This started as a quickie tool to package tattoos for the game, but several people requested a previewer so after lots of hard work here it is.

Tattooinator takes your name for your tattoo, a 512 x 512 DDS file with the image, your CAS preset colors, and your sort order for CAS (high to low) and creates a package for the game. Tattoo images show up in the game somewhat differently than in an image editing program or a viewer, but the previewer will show you how your tattoo will look with each of your presets.







Compatibility
Windows only, sorry. Under Windows 7 you may occasionally have weird delays browsing for files. This appears to be a limitation of the platform I use for my programs.

You must have your game patched up to version TS3 1.12 / WA 2.7 / HELS 3.3 and up, or have Ambitions installed, to see CAS tattoos in your game.

Installation
Extract Tattooinator. exe and Salflibc.dll, put them in the same folder, and run Tattooinator.

Tutorial
A tutorial using GIMP is here: http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=411332

A huge thanks goes to TwinHerder for patiently explaining layers and color blending and providing the equations that make the previewer work, not to mention kicking my butt to attempt it in the first place.

Another big thanks to Bordew5 for creating the icon I've built into version 2 and up.

Troubleshooting
Tattooinator randomly freezes when browsing for a file! - This is a known problem under Windows 7, and seems to be a glitch in the platform I use to program. Wait half a minute or so and it should start working again.

I don't see my tattoo in CAS! - Most likely either you don't have Ambitions or the 1.12 (minimum) patch installed, or your game is not correctly set up for custom content. Please, if you post here with this problem tell me whether other custom content works in your game and whether you have Ambitions and/or the patch. If you don't I just have to waste everyone's time asking.

Additional Credits:
The folks at the Wiki
PL Jones for S3PE Echo for Postal

*** Update 8/13/2010 ***

I assumed custom tattoos just don't work without Ambitions, and you know what they say about people who assume. They do in fact work with just the patch, and Tattooinator V1.1 fixes a compatibility problem and will package tattoos that work with TS3 1.12 and up / WA 2.7 and up / HELS 3.3 and up, and Ambitions.

*** Update 1/22/2011 ***

Version 2.0 of Tattooinator is uploaded. Changes/new features:

• Convert function - takes an image and converts it to a format suitable for a tattoo
• Will accept up to a 1024 x 1024 image as long as it's square
• A very nifty icon created by Bordew5.

I've done a tutorial for the convert function which is in the Create/CAS Parts forum: http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=432168

*** Update 5/30/2011 ***

Version 2.1 of Tattooinator is uploaded. The ability to select the genders and ages that the tattoo is valid for and will appear in CAS for has been added.

*** Update 9/8/2012 *** Version 2.11 uploaded.
This is an update only to the underlying platform - salflib.dll. It improves file selection performance when running on Windows 7 so that you should be able to select significantly more files before it freezes for a minute or so.

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1183 people have said thanks to CmarNYC for this download.

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Basic Download and Install Instructions:

See: Game Help:TS3 CC Basics^wiki for a full guide!