take small pieces of it and fill it into the skin... comes out pretty good.
Most of my fabrics are solid colors (in linen, wool and silk). I don't use a lot of brocades and they wouldn't scan in very well anyway. It's not like quilters who have loads of print fabrics. I've used the internet to find print patterns for using on the skins, however.

However, one of my other hobbies is scrap booking. I do have loads of papers in that which I plan to scan in and use. I've used a lot of stuff from the websites but not all of them have the sorts of papers I like. I even bought a few new sheets yesterday which I thought would look good as clothes patterns for Sims, but would also work well for some of my scrapbooks. :winks:

[FaeLuna]

Wow! Your fabric supply sounds like it would have been my grandmother's dream!! :D She taught me to sew on her treadle sewing machine and was always buying cute prints to make me little "butterfly" dresses from, we didn't make patterns, just measured and cut and sewed... :)

Your scrapbooking supplies sound like good sims fabric resoruces, haha! ;)

[suitemichelle]

Besides a "toy" singer, my first sewing machine was a treadle. Not because I am that old, but because my mom thought it would be a neat thing to have. I wonder if it is in the attic at mom's house or if we got rid of it? :o Sorry I know that this is way off topic.

[FaeLuna]

Errrr well... making skins and sewing clothes... are both related to fashion and design of clothing! :D We're not TOO far off topic... I think.... ;) :D

[nanshi_nibble]

Katanubis

I just had to write to tell you that I have discovered a much simpler way to make texture files (assuming you have Photoshop). BriAnna on neighbourhood 99 suggests instead that you download this plugin.

developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

(the one called Adobe PhotoShop Normal Map Plug-in) If you open it, it will DL straight into photoshop.

She says to do it on the alpha file but I think it works better on the orginal. Open the body~stdMatBaseTextureName file in photoshop go to 'filter' 'nvtools' 'normalmapfilter'

then a box will open:

Height generation: 4 sample,
minz 0 scale 2
3d view options: animate light
height source: average rgb

No other boxes are checked.

and voila a purply bump map that won't make garments look flat and will work better than the manual way!

[KatAnubis]

Katanubis

I just had to write to tell you that I have discovered a much simpler way to make texture files (assuming you have Photoshop). BriAnna on neighbourhood 99 suggests instead that you download this plugin.

developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

(the one called Adobe PhotoShop Normal Map Plug-in) If you open it, it will DL straight into photoshop.

She says to do it on the alpha file but I think it works better on the orginal. Open the body~stdMatBaseTextureName file in photoshop go to 'filter' 'nvtools' 'normalmapfilter'

then a box will open:

Height generation: 4 sample,
minz 0 scale 2
3d view options: animate light
height source: average rgb

No other boxes are checked.

and voila a purply bump map that won't make garments look flat and will work better than the manual way!
Thanks, Nancy, for thinking of me.

I checked it out and it requires Photoshop 7.0. I've only got 5.5, so I guess I'll continue with the one you had suggested. It's been working fine (although there are times when I end up using Corel Painter 8, Photoshop 5.5 and the Infraview to do an entire outfit. I've been having a blast with it!)

[Supernova]

Geez is there a version of photoshop thats around $100 to get? I want to get it but all I can find is like the $800 one.

[KatAnubis]

Geez is there a version of photoshop thats around $100 to get? I want to get it but all I can find is like the $800 one.
Look on Halfprice.com and see if you can find an earlier version of Photoshop. You should be able to get one for much less than the $800 newest version. You don't need the newest version to do custom content. Even one as old as Photoshop 5.5 will work. (Although I did find that if you want to use the special texture thing that Nanshi_Nibbles told us about yesterday, that you have to have Photoshop 7.)

[Supernova]

Yeesh. I'm $700 in debt, so I need to find the cheapest (but still functional) version I can get... Thanks for the site, by the way.

[wize_guy123]

Well I did find a cheaper price then $100 for Photoshop 7.0 plz email me

[nanshi_nibble]

KatAnubis my version is 6.0 - and this made me think maybe it will work in yours, did you install the file into the right folder? (if I am telling my grandmother how to suck eggs then please tell me!)

Mine is:

c:/programfiles/adobe/photoshop[your version]/Plug-ins/filters