tiggerypum
13th Nov 2006, 12:51 AM
Okay, since this question gets asked periodically; skintones are like any other bodyshop item, only there's 40 (!) files to change instead of the few files that clothing files have.
This is not a SMALL project. It's not really a 'beginner' project. Allow yourself a lot of time to work on this.
All ages and both genders (for teens up) are included in the one skintone file, and for most instances, you should change ALL OF THEM - like if you're making a new skin color. If you're adding detail to certain ages, then you might only change some of the files. If all you want is some face details, like for a celebrity sim, it is better to make a mask than to distribute an entire skintone set. If you share your skintone, be sure to let folks know what was modified, especially if you didn't do the entire skin set.
You will need to know how to use your graphics editor and BodyShop. I strongly suggest doing whichever set of bodyshop-clothing tutorials designed for your graphics editing program available here at mts2 (usually there's 3-4 tutorials in a set) in order to be familiar with BodyShop and with some editing techniques you might use. You will want to work with layers to do this project. (if you don't know what a 'layer' is, please go do the clothing tutorials, you're not quite ready for this yet)
These instructions will help you make a new custom skintone for your game.
Getting started:
Start BodyShop
Create Parts
Start New Project
Create Genetics
Now click on 'skintone' and go find the skintone you want to alter. Note that you should not usually use someone else's work as your base, either use a Maxis skintone or one that gives permission (they'll usually ask for credit).
Once you have found your skintone (note that they look darker in bodyshop than in the game) click on the button on the bottom to create your project files.
** Note: If you have default replacements in your game and you want to get a Maxis skintone for your base, you must REMOVE the default skintones from your game folders before starting BodyShop.
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=407365
Now you'll go to a new screen to preview your skintone. Whatever Maxis was thinking with this, I don't know - too much of the body is covered up for a good preview. You can get a default replacement set to fix that here (http://www.sexysims2.com/showthread.php?t=148652). Make sure to take them out before playing.
Anyway, here's your screen. You can use it to view your skintone on each age and for each gender, and you should do so before importing your final project to the game. There's the round arrow 'refresh' button which will read in your graphics from the projects folder. At the bottom is the import to game button.
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=407366
Now for the fun part. When you look in your Projects folder, you'll find your folder FULL of graphics. There will be a set of graphics for each age and gender (children, babies, and toddlers share the same files for both genders)
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=407364
The files are named like this:
afbodycut~top~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afbodynormal~top~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afbodysoft~top~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afface~face~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afhair~hair~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
first letter:
b - baby
p - toddler
c - child
t - teen
a - adult
e - elderly
second letter
f - female
m - male
fm - both female and male (babies, toddler, children)
type
body, face, hair (the scalp)
fitness
cut - fit
normal - uh, normal
soft - fat
There is also a file 'swatch.bmp' which is a 64x64 pixel graphic which you should customize so that people can recognise your skin in CAS and BodyShop.
---
Okay, now - the rest is up to you. The more you know about how to use your graphics editor, the better.
You can carefully hand edit the different files you want to change. You can use simple methods to create a consistant change for all your graphics, such as making a layer that's an overlay and using multiply or transparency settings, and then using that same layer on all the graphics. If you make changes using hue or saturation settings, make sure to write them down so you can repeat them on your other files identically. If you have photoshop, you can create an 'action' and then apply it to the other images.
If you are making more complex changes, you might want to learn how to extract a body mesh and load the mesh and your graphic into a 3D editor to view your edits (which will allow you to see the men's chests, for instance) Look! HP has written the tutorial explaining how to view your new skin using Milkshape (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=215485) .
If your skin shows up with bands of color instead of smooth blends, try adding just a touch of noise to your graphic, so you can barely see it. This graphics oddity tends to happen a lot on darker skintones.
You can come back to this project at any time using the 'saved projects' option in bodyshop, so don't worry about having to finish in one session.
To check your edits, go to bodyshop, hit the refresh button, and see how things look. (Or work in the 3D editor, but in the end you do need to go back to bodyshop to put your work into the game) When you think you're done, remember to check all ages and genders. When you're satisifed, click that import button.
Make sure you look at your skin *in the game*. There you can get a closer look at it and with normal lighting. It will be much brighter in game, than in bodyshop. Matter of fact, before you go and change all 40 files, you might want to focus on making your changes on one age and gender, and then import your skin and check how it looks in game before doing the rest. Just make sure to delete the incomplete file from your Saved Sims, so you don't accidently distribute your incomplete work.
Your new finished file will be in your Saved Sims folder - named with a bunch of letters and the name you originally gave your project. You can go find it and rename it.
In terms of uploading your new skin to mts2 - if you are making a fantasy skin/color shift, please check the skin area carefully to see if a similar color was already created. Duplicates of non-human colors are not likely to be accepted to upload at mts2, although carefully modified skintones are very welcome.
Other related links:
Using Milkshape to Preview Body Shop Textures (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=215485)
Adding texture and other tips (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=171666)
How to make a sim's face using source pics (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=169730)
How to make a custom skintone a default replacement (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=194390)
How to create an 'action' in Photoshop (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?p=1426410)
Making your skin work with the game genetics and not override as a custom skin (tutorial at bogsims) (http://bogsims.springhole.net/)
3D.sk Website (http://www.3d.sk/) - if you find yourself really into improving skins and need photos for source pics, this is the best source of body photos on the web. It is pay, but worth every penny for high-res photos from every angle.
Unclothed Body Shop Mannequins (http://www.sexysims2.com/showthread.php?t=148652)
-----
Was this post helpful to you? If so, give a click to that THANKS button down below.
:llama: :llama: :duck:
This is not a SMALL project. It's not really a 'beginner' project. Allow yourself a lot of time to work on this.
All ages and both genders (for teens up) are included in the one skintone file, and for most instances, you should change ALL OF THEM - like if you're making a new skin color. If you're adding detail to certain ages, then you might only change some of the files. If all you want is some face details, like for a celebrity sim, it is better to make a mask than to distribute an entire skintone set. If you share your skintone, be sure to let folks know what was modified, especially if you didn't do the entire skin set.
You will need to know how to use your graphics editor and BodyShop. I strongly suggest doing whichever set of bodyshop-clothing tutorials designed for your graphics editing program available here at mts2 (usually there's 3-4 tutorials in a set) in order to be familiar with BodyShop and with some editing techniques you might use. You will want to work with layers to do this project. (if you don't know what a 'layer' is, please go do the clothing tutorials, you're not quite ready for this yet)
These instructions will help you make a new custom skintone for your game.
Getting started:
Start BodyShop
Create Parts
Start New Project
Create Genetics
Now click on 'skintone' and go find the skintone you want to alter. Note that you should not usually use someone else's work as your base, either use a Maxis skintone or one that gives permission (they'll usually ask for credit).
Once you have found your skintone (note that they look darker in bodyshop than in the game) click on the button on the bottom to create your project files.
** Note: If you have default replacements in your game and you want to get a Maxis skintone for your base, you must REMOVE the default skintones from your game folders before starting BodyShop.
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=407365
Now you'll go to a new screen to preview your skintone. Whatever Maxis was thinking with this, I don't know - too much of the body is covered up for a good preview. You can get a default replacement set to fix that here (http://www.sexysims2.com/showthread.php?t=148652). Make sure to take them out before playing.
Anyway, here's your screen. You can use it to view your skintone on each age and for each gender, and you should do so before importing your final project to the game. There's the round arrow 'refresh' button which will read in your graphics from the projects folder. At the bottom is the import to game button.
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=407366
Now for the fun part. When you look in your Projects folder, you'll find your folder FULL of graphics. There will be a set of graphics for each age and gender (children, babies, and toddlers share the same files for both genders)
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=407364
The files are named like this:
afbodycut~top~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afbodynormal~top~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afbodysoft~top~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afface~face~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
afhair~hair~stdMatBaseTextureName.bmp
first letter:
b - baby
p - toddler
c - child
t - teen
a - adult
e - elderly
second letter
f - female
m - male
fm - both female and male (babies, toddler, children)
type
body, face, hair (the scalp)
fitness
cut - fit
normal - uh, normal
soft - fat
There is also a file 'swatch.bmp' which is a 64x64 pixel graphic which you should customize so that people can recognise your skin in CAS and BodyShop.
---
Okay, now - the rest is up to you. The more you know about how to use your graphics editor, the better.
You can carefully hand edit the different files you want to change. You can use simple methods to create a consistant change for all your graphics, such as making a layer that's an overlay and using multiply or transparency settings, and then using that same layer on all the graphics. If you make changes using hue or saturation settings, make sure to write them down so you can repeat them on your other files identically. If you have photoshop, you can create an 'action' and then apply it to the other images.
If you are making more complex changes, you might want to learn how to extract a body mesh and load the mesh and your graphic into a 3D editor to view your edits (which will allow you to see the men's chests, for instance) Look! HP has written the tutorial explaining how to view your new skin using Milkshape (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=215485) .
If your skin shows up with bands of color instead of smooth blends, try adding just a touch of noise to your graphic, so you can barely see it. This graphics oddity tends to happen a lot on darker skintones.
You can come back to this project at any time using the 'saved projects' option in bodyshop, so don't worry about having to finish in one session.
To check your edits, go to bodyshop, hit the refresh button, and see how things look. (Or work in the 3D editor, but in the end you do need to go back to bodyshop to put your work into the game) When you think you're done, remember to check all ages and genders. When you're satisifed, click that import button.
Make sure you look at your skin *in the game*. There you can get a closer look at it and with normal lighting. It will be much brighter in game, than in bodyshop. Matter of fact, before you go and change all 40 files, you might want to focus on making your changes on one age and gender, and then import your skin and check how it looks in game before doing the rest. Just make sure to delete the incomplete file from your Saved Sims, so you don't accidently distribute your incomplete work.
Your new finished file will be in your Saved Sims folder - named with a bunch of letters and the name you originally gave your project. You can go find it and rename it.
In terms of uploading your new skin to mts2 - if you are making a fantasy skin/color shift, please check the skin area carefully to see if a similar color was already created. Duplicates of non-human colors are not likely to be accepted to upload at mts2, although carefully modified skintones are very welcome.
Other related links:
Using Milkshape to Preview Body Shop Textures (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=215485)
Adding texture and other tips (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=171666)
How to make a sim's face using source pics (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=169730)
How to make a custom skintone a default replacement (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=194390)
How to create an 'action' in Photoshop (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?p=1426410)
Making your skin work with the game genetics and not override as a custom skin (tutorial at bogsims) (http://bogsims.springhole.net/)
3D.sk Website (http://www.3d.sk/) - if you find yourself really into improving skins and need photos for source pics, this is the best source of body photos on the web. It is pay, but worth every penny for high-res photos from every angle.
Unclothed Body Shop Mannequins (http://www.sexysims2.com/showthread.php?t=148652)
-----
Was this post helpful to you? If so, give a click to that THANKS button down below.
:llama: :llama: :duck: