Beginning Clothing/Body Meshing Tutorial - Using Unimesh/Milkshape

[bunniluver]

Bunniluver, your other views (and you can choose 3 or 4 windows) are zoomed WAYYY OUT for some reason and look like top views. (see how small the boxes are). Right click on them each window chose a different view, and right click again if they still look small and choose 'frame all' to get them zoomed in some.

Thankyou! Most likly I'll be back, I'm doing a big project. A really really big one. (so big that it's never been done before). Wish me luck!

[Inge Jones]

Well I have just tried my pre-alpha of the auto-import and that's working smoothly apart from a few details. I need to know why we don't bother importing the TXMT (material definition) resources while we're doing this? Would it be useful to scoop them up anyway while we're at it or is there an important reason why we don't?

This file is now available from http://simlogical.com/SMF/index.php?topic=894.0 works only with the QA version of SimPE *at the moment*

[tiggerypum]

Inge because clothing meshes have never been distributed with any colors in the files. All recolors are in the bodyshop files. It's a different setup than for obj files, each recolor has it's own txmt in them.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Inge - The material definitions we need for our purposes are included already in the recolour file, and aren't necessary in the mesh file at all. If we do need to change material definitions, we just fiddle with 'em in the base recolour and then it clones our settings for any subsequent recolours.

[Inge Jones]

Thanks both :)

[bunniluver]

Now I can't see the bottom right corner. It looks like a blue box with no lines or anything. Just a boring blue square.

[tiggerypum]

Bunniluver, I don't know what exactly you have done to your milkshape settings. I suggest you ask on the milkshape board or look at the documentation on their site.

[Mage]

As an object maker, I keep thinking that before I replace the mesh I should copy the name of the mesh in the package and then paste it into the name field of the GMDC after I replace it.
Meanwhile, suddenly I can't seem to get a new mesh with a good bump map no matter what I do.
I posted pictures of what I mean in Unimesh/Bumpmaps (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?goto=lastpost&t=182391) , I don't know if you happened to see them? I've even had the same problem now when I use the mesh tool method. :wtf:

[tiggerypum]

Mesh tool should preserve your bump maps (if the outfit had one). So that is very odd indeed. Might something in simpe have changed I wonder. Did you change anything else regarding what you are doing.

[Mage]

It feels as if I am carefully following the tutorial each time, but it is pretty familiar to me now, so I may be unconsciously doing something wrong... every time. I think a newer version of SimPE has come out since I managed to do this successfully. Hmm...

[Ikkerina]

Hey, first thanks for the tutorial, it was quite easy to follow (ok so there were nervous breakdowns but whatevs).

But somewhere during the proces I got this error, Simpe said some file from Direct X stuff (or something related) couldn't be found.

I'm using the newest version of Milkshape since the whatever.8 wasn't available.

Anyone an idea?

Edit: woo! nevermind, I didn't have the Managed Direct X 9c yet. :rolleyes:

[tiggerypum]

Hmm, see the part where it says 'get everything required for simpe or you'll get errors'. Go back to the SimPE site and get it.

[Inge Jones]

I just changed a mesh following this tutorial, and I lost my bump mapping too. SimPE .59k

Another question, but I don't know if maybe I just missed this instruction, is shouldn't I have to change the name in the PropertySet resource to the name of my new mesh, which obvioously changed when I fixed integrity?

[HystericalParoxysm]

Inge - To retain bump mapping using Unimesh you have to export the mesh in .smd and then reimport it. That'll put bump maps back, I do believe. Regarding the property set and name, no, you don't have to change that. The mesh links to the recolour through the CRES and SHPE in the 3DIR and the name in the recolour's Property Set, though wrong, doesn't matter a bit.

[Inge Jones]

Thank you!

[tiggerypum]

Just a word of warning, the smd import/export and unimesh are slightly incompatible (and maybe this fall/winter when Wes' duties on his ranch decrease he'll be able to puzzle through why). Once a gmdc has been edited with smd, it can no longer be read by unimesh. SO, be sure you save your unimesh source files in case you want to make changes or use it as a base for some future mesh.

There are also serious quirks right now when trying to add bump maps using the smd import/export method and meshes with alpha groups. Also last I knew the smd bumpmaps are also not a perfect reproduction of Maxis' they are 'weaker' in some way. That is why this 'method' is not simply part of the tutorials. See this thread: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=182391

I know some folks get fixated on bumpmaps - Maxis once again, even with glamour, has released some meshes *that don't even have bumpmaps*. A chunk of video cards do not support bumpmaps, and a well made texture will not/should not require bumpmaps to work well. Well made bumpmaps can enhance things, but I've seen as many poorly done bumpmaps on outfits as I've seen ones that truly enhance. (overdone, or done with a simple desaturated graphic that actually is not always appropriate)

[elise1030]

Hey, thanks for this tutorial! I started it last night but I was obviously too tired and couldn't delete the extra vertices but I got it first time this morning. Now that I've successfully done this without a hitch, would the hair meshing tutorial be a good bet to try next?

[tiggerypum]

Elise, I suggest doing the other body meshing tutorials, that will teach you the rest of the functions of Unimesh. The hair meshing tutorial goes primarily into details that are special for hair meshes, which is sort of more advanced than body meshing.

[elise1030]

Tiggerypum, thanks for the suggestion, I shall go look for those now :)

[up424days]

can someone help me im havin problem with selecting vertices and deselecting. i drag a box around but i still cant get the vertices i should have and i cant deselect the ones i dont need

[tiggerypum]

Check your settings, look at the screenshot. Make sure you have vertex selected and no ignore backfaces.

[up424days]

thank u the ignore backfaces was the problem

[SephirothScars]

hiya
firstly, really great tutorial its really making clothing meshing really simple.
However I tried with a hair mesh from university and ive used over four different tutorials and tried each at least three times but there is absolutly no change at all in bodyshop. I cant figure out whats going wrong

thanks

[tiggerypum]

SephirothScars,

First, I suggest doing the other 2 unimesh clothing tutorials. Hair is the 'same' but the linking in is a bit more complicated. Practice with more meshes will probably help, and also teach you other parts of unimesh you'll need for editing hair.

Most common spots for error are listed here: http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131405

[SephirothScars]

SephirothScars,

First, I suggest doing the other 2 unimesh clothing tutorials. Hair is the 'same' but the linking in is a bit more complicated. Practice with more meshes will probably help, and also teach you other parts of unimesh you'll need for editing hair.

Most common spots for error are listed here: http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131405

thanks for your help

i went over a couple more times with simpler meshes and i got my first hair one finished successfully, it was my own sillyness missing out a couple of little things

thanks again

[rabidkitty07]

Its seems like I'm the only one having this problem. Everytime I try to delete the dangle ornament in milkshape the dress doesn't become smooth across the back. Why is that and how can I fix it?

[rabidkitty07]

man, i sure feel like an idiot! i went back to the dress i'm working on, and i saw a check box that says "by vertex". that did the trick! no more ornament. :)

[-Bijou-]

I can;t get number 40 to work...? :cry:

[tiggerypum]

you didn't say what part of 40. Can you select some vertices? Can you then right click on the display window and make it zoom in?

[Kookoo4Sims2]

I'm havin truble with #4 The file isn't showing up

[tiggerypum]

The file? You mean #3, you can't find the correct file in saved sims? Or #4 you can't see the property set? Do you have the newest simpe?

[DsimsD]

Hi i'm new to meshing this is my first try, i've followed all your steps sp far and i've gotten up to opening up milkshape, i loaded my mesh but it doesn't look like the gown from before it looks like a nurse/gas station attendent work clothes, I loaded it from my tutorialdress folder, did i miss something? Which steps should i repeat? :blink:

[tiggerypum]

DsimsD,

I am not sure what happened, but it looks like you got the wrong mesh for at least part of your mesh. So if you are following this exactly, I'd say please start over. The beginning parts you'll want to learn anyway, so it's good practice. Delete your tutorial dress folder (or totally empty it) and start from scratch.

[DsimsD]

Ok Tig, i'll try to be more careful this time! :P Practice makes perfect
EDIT: I did it again, and i went through everything carefully and it worked! What tutorial do you reccomend next? :bunny: :)
EDIT: (again:P) Oh i'm such an idiot, i didn't see the level 2 & 3 tutorials! But by the way Great tutorial i finally understand meshing (in a vague sort of way) thanks :gjob: :up: ;) :giggler:

[LadyGrey]

I've been using this tutorial together with Dr Pixel's "Hair Meshing with MilkShape and UniMesh (Beginners)" tutorial. I've done it about four times, and everything works perfectly until I get to the last few steps.

The first couple of times, my new mesh wasn't showing up in bodyshop, only the temp. that was imported into the game at step 1. The third time, nothing showed up at all; and this last time, nothing was in the custom content tab, but the maxis ponytail was overwritten with my modified one. Once I take my mesh out of the downloads folder, it reverts back to the maxis version.

I'm sure that I fixed integrity (only once every time), and saved all of my files into the right folders, but I just can't get it to work right. Like I said, up until this point the tutorial works *wonderfully* and I'm very appreciative of it. Could someone please tell me what I keep doing wrong?

[LadyGrey]

Well, I dunno how I did it, but I guess the fifth time is the charm :P I must've been saving my files into the wrong folders before. Anyway, this is a great tutorial, I actually understand most of the stuff involved with meshing now. Thanks!

[Kaykes124]

wat simpe? :report: and how do i get it?

[DsimsD]

There's a link to it at the start of the tutorial.... http://sims.ambertation.de/

[BloodyAngel]

Thank you sp much :D Finally, i make my own mesh :D 10000000000000 thanks Tiggerypum ^^

[Kookoo4Sims2]

The property set won't show and I DL the newest version of Simpe

[tiggerypum]

KooKoo, I am guessing here, but I expect you are looking at a file in your PROJECTS folder, and not at your recolor file in your SAVED SIMS folder. Try again and find the recolor file in your SAVED SIMS folder.

[Ursus]

Just a quick message to THANK YOU :) I only hope I become a fraction as clever as some of the designers on MTS2 :)

[wazza966]

Yep thankiieees guys im almost there im opning body shop to check if my crazy mesh is in there and it just opend now and im sooo happy its there its ugly lolz i dont think i want to uplode that! meh thanks soo much !!

[NixNivis]

I just want to join the choir and say THANK YOU for this wonderful tutorial! It's easy to follow and it works perfectly. You rock my socks!! :-D

[UniqueNVd]

I'm usually very animation-retarted (I guess) this was very helpful. Thanks!

[sweetgirltori1]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so everything does cost on here to make mesh?

[tiggerypum]

SweetGirlTori, one of the easiest set of tools is this one that uses the 3D program Milkshape (which does download free, costs $25 to register after a month) The plugins (Unimesh and Demon's Tools) and SimPE (a huge program that lets you get at the insides of Sim files) are all free. Milkshape is a 3D editing tool that was available inexpensively and had the ability to have the plugins made.
You can also try and find a free program that edits SMD format (XSI Modtool is free) but our current documentation for that program is limited, as is the documentation for editing an smd file.

[Aleesha]

tiggerypum, I have a question.
Every time I try to mesh I'm choosing a custom mesh by Simchic for example, then the next one from Glamsim. They're all going back to one maxis dress, the pinksunnydress or so. Is that normal that you'll ALWAYS have Maxis meshes as the 'originals' from what you're doing your own mesh then? And I also wanted to ask you if there is any chance to 'tweak' an already existing mesh? I made sooo kewl heels on my mesh yesterday and I want to have those shoes on a completely different mesh. I already checked the tutorial to combine 2 different meshes but since it always goes back to Maxis meshes it wouldn't work, right?

[tiggerypum]

Aleesha,
This method is for gathering the maxis mesh parts - and in the recolor file you are seeing the name of the original mesh they used.... Their meshes gmdcs are in the mesh file you downloaded from them. I'm telling you this for information purposes only... because...

UNLESS YOU HAVE PERMISSION, you may NOT use someone else's edited mesh as your starting point. You also might not be _able_ to, depending on how they edited their mesh (unimesh and smd are currently not compatible). But the bigger issue is that of the work involved. Giving permission to recolor, or even redistribute a mesh, is not permission to alter/edit their mesh, so be sure you get exactly that permission.

Related to this, if you are recoloring something, it's not okay to use that person's textures unless they give explicit permission. Start with something of your own or maxis for your base. (they might say 'you can recolor this mesh' but that does not mean 'you may colorshift my graphics', it means 'you may make your own texture')

[Aleesha]

thanks tiggerypum but I never meant to tweak existing meshes from others for distributing them. That was just an example that I found out that it always goes back to the original mesh. I just wanted to know how to get parts of my own meshes to another mesh that I wanna do and I think I found it out :)
Saving the mesh as Milkshape file and then use the 'combining mesh parts' tut :D

[tiggerypum]

Your own meshes you can get parts from the milkshape files or by importing the gmdcs you saved in your projects folders (as long as you didn't do the smd thing to them) And yes, tutorial #3 teaches how to combine the parts back into 1 with the right stuff in them.

[-Starbuck-]

Woohoo! I did it! lol Thanks Tig and HP. It was really easy to understand and follow. I appreciate you guys putting this together ;)

[burnout9118]

do you know whether you would be able to edit meshes in 3dsmax 5? i already have that program and i don't really want to purchae another one! lol

[tiggerypum]

burnout, that's not really a question for _this thread_ which is about THIS tutorial.

But in answer, go look at the infocenter, firstly. Second, the general answer is I believe Yes, if you can read and write smd files, SimPE now has an export/import of smd files. Infocenter has link to a tutorial that I think is for 3ds max. (in the set of articles that discuss all the body meshing tool choices)

[fg109]

Hi, I just read the infocenter for help and one of the threads say that when editing a mesh with groups, the comments must be the same using Unimesh. I found out that's my problem, but is there an easy way to view the comments?

I only know how to view the comments in Milkshape, and I don't want to have to go through all the steps in the tutorial. I figure that I can just extract the gmdc and look at it through Milkshape without doing all of that. But doing that for every mesh until I find one that'll work would still be tedious.

[tiggerypum]

fg109. You have to change them. Meshing is not something quick to learn. This tutorial doesn't even touch on that topic. I wrote 3 tutorials with screenshots and explanations in order for 95% of the material you might need to mod meshes to all be covered. SO... You need to do the tutorials. I don't know why you believe the comments are your problem, but you need to _do_ the tutorials. By the time you're done with tutorial #3 (as written, take the time to just DO IT) you will not have any questions about comments. If you still do, I will work to clarify what you are confused on, but I promise you that you will not. If you DO all 3 tutorials.

[fg109]

I'm really sorry, I just noticed them. I was following the tutorial for meshtool before but changed to unimesh when that didn't work. I just automatically thought that there was only one tutorial for unimesh too.

[JM23]

Is there a way that you can put this in a dowload ? I is so long to print out or save. Thank you for making this tutorial as I am a beginner and have always wanted to make my own mesh.

Thank you

[t2suggas]

Thankyou very much for these tutorials.

After some hair pulling moments, I finally succeeded.

Have now managed to follow all the SimPE steps without consulting the tutorial.

Found a few more meshes to practice removing dangling or stickie out bits.

All tested in CAS, and nothing exploded.

Tig, the rainbow pattern for UV mapping is fantastic. I found it a lot easier to use than the blue one.

[tiggerypum]

JM23 - you can print and you can also save the thread to your hard drive with most browsers. I periodically end up updating these tutorials based on user feedback (I just actually had to include a big 'oops' fix in tutorial #2) so I haven't wanted to try and repackage them as downloads, giving me more to update.

t2suggas - wow! You've been busy. Time for you to move to the next level tutorial. (although maybe you have as you're talking about the uvmap graphics). I'm so glad to see this, thanks!

I assume you do understand that with the pouch being removed from the kilt outfit, that you can probably rework the texture to remove the lines for the straps (it might also have a bumpmap to fix) and have that looking perfect. :)

[tedw]

Thanks very much for this tutorial! At first glance, it looked pretty long, but I found as I worked through it that it went more quickly than I expected.

I'm used to building 3D with Blender, so I'm going to do some research and see if it's possible to create that way - although it doesn't have those same plugins, so the work itself would happen in a different way. In the meantime, I'll probably work through the next two tutorials and see if I can get more comfortable (aka happy) using Milkshape to build with.

Thanks very much for taking the time to put this together, and for sharing it! :D

[tiggerypum]

Blender cannot be used to do this, unfortunately. (I know Milkshape isn't my fav editor either, but I've gotten used to it) Blender can only be used with Meshtool, which allows only minimal edits.

[schmimble]

Thanks for the tutorial! However, everything goes well until step 50. I click 'yes' to reload the changed resource, but I always get an error message come up saying 'File name Microsoft.DirectX, or one of its dependencies, was not found'. Do you know what might have gone wrong?

[tiggerypum]

Yes, it's likely that you didn't get all the 'you must have this stuff' for your SimPE installation. Go back to the SimPE site and get more stuff.

[musicxmisery]

Ok, so I have a problem. I followed the tutorial but to make different pants instead of the dress edit. I lowered the waist of the pants, because the waist of those pants is soooo high, anyways, the part I lowered became invisible... O_o

here's the picture:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/gaia_pics4me/simproblem.png

Any help as to what happened?
There weren't any errors as I went through all the steps.

[tiggerypum]

There is no body. There is only the one mesh. If you are editing a top or bottom, you cannot touch the vertices at the waistline, because that's what joins things together. If that pants was designed to actually bump out and make a waistband, then... your job in terms of trying to lower where it looks like the waistline is will be much harder -- but also... the shirts are not designed to extend down, even if you use alpha editing to move the waistline of the pants (which is really what you should try to do, is to move the texture, not change the mesh)

Try to do an edit for a beginner on a FULL BODY mesh. Do not make any holes in the mesh, but you can move things. By the time you're done with tutorial #3 (and humor me and just do the tutorials as written, make it easy on yourself to learn the skills, they get more complex each time) then I will be able to explain how to do different things to change top and bottom meshes and have it make more sense.

[Solaria]

I need help! Where is my "gmdc" file named 'newmesh1.simpe??

[tiggerypum]

Uhm, whereever you saved it. I mean, I suggested making a folder for all your work files, but when you were in milkshape and exported the gmdc.... well, where did you save it to? You must pay attention when saving files as to what directory it is pointing to.

You can use the search command that came with the computer's OS to figure out where you saved it. Or you could go into milkshape and export again and _look_ and see where it offers to save the file, that's probably where you put it the last time.

[candyo1965]

Thank you so much! I was able to repair an old custom outfit so it shows in my game now. It took half the night to learn how, but I am so glad I did! TY TY TY!!! :-)

[musicxmisery]

There is no body. There is only the one mesh. If you are editing a top or bottom, you cannot touch the vertices at the waistline, because that's what joins things together. If that pants was designed to actually bump out and make a waistband, then... your job in terms of trying to lower where it looks like the waistline is will be much harder -- but also... the shirts are not designed to extend down, even if you use alpha editing to move the waistline of the pants (which is really what you should try to do, is to move the texture, not change the mesh)

Try to do an edit for a beginner on a FULL BODY mesh. Do not make any holes in the mesh, but you can move things. By the time you're done with tutorial #3 (and humor me and just do the tutorials as written, make it easy on yourself to learn the skills, they get more complex each time) then I will be able to explain how to do different things to change top and bottom meshes and have it make more sense.

Um, okay so does that mean I can never lower the waistband of pants without using a fullbody outfit to do it? Is there any other way? You have to agree the waistband on the pants is way to high originally. haha.

[tiggerypum]

You can experiment with *alpha* changes to your textures, just retexturing things, and figure out what you can do. Specifically, check user fanseelamb - she worked on a project to lower the waistline of a few of the maxis pants and they can be used in combination with some maxis shirts she did.

Combining the tops and bottoms, Maxis had to come up with a sort of standard behavior, and you'll need to explore exactly how it works and what you can do.

[ghstbcky]

Thanks for the guide! I can't believe it - I actually managed to get it to work with no errors at all :D

[Reggaeloversim]

Help!
I've read your tutorial, and it really rocks! But... Everywhere I look for 'meshingtutorials' I see one and thesame dress. Well, that's not really the problem... My problem is, that I've got only a 'selected' amount of clothing, when I open BodyShop... So, as I saw, the dress you used, wasn't included in this selection... My question is, how can I get other clothes (your dress for instance) into my BodyShop??? Because I'm not really good at meshing jet, and it's very hard for me to do tutorials when I'm using a other dress... Please help me out here... :S

[Reggaeloversim]

Oh come on! There should be somebody who can help me?? Somebody?? :S Please help me with this!

[tiggerypum]

Reggaeloversim: I didn't see your post before. Use the bodyshop that came with your game. Do not use the original pre-release bodyshop that was downloadable.

[Ninika]

Thank you for the great tutorial, Ive been goofing around milkshape yesterday and I made some nice heels for the slim sim, but it was really much work to make them this way and I can't get them right for the fat mesh.
Is there any other way, maybe cutting and pasting.. so that the fat mesh has the same heels without it being too much of a fuss?

Sorry if it already has been asked about 100 times :)

[Illiada]

Hello!!!! I'm new at this forum. I am spanish, and I dont speak English very good. If this question were posted, please, forgive me. And forgive me if this is understandable. *sorry* The question is: I do all the steps, but when I am replacing the GMCD, SimPe says: ERROR after the chart of: Are you sure for replace...?
Thanks for the information
Alba

[Illiada]

Hello!!!! I'm :new: at this forum. I am spanish, and I dont speak English very good. If this question were posted, please, forgive me. And forgive me if this is understandable. *sorry* :cry: The question is: I do all the steps, but when I am replacing the GMCD, SimPe says: ERROR!! after the chart of: Are you sure for replace...?
Thanks for the information
Alba

[Reggaeloversim]

Thank you Tiggerypum! It really helped me a lot! :) Thousands times times thanks!

[sims2!]

well what is sims PE?I know i am a noob lol

[tiggerypum]

sims2! You need to, uhm. Read stuff. Follow the directions. Do stuff. Then you'd figure it out.

[sims2!]

ok..........you can't tell ,me?I prob know what it is bt i don't call it PE probly

[tiggerypum]

No, I won't tell you. Because the answers, as much as you need them anyway, are in the tutorial, and in the following of the tutorial. There are links to download simpe, etc. If you cannot get that far, then you'll not be able to do this tutorial and it'll be a waste of time.

If you're new to modding, you should start over with the bodyshop skinning stuff - which teaches you how to change the colors and some of the designs on outfits. Or start with the object area - and learn how to RECOLOR some items (which will show you part of Simpe). In either case, do look for 'beginner' in tutorial titles to get yourself started :)

Clothing: http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20
Objects: http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=114

Meshing - changing the _shape_ of an body or item in the game, is complex, and advanced, even at 'beginner' levels.

[sims2!]

ummmm ok why you won't tell me i still don't understand.
But yeah.I will lidten to you.You know more cuz your probably smarter than me.
But yeah it also might be hard to explain.

[tiggerypum]

I was not putting you down, but I was telling you that
1) the answers are here for those who read and do the tutorials
and
2) if this is new - go follow the links to the other areas and start with something easier.

[Mirmana]

At first, I want to compliment you both for even typing this tutorial to share this with everyone. :D

I haven't finished the tutorial yet, that's because I'm puzzled about what to do after part III step 14. There are 2 identical files in there of the ones I extracted in step 9.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5015/tutorialdressyf6.png

I'm sorry if this question has been asked a 100 times, but I can't find the answer anywhere. Which file should I add? The txt or the other one? Or is there something wrong here and should there only be one file?

Edit:
I just picked the txt file and everything worked out just fine ^^
Did I do the right thing? Because I don't have any errors and the mesh looks ok in body shop..

Anyway, thanks a lot for this tut! I'm going to try and delete some more stuff. :D

[tiggerypum]

Hmm, something is... slightly different about your setup than mine. You are hiding the file extensions, I believe, because one of each of those files should actually end with .xml (computers actually won't save 2 of the same file) You can change your computer settings to show you the file extensions.

I just ran simpe, when I did not touch the settings at the bottom of the open file box, it only offered me only one of the files, the one with the .xml at the end of it. But for whatever reason, my xml file has a different icon, it looks like (I think) a tiny globe between two angle brackets. My '5gd' file has the same icon as yours. If you view your folder with the icons listing, in one of the views it probably will say '5gd file' and 'XML file'. I also believe if you don't touch the settings on the bottom of the 'open' box, you should only be offered one of the files, and it's the right one - simpe knows what to ask for.

[Mirmana]

I made sure file extensions are shown and it works.
The strange thing is that when I wanted to open them yesterday, without messing with the settings at the bottom of the open file box, it showed both files (the xml and the other one). Now it only shows the xml-file.

And when I tried opening yesterday in Milkshape it also showed me both files at first, but when I tried to open a file again it only showed me the 5gd-file.
Well, luckily everything turned out alright :D

THANK YOU!

[Sedna98]

if i put new meshes on the default mesh, how can i add custom texture on all of them?

please assist if u know thx ^_^

[tiggerypum]

Sedna, your post does not have to do with the content of _this tutorial_, and if you're looking at a beginning meshing tutorial, I'm not clear you're quite ready for the project you're mentioning. At any rate, if you have a question you need to post a full explanation of what your goal is, what you have done (step by step), and what is working for you or not - in the main bodyshop meshing area - with a 'new topic' and start a separate discussion about it. Thanks.

edit - I see you posted, and you're using Maya. You can't use Maya and do this tutorial.

[danielle99]

Does this work with different kinds of 3D editors other than milkshape?

[phoenix42793]

Hi, I was wondering, if I were to make a mesh based from a mesh that came with nightlife, would others need nightlife to download it. Thanks

[tiggerypum]

Phoenix, once you have made your new mesh (as long as you don't use Pets Bodyshop for your recolor) it stands alone and works in all games. That said, you must change the mesh, mts2 does not promote simply repackaging Maxis meshes w/o changes.

[phoenix42793]

Phoenix, once you have made your new mesh (as long as you don't use Pets Bodyshop for your recolor) it stands alone and works in all games. That said, you must change the mesh, mts2 does not promote simply repackaging Maxis meshes w/o changes.

Thanks :D, also I was wondering, I made some edits just on the thin layer, is there away to copy the edits to the big layer also? Because currently my large layer looks the same before I edited it. Thanks

[paula6589]

Hi, first of all I want to say what a great tutorial! Everything is well explained and I'm happy that I can make new meshes myself now.

I've got a question: I've made a mesh for female child, a longer skirt. I now want to change the color of it, but when I make a recolor, 2 skirts will show up: the longer skirt with the Maxis color and the longer skirt with my own color. I only want the one with my own color. How do I do this?
And what files do I need to upload if I want to make it available for download? I have the MESH in EA GAMES/Sims2/Downloads, another folder in My Documents (like: Tutorial Dress) and the recolor in EA GAMES/Sims2/Projects.
I hope you can help me out. :) Thanks in advance.

[christina-x]

Hi I dont know if anyone can help me but I followed this tutorial up untill where you have to select the dangly bit in milkshape and frame selection, it doesnt do nayhting when I do that, as i drag the select box a box appears but as soo as i let go of 'click' it dissapears and when I frame selection it does nothing.

[christina-x]

ooooo i just ticked the box near the bottom left by vertex and now it goes red when i select it have i done the right thing?

[HystericalParoxysm]

christina-x, make sure that when you're selecting you have the "Vertex" button pressed down under Select Options and that Ignore Backfaces is unchecked - that's the way ya need it and the way it will work properly - it will just light up the vertices when you select that way, not the vertices and connected faces... You're in Face select mode if you have By Vertex as an option. ;)

[christina-x]

thank you :)

[christina-x]

Hi agian i have anthother question now. When I slest things in milkshape it doesnt look like it does in the tutorial pictures, instead of just having the dots go red, the lines go red aswell I dont know it this affects what im doin or weather it doesnt matter can someone let me know please?

[christina-x]

sorry, again i have asked to soon and have now solved my own problem, silly me

[kinryu]

Thank you very much for your very helpful tutorial thus far. It is very thorough, detailed, and easy to follow. However, I am wondering if it's possible to take an existing clothing mesh and basically paste it in top on a body mesh. I simply want to use an existing article of clothing, but on a non-standard Maxis body shape. Is this possible or do I have to create the clothing mesh on the body mess on my own?

[tiggerypum]

Kinryu, with unimesh you can do this but you still must simply *change* the shape of the mesh and have 1 mesh in the end. Assuming your target outfit has a different shape (be it a collar, bow, sleeves, skirt/pants) that is important for you to keep, your best bet is to

1) continue with the tutorials and go all the way to the end, because the last one deals with combining meshes - although you might not really end up chopping things up because....

2) You can read in your mesh you want to change, and then read in a second mesh that is your bodyshape reference. Then you use move and scale commands to make your body similar in shape (it doesn't have to be _exact_, just close, and it will look right, not all clothing fits exactly the same way. Then you DELETE the reference mesh, and save out your sim (which you'll know how to do by the end of tutorial #3)

Anyway, if you have the ref mesh in your program with the mesh you want to change, it will not be _that hard_ to get the bodytype to look right. If you're doing a top or bottom, instead of full body, there's a couple more rules, but that's pretty much it.

[eletrodj]

Great tutorial!

I'm going to try.

[visje2085]

Hello I'm sorry i have a problem with simpe
i did something wrong and now everything is gone
not the dress i want to do but if i open something like recouse tree he opens and than if i want something else to open de recouse tree goes away to the background how can i stop this?
greetings

[tiggerypum]

First, in simpe you can only have 1 file open at a time. And you might want to ask on the simpe site's forums for hints about the interface.

If you want to compare the content of 2 different sim files, open a second copy of simpe.

[jennywilbury]

Thanks for the tutorial! I've never tried meshing before, but this worked the first time through for me!

The only problem I had was getting a "could not load file or assembly" error near the beginning, but it was because I hadn't installed the DirectX file from the SimPe site. ;)

However, I would add in step 19 where you are supposed to save the files, I believe it's in the TutorialDress folder you made. Also, in step 27, you might want to tell the user to click on "AllRes" to view the Packed Files list. Other than that, it's all very clear!

[strovod]

Wel I've done every single step and everything worked
Untill...
When I wanted to export it,it didn't worked
I've repeated the whole tutorial again and again
But it didn't worked
Personnally I think its that thing with hide and vicible
How can you see that its hidden or vicible?
I know,its a stupid question,but...
And if its not that,what could it be?

[tiggerypum]

What was the error message? The message at #47? Because of how morphs work you must make _identical_ edits on all three meshes for it to work. Best bet if that is your error message and you did edit all 3 meshes is to start over.

The way you tell what is hidden or visible in order to make sure you have edited all three is to hide everything (so that nothing is visible on the screen). Then select one of them and click the button again, just once. That makes that one visible.

What I expect has happened is that the edit you did on the three morphs was not the same as the other two. This is a fairly simple (but you must be accurate) edit. Best bet is it start over and take your time and do it again. Start with Part V.

[iluffleskeikun]

hmm... i really like this tutorial... but I don't think I'm up to the challenge just yet... i'll stick to recolouring thank you very much.

[Ameliiya]

I have a Milkshape project saved (as a milkshape file) is there some way that i can import a sims 2 mesh and then delete the 3 groups replacing them with the 3 groups from my milkshape project?

[tiggerypum]

Ameliiya - what sort of milkshape project, one that was created using unimesh? If so, it has a skeleton in it. Your best bet would be to open up that milkshape project and use unimesh to export a gmdc and name it something creative like 'mymeshtoimport' so you can recognise it easily.
Then 'new'. Import (unimesh) in the maxis gmdc. Import-unimesh (without additional bones/skeleton) your import gmdc. Then follow the copying of comments and renaming of stuff as per unimesh tutorial #3.

[MellieC]

I did it. Yea!

The only problem I had was with SimPE when opening the Mesh file at the very end. The Geometric data file didn't show up on the list so I couldn't replace it and I didn't know how to get it to show up. I had to have my daughter figure it out for me. I don't know if I opened up the wrong mesh file or what but I did follow the directions to a T.

Anyway, thanks for the tutorial, it was actually kind of fun up until the very end when SimPE wasn't cooperating. :)

[Ameliiya]

I've done it all up to this point "Import-unimesh (without additional bones/skeleton) your import gmdc. Then follow the copying of comments and renaming of stuff as per unimesh tutorial #3."

I get this error: "ERR: Too Many P4 Block A Data Items." Now i'm not sure if this is because when i exported the maxis gmdc i said "yes" to "create blend groups" or not. If so let me know and i'll give it a go without that.

Edit* I tried it without saying "yes" to "create blend groups" with no change. Not sure where i've gone wrong.

[tiggerypum]

Ameliiya, I think you did import an extra skeleton - at some point Wes modified the question regarding importing, please look at your dialog box carefully when importing the mesh... Sounds like you're importing 2 meshes? That's well beyond this basic tutorial (more like level 3 material)

If you're not actually _doing this tutorial_ please start a new thread in the main bodyshop area with step by step detailed info on what you've done and maybe even a screenshot.

See wes identifies the error message here: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=211021 and here: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=212633

[Ameliiya]

I was kind of going off of all three tutorials. Just saw that this was where most people asked questions so i asked here. Thankyou very much for your help, i will start a new thread just to help people who are trying to help me. Happy new year!

[tiggerypum]

Ameliiya,
if you're running into problems trying to do a project by _looking at_ 3 levels of tutorial, then I suggest you actually do the tutorials as written, at least #2 and #3. There's a reason why the materials are covered in 3 separate tutorials, there's far too much to cover. #3 is really packed with vital info as it is, and how things intertwine might not necessarily be evident from reading alone.

[MellieC]

I've been trying to use this tutorial with Legacy Bodyshop but to no avail. After I do everything I need to do with SimPE and check body shop for the imported mesh, the wrong clothing shows up. I tried it again going through all the steps and the same exact problem happened again, I even got the same wrong clothing mesh showing up in Bodyshop.

Is there some sort of modification that needs to be done when using this tutorial with the Legacy Bodyshop program?

[tiggerypum]

First of all MellieC, the only hard and fast reason to use Legacy Bodyshop is to get around the incompatible with other eps bug with pets, which is _fixed_ if you get the patch. The other part (that your mesh might be included with future recolors) can be checked and fixed with clean installer after you've succeeded and before you release your recolors.

So my first suggestion, skip legacy bodyshop for now. What's going to be confusing is that for legacy bodyshop your files will appear in the legacy bodyshop folder and need to be moved to either the legacy game folder (if you're running the legacy game to test) or to your regular game folder. And as using legacy is an exception, no I'm not going to rework a tutorial for it.

Anyway, make your life easy. Forget about Legacy Bodyshop. Patch your pets bodyshop (patch is on the Maxis site). Do the tutorial, get everything working. Then if you want to double check that your recolors don't have extra meshes in them, I can help you with that (post in the main area, as it's not directly related to this tutorial) :)

[MellieC]

That's what I thought too so I'm doing what you suggested. :) However, I am still having the same problem. I believe I have isolated it to one file though. Everytime I try to load GMDC in SimPE, I get an error window saying:

Could not load file or assembly
'Microsoft DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0,
Culture=neutral
PublicKeyZToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or
one of it's dependancies. The system
cannot find the file specified.

Now I understand some other people have had the same or simular problem(s) and had to download Managed DirectX. However, since this just worked for me two days ago, that would be kind of wierd. Anyway, I'll download and install Managed Direct X and see if that helps. I'll let you know either way.

Thanks again for the great tutorial, I'm really looking forward to having fun with this once I get everything all figured out. :)

[tiggerypum]

are you accidently reading your gmdc onto a gmnd instead? I think that will make errors.

[MellieC]

No, I tried several times and I made sure of that.

The problem was Managed Direct X which is weird becuase like I said, it worked two days ago. :wtf:

I also was accidentally saving things to downloads that should have been saved to my project folder and vise versa. I guess that's what happens when you do this at 1Am. :lol: The good news about that however is that becase of the mistakes and glitches and what not, I did this tutorial so many times, I can all most do it with out even looking at it.

I can see that meshinig is just going to be one of those picky things that sometimes just doesn't go right. I suppose I better get used to it because it's something I plan on continuing.

Looks like I need to move on to another tutorial though. :lol:

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/7485/originalfe4.jpghttp://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2474/mymeshpa8.jpg

[play girl]

i'm having problems this has never happened to me when i'm building the mesh i check it in bodyshop and it never shows up...what's wrong?
i attached the .bak and .package file :help:

[tiggerypum]

playgirl, that won't help. We would need your RECOLOR file (that you've been trying to link in) and your mesh package. Did you try making a fresh recolor and doing the linking process again?

[play girl]

yea i did i tried again ,and it showed up BUT it's so weird something's wrong with the hands :cry: :|

[tiggerypum]

bia.migueis, I believe you're missing some of the 'you must have these also' software. Go back to the SimPE site and have a look.

Playgirl, I've not forgotten you, but I haven't had a chance to get to the right computer to download yet. Did the hands look like that when you were editing? Maybe you took the LOD version of the mesh instead of the main version? I strongly suggest, being you've kept hitting problems, doing this tutorial _as written_ so you can follow along and you'll immediately _see_ if anything on your screen doesn't match what's in the screenshots.

[Bumble_bee_faerie]

Could someone help me? I was able to get to the last few steps with no problems but on the last one where you replace the gmdc with the mesh1 file a box pops up saying: The Resource "Tigafgownmar2006-afbodydresslongloose_tslocator_gmdc" was changed. Should simpe reload it?

Well, I pushed yes and it poped up with another box saying:Message:
Error while trying to open

Package: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads\MESH_Tig_afgown_mar2006.package
File: Geometric Data Container (AC4F8687) - E43ECC6D - 1C050000 - FFAE288F

SimPE Version:
Default (0.60.2.20832).

Exception Stack:
System.OutOfMemoryException: Exception of type 'System.OutOfMemoryException' was thrown.
at SimPe.Plugin.Rcol.Unserialize(BinaryReader reader)
at SimPe.Interfaces.Plugin.AbstractWrapper.ProcessData(IPackedFileDescriptor pfd, IPackageFile package, Boolean catchex)

Source:
simpe.rcol

Execution Stack:
at SimPe.Plugin.Rcol.Unserialize(BinaryReader reader)
at SimPe.Interfaces.Plugin.AbstractWrapper.ProcessData(IPackedFileDescriptor pfd, IPackageFile package, Boolean catchex)

.NET Version:
2.0.50727.42


Any help would be greatly appreciated :help:

[play girl]

ok so i redid everything again and it showed up but i did it using a diferent mesh cause i tried with the old one and still didn't wanna show up...it's fixed now thanx tig

[tiggerypum]

Bumble_bee_faerie

Did you make sure to get ALL the 'required' stuff from the simpe site?

And secondly, just in terms of awareness.... 'Tig' is my name. Read the directions a bit more carefully, you're supposed to put YOUR nickname/initials there... this won't break things, but it is good practice for you to not mark your meshes with someone else's name. :)

[tnm]

The tutorial was great, I've got only one problem. When modding a body/mesh (afbodyswimwear) after I apply a full body texture (in Milkshape), it shows up in bodyshop as just a floating head, the body is invisible. I can go into projects and paint the alpha white and then paste my skin over mapbasetexture, and while it shows my custom skin, it removes any shape changes I've made to my body/mesh (the mesh goes back to sims default shape) I've spent the better part of a week trying to figure this out, and as this is my first time to do any type of meshing or skinning I am out of ideas. ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

[tiggerypum]

tnm, well, the problem is in the linking in step, I _think_. Are you seeing your mesh at step 28 or is that where you're stuck. Have you started over with a fresh recolor file? (don't know what you've tried)

[tnm]

i can still see my mesh in milkshape after I texture it. it's only after i export it with the texture that it doesnt appear in bodyshop. (it works fine if I don't apply a texture, I can see my edited mesh with whatever clothes that are assigned to them, like a swimsuit for instance.) I have not tried to apply a recolor file like you suggested, how do I do that?

thanks alot

[tiggerypum]

I am very confused by your explanation, because we do _adjust_ uvmaps in milkshape (but not in this tutorial!) but clothing doesn't get 'textured' in milkshape. To change the texture file, you need to use bodyshop and do a standard recolor - actually make a new project once your mesh changes are done, and then replace the graphics files (often called skinning, there's an entire area on site devoted just to that, and while it teaches changing on maxis meshes, the procedures are the same for any mesh, once you have it in the game properly)
http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

If you are not doing the tutorial project as written, I have two suggestions:

The first is to do this project _exactly as written_. Which is a bit tricky as unimesh just changed some interface things, so unless you have the version that was NOT posted this past week, there will be a couple spots that are different :( The problem is that this stuff is complicated, it takes 3 tutorials with steps presented in chunks to get to a reasonable meshing level, and then probably several more projects more for most people to start getting comfortable and tackle more advanced things. But if you do this one and then the next and then the next, you'll be able to tell exactly when things go 'off'.

The other option is to, in the main area, not this tutorial thread, because it seems you are not actually doing this tutorial - post some screenshots and much like we do in a tutorial, outline the steps _exactly_ you took and where things seemed to go awry. Because I don't know what you mean by 'export it with a texture', for instance, but if you said what commands/steps you used, I would better be able to help.

[lord_angmar]

when i have finished to modified the 2d model and replace the geomatic... it dont replace the one in the body shop. do I have to replace some folders in the download or savedsims or projet

sorry for my englsh im a french guy so :wtf:

[duxx]

Everytime I try to create a Mesh, in Part II step 8, I receive this error message. It's apparently a problem with my Direct X, but I just can't figure out what.

Message:
Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. O sistema não pode encontrar o arquivo especificado.

SimPE Version:
Default (0.60.2.20832).

Exception Stack:
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. O sistema não pode encontrar o arquivo especificado.
File name: 'Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35'
at SimPe.Plugin.fGeometryDataContainer..ctor()
at SimPe.Plugin.GeometryDataContainer.get_TabPage()
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.BuildChildTabControl(AbstractRcolBlock rb)
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.SelectRcolItem(Object sender, EventArgs e)

WRN: Assembly binding logging is turned OFF.
To enable assembly bind failure logging, set the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog] (DWORD) to 1.
Note: There is some performance penalty associated with assembly bind failure logging.
To turn this feature off, remove the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog].

Source:
simpe.gmdc.exporter.base

Execution Stack:
at SimPe.Plugin.fGeometryDataContainer..ctor()
at SimPe.Plugin.GeometryDataContainer.get_TabPage()
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.BuildChildTabControl(AbstractRcolBlock rb)
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.SelectRcolItem(Object sender, EventArgs e)

.NET Version:
2.0.50727.42

Please, help me =/

[tiggerypum]

Duxx, see the part about 'Needed software for SimPE or you'll get errors'. I know, it's written at the beginning of the tutorial. Go back to the SimPE site and get whatever you're missing.

lord_angmar, I want to help you but your description isn't enough. I suggest you start over again, and do your best to read very carefully and be sure you do every step, the pictures should help. When you edit your mesh, make a small change only, but one you can see. Just to test and get things working.

[duxx]

But that's the weird stuff, I've supposely (is that spelled right?) downloaded all that stuff... Well, I'll just download everything again then ;p

[duxx]

It worked, of course ¬¬³³³
*feeling bloody stupid*
So I'll just continue with the tutorial and come back to ask you boring questions whenever an issue emerges (it surely will ;pp)

[Ursus]

Hello :)

I really enjoy meshing, and created some furniture which
I'm delighted all worked fine in game. I followed the body
meshing tutorial a couple of times but, can you help?
I'm confused about the package filing,

I have 2 files, an original one with the extracted files
that went into the downloads folder,
and another with the GMND,GMDC,CRES,SHPE data,

I must have read this up, but it escapes me...how do I get
my new gmnd file into the downloads packed file?
the morph showed up in Simpe preview, so I know its there,

what havn't I done? I'm using Milkshape v10 and Unimesh,

Secondly, can I use an external UVmapper rather than the
one in Milkshape? or will this wipe out the comments and
details needed for the meshes joint coordinates? (maybe
export under unimesh,AND another as an OBJ file, then load
the OBJ file into UVmapper?)

can you help me please?

yours, dimly,

Ursu

[tiggerypum]

Unlike objects, body projects are made in 2 files. One file is just the mesh parts (the 4 parts, including the gmdc) The other is the recolor file (which has the matd's and texture in them - and also has a LINK to the mesh file in it)

The recolor file you make by doing the IMPORT in bodyshop, then you have to find that file in SAVED SIMS and put the modified shape and cres into it. (that links it to your new mesh)

Body meshes, unlike objects, should only have FIX INTEGRITY once. If you do it again, you need to redo the modified shape and cres thing again and link it in again.

Once you've exported from unimesh, putting a .simpe file into your working folder, then you use SimPE to replace the gmdc in the MESH file (in your downloads folder) with the new one that's in the file you wrote with unimesh.

You can't use uvmapper or such, you need to use milkshape's mapper, and you should for the most part only be modifying the uvmap, not redoing it - because it has to match the layout of the sim body for the parts that skin will show through.

Now if you are adding entirely new parts, and don't mind redoing all the bone assignments on them, you could use uvmapper on that _part_ exported as obj and then back in. As I said, you'll have to do all the bone assignments, and also verify that it's uvmapped to an unused part of the texture -- and do regrouping to bring your parts together into 1 - covered in tutorial #3.

I hope this helps. Body meshing (because of the bones) has different issues and is more complex than most objects. While some parts will be familiar, go through the tutorials and be careful not to skip any steps. If you do all 3, I believe a lot of it will start to make sense. There are 3 because there are so many concepts/steps to teach.

[Ursus]

Hi!,

Thanks for helping me out :) it'll all start to sink in soon, I'll draw a few diagrams to remind meself as I go along,

Thanks everso much :)

Ursu

[DogLover258]

hello, it's me again! um, today i actually did the editing but instead of the other tutorial i followed this one cuz the top part is the same.. right? well, i did what you were suppose to do but the first time, it didn't show up and i checked and double checked i did everything right. so i did it over again... and this time it showed up, but it didn't change. although that might have been due to the fact that i have alot of stuff in my saved sims folder. well, can you please help or give some ideas on what i must do, because i'm willing to the this tutorial over again tomorrow if i have to... but if you can help then that's even better!

Thanks!

DogLover258 :bunny:

[Melmermaid810]

Funny story.......my first attemp I ended not changing a thing on the dress I was working on (tassle did not dissapear) but all the original dresses the tassle dissapeared. Nice for the other dress but not the one I was making.

Ended up taking my dress mesh out and the dresses went back to normal.
Tried it again and it came out perfect! Who nose what I did wrong but I then did it right.

[kaibynum]

is there another program i can use instead of milkshape b/c i cant buy that

[tiggerypum]

kaibynum

This article outlines the various combinations of tools you can use to edit body meshes: http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131389

In short you have 2 choices that don't use milkshape -

MESHTOOL (which is documented but with milkshape, you will have to use another _compatible_ editor). You can only make small changes to the mesh with meshtool. Check the article for compatible editors and their special instructions/plugins.

SMD format - which I believe you can edit using 3DS Max (which is a pay program) or XSI modtool (free but complex, not easy for a total beginner)

Truth is at this point Unimesh is the most complete and easiest to use way to edit, which is why documentation efforts went into that most. (I also don't own 3DS Max, although there is a downloadable tutorial for it on site, follow the links from the body meshing article)

[meesha1971]

Thank you for this tutorial. I've been terrified of attempting any kind of mesh, but these tutorials really helped and I made my first hair mesh. It doesn't look anything like I want it to, but - for all intents and purposes - everything lined up and shows up properly, so I'm proud of myself. :)

I'm not sure why it doesn't look the way I want it to though. I'm trying to take the long curly hair for female teens and make it fuller and thicker. I have downloaded a mesh from Big Bad Shar where she did that - but it's only for young adults, adults, and elders. I'm trying to make something similar for teen and child so it will cover all ages. My first attempt isn't that bad - it is longer and "fuller" to a certain extent. But it's not thick. It's basically just a thin layer of hair set out further from the face, neck, and back of the head. It all lines up perfectly though. I just need to make it thicker. Is there a tutorial for that?

[tiggerypum]

meesha, most hair meshes are constructed with an outside layer and then a matching inside layer. Maybe you can work to reshape those layers separately - they'd need to stay joined at their bottom edges (so that the shape looks solid, otherwise what will happen is you will have the hair look 'invisible' from certain angles) So... I'd suggest seeing if you can find the 'inside' layer for the hair (I'm sorry I can't look to make sure there is one on that hairstyle, but I think there is). You probably pulled it outwards with the outside layer. If so, try grabbing a few vertices on it and pull it inwards a bit and see how that looks.

[meesha1971]

meesha, most hair meshes are constructed with an outside layer and then a matching inside layer. Maybe you can work to reshape those layers separately - they'd need to stay joined at their bottom edges (so that the shape looks solid, otherwise what will happen is you will have the hair look 'invisible' from certain angles) So... I'd suggest seeing if you can find the 'inside' layer for the hair (I'm sorry I can't look to make sure there is one on that hairstyle, but I think there is). You probably pulled it outwards with the outside layer. If so, try grabbing a few vertices on it and pull it inwards a bit and see how that looks.

This one has several layers and I edited them separately. I actually did pull the inside layer out too far and had areas where the texture wasn't showing up right, but I fixed that. I'll try pulling the vertices inward and see if that helps. Thanks! :)

[prodiege]

;) OMG! It actually worked for me! I'm so Happy!

There is only one problem.

The arms stick out like this

even in Milkshape it does the same thing

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l76/exquiste_photo/Image4.jpg?t=1170021482

Is it Ok for it to look like that? or I did something wrong

[tiggerypum]

Hmm. The arms should stick out in milkshape. But not in bodyshop. Hmm. Puzzling. I'm wondering if somehow some steps in the meshtool tutorial and this one got mixed up for you? Because it looks like the dress lost it's bone assignments, and both tutorials look very very similar.

Hmm. You could start totally over. But it looks like you have a working mesh file AND it's linked correctly to the bodyshop recolor. So... Start over from... (goes to look for the step number) Start over from the 2nd message, the milkshape part - Step 29. Make sure you're importing with the unimesh importer the original gmdc (with the funny name with the numbers and stuff). Unimesh recently changed, it will ask about underweight bones, you can say 'yes' to that. Then later when the steps tell you to fix the underweight bones, you can do it again, although it will say there weren't any.

Then when you're done with the edit and you save it out - make sure to name it something new, like 'body2' or 'newbody' or something, so that when you go into simpe you replace it with your newest attempt.

Now the thumbnail in bodyshop will still look wrong. BUT when you click it, your new mesh should appear on your sim.

If that doesn't work, I suggest deleting all the files and starting from the beginning. It will get easier and faster each time. I've had meshes not work and had to start over myself.

[prodiege]

Gasping! It Worked! :) :anime:

Yes!

I realized the reason why the arms stuck out like they did before was because Auto Tool was not selected. When Placed inside the game It floated around and the sims made this noise like it was frightened. Well i finally got it and i'm elated.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l76/exquiste_photo/Image3.jpg

Thank you SOOO!!! Much.

[tiggerypum]

:up: There you go! Next tutorial will be only a bit more complicated. The 3rd one covers a LOT of stuff, so that one will take more time, and maybe making a few other meshes for practice to get the hang of how everything works together.

:gjob: :beer:

[Ameliiya]

Was just wondering what could cause a mesh to come out like this?

[tiggerypum]

Wow, that's pretty impressive. I remember us seeing some spikes with 4th bone assignments not being properly assigned, but I've not seen a mesh looking like this in quite some time. It looks like (in part) that part of the skeleton got moved - that's what the legs look like with their distortion. Make sure you hide the skeleton so that you don't accidently select parts of it and move it.

I think you'd need to start over (although I expect you were working on tutorial #2 or #3 with this project).

[Ameliiya]

That's a maxis mesh that i edited from scratch. I didn't add anything to it or anything like that. I think i may have to check the bone assignments and things again. If that doesn't work i don't know what to do. I would just start again because the dress is easy enough to do but i spent a lot of time making some really good shoes so that's what i was trying to save lol. Thanks for the help. =)

[tiggerypum]

Well if you made the shoes, you can always cut away the top of the mesh and save them out in OBJ format. That will remove all the bad bone assignments. Then start new and import the maxis mesh from gmdc with unimesh. Then import your wavefront object shoes. Then you will need to do the bone assignments on the lower leg/shoe, but that's a lot less work :D HP even posted a general guide for the assignments someplace in this forum.

[Ameliiya]

Ok i'll definately give that a go. If i have troubles with it (which i probably will) i'll post it on the third tutorial as it would apply to that tutorial more. Thanks so much for the help tiggerypum. I really wish there was something i could do to repay you. May i put a credit to you on my websites credits pages?

[tiggerypum]

You can thank me wherever and however you wish :) You can also start a new thread if you run into problems with this particular project (in the main forum, no new threads in the tutorial section) as it's not actually a tutorial project, the focus for these threads is supposed to be the tutorial itself. I probably should have split this out of the thread, but I'm going to leave it at this point.

[natalove]

this tutorial is fantastic. thank you, the program becomes very intuitive once the names, functions and their meanings are broken down.

there's just one thing bothering me - why does the texture on the mesh look so terribly blurred? the dangly-ding-dong was removed very easily, but the effect is far from satisfying...

[tiggerypum]

natalove, prerequisite to starting changing meshes is learning how to recolor, because when you make your new outfits you'll want to make new textures for them. (making the new textures is also called 'skinning')

You would have run into this problem if you recolored any outfit - because there's something off in your bodyshop settings - don't know why the game sometimes breaks it with the eps. "Clothing Blurry" is part of the faq over in skinning, and there are directions for how to fix it

Bodyshop skinning (where there are tutorials to teach a lot of techniques for modifying textures) http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

The bodyshop fix: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?p=799603#post799603

[Rami Moulham]

Great tut. but i had a problem in step 32 when i choose the sims2 unimish importer v4.05 a message well come saying:

(The version has expired! You cannot save your work anymore!
please register at http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/ to re-enable saving!)

also when I start ms3d a message comes saying:

(you seem to have registered after this copy has expired!
Please run MS3D for at least 2 mins to complete the registration process!)

I think that its related to whats happening?!!?

pls reply when you can

[tiggerypum]

As I told you in you PM - - your milkshape isn't registered. Go to the url as you posted, click on register and pay.

It's kinda rude to PM and post on the board, I check the boards, as is obvious by the number of posts

[Tragic_mistake]

Great Tutorial guys, when I opened Bodyshop and saw that I removed that dangly thing, I almost cried :lol:.

I am having one problem, when I viewed the mesh in Bodyshop, I noticed that the arms are flat and kind of pointy. I'll post a few pics of what I mean. Any idea why this is happening?

[tiggerypum]

Yes! Good observation, and noticing this now will save you a lot of headaches later.

In the infocenter/faq:
Mesh: has seams/lines down the arms, legs and sides!
http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131412

Trying to fix it along the fingers and such is not so great, better to start over -or in this case, don't worry about it for this project, but make sure that's unchecked and that you never issue a 'smooth' command in milkshape for future ones. Always use demon's tools on the specific area you want to smooth.

[Tragic_mistake]

Ok so I just redid the whole tutorial again and it came out better then the last try did. Thank you for the help :).

[ulkrhsn]

Hey HP, I have a problem in the 43rd step :cry: : ''In the process, you'll also grab some of the vertices along the back. Shift-right-click those vertices to deselect them.''
I tried a million times to deselect them by shift-right-clicking but it doesn't really work. I mean I expected the vertices to turn white when I shift-right click on them, but nothing changed.
Also comparing to your tutorial pics, when I drag a box onto the dangly thing, I have more vertices than you.
here's yours:
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/8544/hppo6.jpg
and here's mine:
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5053/ulkvc4.jpg

[tiggerypum]

ulkrhsn, on the select option, I suspect you have 'face' clicked instead of vertex, because it looks like entire faces are selected. that's probably why clicking on the individual vertices to unselect isn't working. Check your 'select options'

[ulkrhsn]

thanks tiggerypum you're right :) but now i have another problem. when i drag a box to the dangly thing there are still unselected vertices :blink:
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5251/31524895tw4.jpg

[tiggerypum]

you have to look at all the settings - do you have them set the exact same as the pic? I bet ignore backfaces is checked.

[ulkrhsn]

how did you guess :faceslap: sorry i'll be more careful next time :beer:

edit: yayyy i did it :bunny: i love this community! Thanks a million HP and tiggerypum. this tutorial is awesome! :lovestruc

[Sims2_gurl5]

I will never get this,i don't have half the stuff and i've NEVER made a mesh be-4.

[pumkin]

I just don't know what folder to put it in so it will load on Body Shop. Any tips??

[tiggerypum]

pumkin, start over slowly. Do the tutorial step by step. You missed at least one step (and got blue lines) so it's possible you have missed others. Read the titles to the sections, they do try and explain what you are doing in that section. Instructions are very clear about what files you're making and where you are saving them and exactly which ones to edit. You must follow things exactly for your project to come out. Meshing is fussy work.

PS - if you aren't very experienced in making bodyshop recolors, pop over here: http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34 and look through the beginner tutorials there and do the series of them (there's 3-4 for each of 3 graphics editors, pick one you have) and get more familiar with bodyshop and then come back and try again. :)

[pumkin]

Just wanted to let people know that in one of the last steps that if this part doesn't appear:

SimPE will pop up a box saying ‘Resource Changed, should SimPE reload it’. Click Yes.

Your mesh won't work!
That was where I went wrong. I may have changed the GMND instead of GMDC.
So don't do this!!!
lol. I sent like, 6 hours (with breaks ofcourse) trying to figure out what i did wrong.

Thanks guys for the tutorial!

[Lucha Lutwieta]

thank you so mutch for this tutorial. But i can't do step 4. My SimPE has not a "type" window :wtf: and than in step 5 there is no sim... file :blink: I hope someone cann help me.
L.L. :bunny:

[tiggerypum]

See how the 'all resources' is highlighted in the left window. That will cause the other stuff to show in the right window, and then you'll see the listing there.

[coolcat1010]

i have a simple question, when i go to do step 20, my computer asks me if i want to save the changes made to the package "C\Documents and Settings\HP administrater\My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads\MESH_kerry_feb07_afbodydresslonglose" package?
should i save, or not? :cylon:
(the part after C\documents is just where the file is saved and \MESH_kerry_feb07_afbodydresslonglose is just the file name)

[tiggerypum]

coolcat, sounds like you missed the 'save' command in step 18? I don't think anything should have been changed after that step.

[Misz_Moss]

hey im a new member and just recently i found out about all the stuff u can do with sims and i just finished this tutorial and my mesh won't show up and i have tried everything. i really hope u get this message cuz i don't know where else to post it. Thanx*

[tiggerypum]

Misz_Moss, the usual suggestion is to start totally over, because from your description there's no way for me to know what step was missed. Go slowly, and try again - delete all the files you made on your first attempt first, start totally fresh. The practice is good anyway. There's also a FAQ area that has various things like 'my mesh doesn't show up'. But in this case as you are just beginning, starting fresh is the best idea.

[Gotsims1]

In SimPE, I don't have a type thing. I don't know how to get it. And the whole program is in German! :( :help:

[tiggerypum]

GotSims simpe supports many languages. Choose the one you want. I have to use english, sorry to say. And when you click on the correct thing in the left hand window the right hand window will display stuffs. (look at the picture)

[Misz_Moss]

tiggerypum u r so patient with everybody thanks so much 4 that, u would make a good teacher :up: :D ;) :)

[Reyn]

For some reason, even when I've repeated the steps leading up to it, when I add the modifiedcres and the modifiedshape files back to the original bodyshop import, I get the following instead of the new cres and shape files - ---user defined---

Am I missing something, or is it a problem with the simpe not being updated for seasons yet?


---Okay, I started completely over and now its doing the user defined at the step when you are building your mesh file. I'm going to give it another shot this evening, and if it is still doing it, I'll wait until tomorrow to try again.

---Nevermind - third time's the charm or something - and thank you - it was clear, but for some reason I wasn't :)

[agustin]

I know that I'm late, but maybe someone reads this, jeje, I did everything well, but when I finished I open bodyshop and the clothes is the same than before! I didn't change! please helpp, my email and msn is (removed), thanks!

[tiggerypum]

First, we do not email any responses here, you are expected to discuss things and come back to the board, here. So I hope you see this.

Secondly, if that was your first try, I suggest you simply start over and go slow, you likely missed a step. There are also tips in the FAQ/Infocenter, you are not the first or the last who will have a mesh not show up.

http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131405

[eling]

Guys, help!
I have a problem with replacing the GMDC with my exported package.

I haven't got problem with the first part of the tutorial.
Before editing in MilkShape 3D I saw my dress in BodyShop and it's okay.
But the problem is in my mesh... I'm sure!
I have read the tutorial 10 times and I can't fix the problem.
When i go back to Simpe and I when I try to replace... it's showing EROR and I can't replace it.
Do you have ideas how can I fix the problem?

But there is someting very strange...
Yesterday I done my first mesh and there wasn't problems.
Now I'm starting a new mesh and I'm doing all the steps like yesterday, but it's not happens!

I'm sure that the problem is with exporting the mesh.
But I can't find it...
I'll be very happy if you help me. :)

PS:
Sorry if I have mistakes, but my English is very bad...
I hope you'll understand me.

[tiggerypum]

eling, sometimes people accidently replace the gmnd instead of the gmdc.
Other than that, did you try to do a very simple edit, or did you try to add parts or read in 2 meshes or something else that isn't covered in this tutorial?

[eling]

Oh, my mesh is ready.

I have replaced the GMDC with the exported mesh.
Here's a picture of the mesh, the alpha and the texture:
http://www.picvalley.net/u/17/16681_553.JPG

I'm trying to make a simple edit without new parts.
I just made some corrections.
I think it's good for first time...

I've made correction with the "Sims 2 Unimesh Fix Underweighted Bones" tool to all body groups and I've exported the mesh and the problem was corrected.
I'm not sure that this is the reason for correcting the problem, but the most important thing is that I have a mesh and it's working without problems.

Maybe the mistake was in the uderweighted bones... I have no idea!

[kYti8]

I want to make a cape and I made the cape but how do you do bone assignments? I don't know how and I want my cape!! *cries* Please help, if there is tutorial or something on this please redirect me I don't know what to do. Thank you.
By the way, great tutorial! ^-^

[tiggerypum]

This is a _beginning_ tutorial. It takes BABY steps.
You need to go do the other 2 tutorials and then you will probably know what you need to work on your cape - although a cape all by itself without a body is not going to work as a 'body' mesh. But you could add it to a body mesh of your choice by the time you've done tutorial #3. #3 covers _a lot_ so practice is recommended.

[JeSs-RoX-uR-SoX91]

is there an easier way to mesh??? plz tell me if there is

[tiggerypum]

JeSs-RoX-uR-SoX91

We wrote the long 50 step tutorial just because we like long tutorials. No, this is the 'easy' way.

[Alexandravixen]

I am stuck on #4 when I open it I can't get the other side to open up so i can get to the dimmed property thing I have just opened up my project in saved sims and this is what I get http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i96/Hisaddiction/hg.jpg

[tiggerypum]

Looks like the newer simpe changed behavior a bit. Try clicking on 'property set' in the left column and see if that helps.

[Alexandravixen]

when I press property set it does nothing

[$RaMRoM$]

Thanks for the great tutorial Tig & HP

[tiggerypum]

Alexandravixen,

I suggest resetting your SimPE display then, it sounds like maybe one of the 'windows' was closed. To tell the truth, I cannot remember where that option is - try looking in preferences under 'advanced' and see if you can find something to reset your display/layout.

[Alexandravixen]

fixed it thats so much

[Purple Sheera]

Thank you so much Tig. for this amazing tutorial, but i have a question here please which i'm hopefully seeking for an answer.

I followed the steps for about 12 times and still the hanging thing doesn't go in Bodyshop, and each time i face something which i totally ignore ( i say to my self that it's maybe not important and i hope that it's not the problem here why the hanging thing still exist) , and the problem is that when reaching the step 23 where it says "Go to the 3D ID Referencing File (3IDR) , Click on it in the left window, click on it again in the right window. In the plugin view tab, you will see a button that says Package. Click on the Package button. A window will pop up. Drag your shape and resource node from the popup window into the list on the left. You will now have two shapes and two resource nodes. Close the pop up window." When i do this thing , i notice that in the Referencing File Edit on the left i have only 3 files which are Shape, Resource node and Material Definiton, which means only 3 files, so can someone tell me what's wrong? And do i have to HAVE all files that appear in the Tutorial ? And does this thing relate to why the hanging thing doesn't go in Bodyshop?

[tiggerypum]

purple sheera - maybe you're editing the file in your 'projects' folder and not the one in your saved sims folder?

[Purple Sheera]

Thank you Tig for replying , but where is the saved sims folder ? Does it come with the game like downloads and projects ? or i have to create one myself , plus does it have to do with the hanging thing that is not going in Bodyshop or what? Thank u again.

[tiggerypum]

*blink* uhm, I think that _is_ covered in the beginning of this tutorial - certainly it is in the bodyshop recoloring tutorials -- it's where your imported new outfits go -- in your MY DOCUMENTS/EA GAMES/ etc folders.

You must have bodyshop working (if it's not, deal with that first) and be well versed in making recolors and getting them into your game before taking this next step.

[Purple Sheera]

Oh thank u Tig so much , i'll check it , and reply u later, thank u again.

[samjfwa]

SimPE isn't allowing me to right click. I redownloaded everything and I think I have everything I need. Does anyone know what's wrong?

[tiggerypum]

No idea Samjfaw - can you right click in other applications (just making sure it isn't your mouse) Did you try rebooting your computer?

[Purple Sheera]

TIG, you really made my day , thank you so much for this tutorial and for your help, everything is working in order right now. I'm so thankful. God bless you.

[lilystahr]

Thank you so so so much for this :D

I've been trying to do this for ages and I was close to having no hair left to rip out :giggler:

All the extra details (like when a pop-up window appears) and everything helped A LOT. So, yeah, thanks :up:

[foret754]

How do i get the sims pe?

[tiggerypum]

Click Link. All the things you need have links on them.

[tiggerypum]

I've had that problem also - but you can open the holiday pack files by hand and go find your gmdcs - go to C:/program files/ea games/the sims 2/tsdata/res/catalog/bins

H05.bundle.package is the original stuff from the first holiday pack
H06.bundle.package has the new things that were added

Then just use any old compatible easy to find mesh for your original mesh (for most meshes they just have a 'body' - so just use any other mesh that also just has a 'body' group) - if it has an alpha or another second group, then things get more complex. Edit the gmdc you find in unimesh, and then replace the gmdc in your base mesh with it.

[$RaMRoM$]

thank u HP & Tig for the unimesh tut i tried the *.obj one 2!

http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/images13/MTS2_510792_$RaMRoM$_untitled.JPG

[Malifecent]

Awesome tutorial! Thank you soooo much! I have been putting this off for months because I thought it was really difficult, but your tut was great! I didn't have a single problem! I did download the newest bets version of MilkShape 3D, so there were a couple of things a bit different than the tut, but I figured it all out! Yay! Thank you!

[mickeymouse254]

great tutornial its a great help!!

[SITM]

first off, great tutorial

I have a very frustrating problem dealing with unassigned bones. The problem: I haven't even done anything to the mesh so there shouldn't be any unassigned but there still are. Let me explain. I was working with this mesh trying to delete a belt from it (should have been reletively simple) I spent a lot of time making sure I deleted equal vertices per morph but still ended up with the error message after saving. I figured I must have miscounted. Annoying but very possible, if that were the problem alone I wouldn't be here. I then decided to restart and go one by one checking for the error with each deletetion. What I found was that if I imported the mesh, did the unweighted bone fix, and then exported it there was still the same problem WITHOUT even moving a single vertex. This just baffles me. I went ahead and tried to replace the GMCD and it said there was an error. However, something must have changed because all of a sudden in bodyshop the mesh had spikes

Now I looked though the thread and found that there were similer cases, and just like in mine they had spikes in bodyshop. I read through the solutions involving the bone tool but all the solution assumed that the spikes showed in milkshape which would make vertex selection and bone assignment much easier. But no, these spikes don't show at all in milkshape and just appear in bodyshop. Still, I went on with the instructions and used the fix underweighted bones tool and it fixed 330. I was left with verteces selected in spaced out rings ONLY in the torso/pelvic region and a single ring around each ankle/wrist.

I hope you undertsand what this means more than I do because I have no idea what the problem is let alone how to fix it

[tiggerypum]

SITM, I'm not sure what is happening, but I suggest starting over and for starts, do this tutorial exactly as written. Most Maxis meshes don't have belts as 'extra' parts, when you delete the belt you'll leave a gap in the mesh. Spikes are usually a result of bad bone assignments, and that is usually associated with using meshtool and obj (which is a different but similar tutorial)
So for a start, do this tutorial exactly exactly as written. Let's see if we can get a working mesh into your game.

[HAKAISHA]

OMG OMG OMG! I finally did it!
I was trying to make a hijab for the afhairlonsimple and HEY after 15 attempts I actually did it!
Using your tutorial, not a hair one... those were needlessly confusing.
THANK YOU!

[missy harries]

Thank's. That was a great tutorial, I got it first time.
I'm realy intrested in creating meshes but I'm a uber newbe who's never worked with any of this ever, it was clear and easy to understand. I will definatly go on to the next one.

[mickeymouse254]

Hello I need some help. I just got a new computer with windows vista on it and on the turnials are for windows xp and some things in simpe don't work th same like the propert set: thing isn't there

[pinkctr13]

Is the milkshape thing only for windows and not macintosh OS 9?

[tiggerypum]

pinkctr - not only is milkshape only for windows - simpe - which you do need to work on _meshes_ is only for the pc. Sorry. It's a free tool and there aren't enough mac experts who want to make something similar for the mac.

[PegasusDiana]

Did this tutorial last night and it came out perfect. Very easy to understand. I almost messed up, I didn't know HP's was set on Vertex? and mine was set on group. But I figured it out when I looked at the picture and it worked great! Nothing exploded thank goodness and the dress worked fine in the game. Thank you BOTH! So much. I will try the second in the series today.

[Athame1076]

as i started with meshing only recently, you have helped me get to a good start faster than i expected thanks xox :)

[Hardy boyz]

Thank you.
I've tried this on my old comp before, but it didn't work (I got an error in SimPE in the first part). But now I have a new comp and it works like it should.

Thank you SO much!

//HB

[mythunderstandin]

Hello, I love the tuturials! I just finished the 3rd, added shoes to a mesh, and it shows up in body shop (the fact that most of it showed up makes me very happy). The issue is that one of her legs is deformed and I have no idea why, and am not sure how to fix it? I'm attaching a screen shot of it here. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear. Also, if I can get it fixed, I guess I just follow the same steps for exporting it and replacing the gmdc in simpe?

Thanks :)

[HystericalParoxysm]

mythunderstandin: Please ask questions that do not relate to the tutorials in the main Body Shop Meshing forum. That way folks doing this specific tutorial can just see questions and answers related to this tutorial in the thread if they get stuck on something, and if your answer is long and complicated we can go into more detail there.

It looks like you might have accidentally moved one or more of the bones in her leg when you were editing. In Milkshape they're little blue circles if you have them visible. I don't think there's a way to get a fresh, unmoved skeleton in there without a biiiig bunch of hassle, so it may be quicker/easier/better to just start over and make sure you don't have the skeleton viewable so you can't accidentally edit it. I think there's a "Show skeleton" checkbox on the Joints tab for that.

If you have any further trouble or more questions please make a new thread about it in the main Body Shop Meshing area. Thanks. :)

[tiggerypum]

Also use the latest unimesh and you should be *unable* to have an accidental skeleton edits change your actual skeleton, if I remember correctly.

[adrumsolo4u]

i used this tutorial to edit a different dress (custom downloaded). it worked perfectly except for one small issue... the dress no-longer acts like a dress, but more like a shirt/pant outfit. The outfit does retain all of the same detail but the mesh is no longer a dress/gown mesh, but a pant/shirt mesh. I'm a little confused. anyone had this problem before and know how to help?
thanks in advance, the tutorial was great, it worked great for other clothes that i edited.

[adrumsolo4u]

oh btw here is a link to some pictures of my problem
http://www.geocities.com/adrumsolo4u/project02.html

[tiggerypum]

adrumsolo4u, the first dress looks like an alpha dress mesh

1) unless you have permission you cannot start with someone else's mesh, you must start with a maxis mesh

2) the directions here apply to finding the base pieces of the maxis mesh and linking your new mesh file to the new recolor file you made... but maybe you were smart and started with the 4 pieces of the custom mesh and then did a fix integrity

3) an alpha dress would have a body and a second alpha part. It's possible you lost the 2nd alpha part someplace along the way

As a beginner - do this tutorial as written. Then experiment for yourself for practice doing something like turning some pants into bell-bottoms, or doing some small resizing/reshaping project.

Then do tutorial #2 as written. Then do some small project or two using those new skills. Then go on to tutorial #3. After that, you might be prepared to work on a dress that has a separate alpha group.

[adrumsolo4u]

i think i see what your saying. other clothes that i have downloaded have two separate files. one is a mesh and one utilizes the mesh. is that the type of system i will need to work with? and yes i think i will stick the basics until I'm sure of what I'm doing.
thank you for your help.

[tiggerypum]

adrumsolo - well yes, but you would be making that sort of thing yourself (if you do this tutorial and the others as written). In the tutorials some things are explained, but some of it usually becomes clearer simply with time - because at first the focus is just on following the directions carefully, and then as you do it again, more of the information about what you're doing will start making sense.

An alpha mesh - is a mesh with 2 parts inside the mesh file - which is even more complicated, and you need to focus on one sort of thing at a time - like with math one has to learn how to add and subtract before multiplication. There are a lot of details and different things with meshes, this tutorial is overly simple to get you started, then the next introduces a couple more concepts - the one after that takes big leaps to cover the rest - so... spend some time fiddling around with this one and the next one before doing #3.

[silenthill_addict]

What's the case with downloaded content? There is no grey phrase like what you said in step 4. Why's that?

[tiggerypum]

silenthill_addict

This is a beginning tutorial, the very first *tiny* steps towards making your own mods. Do it as written. And then the next 2 tutorials. At that point you will have **basic** (yes, there is a lot to learn) abilities to edit meshes.

I even recommend that after doing tutorial #2 that you simply experiment with changing shapes (scaling and moving vertices) and fixing the uvmaps on a couple of your own projects before heading into tutorial #3, which has a LOT of new material. Consider those projects to be learning projects, even if you never share/use them after you make them -- like with everything else in life, mastery comes with practice. And meshing is somewhat complex.

You will also by the end of Tutorial #3 understand how a user-made mesh is created. And it's unlikely you will still have the question -- although I will point out that you cannot use another person's mesh as your starting point without their permission - you should start with a base Maxis mesh.

[stoneydork]

Hi , I am tryin to do this with a different mesh and As I follow the instructions, after I get to "34) You'll get a popup that asks if you want to create blend groups. Tell it "Yes." ... I hit yes, THEN I get a popup not mentioned in Tutorial saying

" Some Skin weights do not total 100%. Do you want these corrected?"

What is that? Do I hit yes or no, and whats it do?

Sorry for the trouble, and Thanks :D

[$RaMRoM$]

Hi , I am tryin to do this with a different mesh and As I follow the instructions, after I get to "34) You'll get a popup that asks if you want to create blend groups. Tell it "Yes." ... I hit yes, THEN I get a popup not mentioned in Tutorial saying

" Some Skin weights do not total 100%. Do you want these corrected?"

What is that? Do I hit yes or no, and whats it do?

Sorry for the trouble, and Thanks :D

Just click yes, its a new thing in the unimesh plugins(i think!)

It fixes the weight on the bone (so it will be 100 %)

[didadragonfly]

I just finished tutorial #1 and I am elated!! It worked and you guys ROCK!!

This is why I bought the computer I did, kind of high priced for me, BUT, I wanted to get into meshing, design etc. and I feel more confident with each step (baby or otherwise :D ) that I take.

So THANK YOU for taking the time to make this tutorial, I am soooo happy!!

Its great that talented people will take their time and help us little noob's out!!

:up: :lovestruc

[yakura shima]

I tried to put it into simPE after deleting the dangly thing and it put up a box saying:
'Exception of type
'system.OutOfMemoryException' was thrown'


='^'=

EDIT: NEVERMIND!!!! I think my spine exploded, but I figured it out!
Thank you for the tutorial! :blink:

[AntopiaRocks]

Thank you SO MUCH.

That was a fantastic tutorial. Very clear and concise.

[kosya27]

Hey ! thank you a lot ! I have only one small problem with SimPe . My empty window with Type on it doesn't show up ! Maybe i closed it somehow but i don't know where to get it back! Plzzzz help me !

[$RaMRoM$]

Hey ! thank you a lot ! I have only one small problem with SimPe . My empty window with Type on it doesn't show up ! Maybe i closed it somehow but i don't know where to get it back! Plzzzz help me !

1. Start
2. All Programs
3. SimPE
4. Theme
5. Modern Look

hope i helped you! :D

Pic:
http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/images9/MTS2_555616_$RaMRoM$_SIMPE_MODERN.JPG

[skinnrulle]

I like experimenting with stuff like this and try it my own way - I really messed it up a few times and had to start over, it wasn't that easy as I thought it would be, but now I'm done, and IT'S WORKING!!! Thank you SO much for this tutorial:D

[ruderalph]

how can i get more space in the texture to add extra texture?
instead of removing, i tried to add some stuff after i did this tutorial, but i need space in the clothing texture for the extra items texture...

can you please help me?

sorry for my bad english, i'm portuguese

[$RaMRoM$]

how can i get more space in the texture to add extra texture?
instead of removing, i tried to add some stuff after i did this tutorial, but i need space in the clothing texture for the extra items texture...

can you please help me?

sorry for my bad english, i'm portuguese

You need to uvmap the new added "stuff" using milkshape, read the tutorials in the "Tutorials for Hair, Accessory and Body meshing" area here (http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=445)

Read tiggerypum's other tutorials the ones are "sticky" threads. :D

P.S: your english is great ;)

[tiggerypum]

ruderalph - this is a very beginning baby-step tutorial. I would never expect someone to go from this tutorial to adding parts - there's a lot more involved to *add* a part to a body mesh, construction, uvmapping, and bone assignments.

Please complete the next two tutorials - as written - which will guide you through some of the next steps, and also look at the stuff in milkshape tips in the infocenter for more related tutorials.

[orange franz]

wow this tuturial is so cool! i thought deleting the string thing was ganna be super hard! but it wasn't thaks so much u guys! thought i am having a problem when i try to export the mesh in milkshape an error pops up saying ERR: Missing MorphRefNum: value in comments ok i have no clue what that means. then when i try to replace Geometric Data Container with the new mesh that i made it sais error while trying to open Package.Then when i press ok to close the window another window pops up saying:

Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.
Unable to Read beyond the end of the stream

im not sure what im doing wrong could some one please help me.

[tiggerypum]

orange franz - please tell me exactly which version of milkshape and which unimesh you used

[orange franz]

im using
Unimesh 4.09 and MilkShape 1.8.1

[tiggerypum]

Hmm very odd orange franz

You have 1.8.1 and not 1.8.1a ?
Can you look at the comments for your body group and paste them in here?
I assume that you have been following this tutorial exactly from the other things you said.
The comments contain data that Unimesh uses to rebuild the gmdc

[orange franz]

lol ya i got 1.8.1a i wasnt sure if the a was neccessary sorry about that. um sorry i know this might sound dumb but what do you mean when you say post comments from your body group here? im not sure exactly what your talking about sorry.