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Theorist
Original Poster
#1 Old 13th Nov 2015 at 1:21 AM
Default Creating old, dingy textures for walls and other objects
I am creating a house that has been condemned for nearly a century and would like some ideas on how I can go about making the walls, flooring, ceilings, windows and doors look as if they have been left go for almost a century. The lot I am creating is a victorian home that was left during the Great Depression and would like help on how to create that look for the interior of the home. I only want to use game content for this look, even creating the look with some pieces of furniture will help with the lot. Pictures are more than welcome along with any one's suggestions on how to go about creating this. Thank you and look forward to your ideas
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Pettifogging Legalist!
retired moderator
#2 Old 13th Nov 2015 at 2:09 AM
Moving to Creator Feedback since you seem to be asking about general tips, not about the moderation / guidelines in particular.

It would be helpful if you could post pictures of the current state of your lot.


Here are two lots I've uploaded here which are a little run-down / abadoned:

http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=532413
http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=532205

Maybe take a look at those; they have very little CC.

Stuff for TS2 · TS3 · TS4 | Please do not PM me with technical questions – we have Create forums for that.

In the kingdom of the blind, do as the Romans do.
Theorist
Original Poster
#3 Old 13th Nov 2015 at 2:05 PM
Thank you for your post and a few links. However, even though the patterns in those homes are outdated, thats really all they are is outdated. I'm looking for something that looks like it has sat empty for over 100yrs. I will post a few pics of what I have. I am asking these questions because I am trying to upload this lot and I am being told that the wall cracks are too repetitive and that I need something different for my doors and windows. I have tried different wall colors and didn't feel they looked aged, distressed, or stained looking and felt that the cracked paint gave me as close to cracking walls as I could find. Again, I am looking for something that went empty back in the 1930's and is falling apart. Thank you again for any help and suggestions.
Screenshots
Pettifogging Legalist!
retired moderator
#4 Old 13th Nov 2015 at 10:45 PM
On your second picture the texture looks very bold and very monotonuous. It doesn't seem logical that everything -- walls, doors, stairs, crown and rail -- would have the same near-black cracks all over .. has everything been painted black first, and then white, with the exact same paint at the exact same time?

I think more subtle patterns, that also vary a bit taking the different materials into account (wood normally has a grain direction) work much better to make things look like they've aged naturally. There are a lot of uneven paint and wood patterns in TS3 that one can use for that; some of the fabrics also work well.


Some close-up pictures from a recent upload to illustrate what I mean:

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...-frontentry.jpg -- that bamboo pattern is bright yellow by default, but works nicely as a soft wood texture (in white or grey for example). Also check out the paneling: see how the vertical beams have a vertical grain?

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...hemainfloor.jpg -- another wood example; this would also look good in white I think
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...-basement-3.jpg -- dito
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...kitchendoor.jpg -- dito

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...entbathroom.jpg -- I think that's either a fabric pattern, or paint. It is probably too subtle for your purpose if you'd use it *everywhere*, but it could be good for areas/things that would be less stressed/used than others (like a washbasin for example, or the walls inside a small closet).

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...groundlevel.jpg -- those are metal patterns -- they work well as paint too (if you'd colour them slightly off-white)

Stuff for TS2 · TS3 · TS4 | Please do not PM me with technical questions – we have Create forums for that.

In the kingdom of the blind, do as the Romans do.
Theorist
Original Poster
#5 Old 14th Nov 2015 at 2:32 AM
Quote: Originally posted by plasticbox
On your second picture the texture looks very bold and very monotonuous. It doesn't seem logical that everything -- walls, doors, stairs, crown and rail -- would have the same near-black cracks all over .. has everything been painted black first, and then white, with the exact same paint at the exact same time?

I think more subtle patterns, that also vary a bit taking the different materials into account (wood normally has a grain direction) work much better to make things look like they've aged naturally. There are a lot of uneven paint and wood patterns in TS3 that one can use for that; some of the fabrics also work well.


Some close-up pictures from a recent upload to illustrate what I mean:

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...-frontentry.jpg -- that bamboo pattern is bright yellow by default, but works nicely as a soft wood texture (in white or grey for example). Also check out the paneling: see how the vertical beams have a vertical grain?

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...hemainfloor.jpg -- another wood example; this would also look good in white I think
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...-basement-3.jpg -- dito
http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...kitchendoor.jpg -- dito

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...entbathroom.jpg -- I think that's either a fabric pattern, or paint. It is probably too subtle for your purpose if you'd use it *everywhere*, but it could be good for areas/things that would be less stressed/used than others (like a washbasin for example, or the walls inside a small closet).

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/7...groundlevel.jpg -- those are metal patterns -- they work well as paint too (if you'd colour them slightly off-white)


Thank you for these suggestions I'm going to continue to look online and in the game as well. I've always tried doing my homes well updated, clean and cozy and this sounded like something that would be fun to try but also way out of my element lol The hard part about this is not having CC I love using CC but can be a pain when it comes to linking and listing everything so trying to do with out that and that's proving for me to be quite a challenge. I wasn't to sold on the doors and windows having that crack paint and yes I agree it is a lot but at the same time it looks so aged but adding colors to it which I've tried seemed to freshen it up to much lol. If you think of anything else or anyone else has ideas I am still open to other opinions.
Instructor
#6 Old 14th Nov 2015 at 10:17 AM
Well, I know you don't want CC, but I cannot read run down and abandoned etc. without thinking Cyclone Sue at TSR. Seriously. Even if you absolutely don't want to use her stuff, it might be good for inspiration. She is the master of dingy http://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/Cyclonesue/
Theorist
Original Poster
#7 Old 14th Nov 2015 at 3:55 PM
Quote: Originally posted by Tigerdyhr
Well, I know you don't want CC, but I cannot read run down and abandoned etc. without thinking Cyclone Sue at TSR. Seriously. Even if you absolutely don't want to use her stuff, it might be good for inspiration. She is the master of dingy http://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/Cyclonesue/


I don't mind CC, I have almost 2K items in my downloads folder so I have no problems using them and that's really about all I use in my games, however, just don't want to make my uploads to much of a hassle for others with a bunch of CC. I will take a look though to see if I find anything. Thank you for the suggestion.
Scholar
#8 Old 14th Nov 2015 at 4:32 PM
Quote: Originally posted by no.1froggie
I am creating a house that has been condemned for nearly a century and would like some ideas on how I can go about making the walls, flooring, ceilings, windows and doors look as if they have been left go for almost a century. The lot I am creating is a victorian home that was left during the Great Depression and would like help on how to create that look for the interior of the home. I only want to use game content for this look, even creating the look with some pieces of furniture will help with the lot. Pictures are more than welcome along with any one's suggestions on how to go about creating this. Thank you and look forward to your ideas


There are subtle patterns in paint, leather, stone, metal, masonry, and fabric. For an aged look on broad surfaces, I tend to go for patterns that are two-toned.
I often use the same hue for both of those little colour buttons, and then adjust one of the colours' lightness/darkness till I get the effect I want.
It helps me to avoid a busy look, or also one that's too repeaty.

I also try to avoid saturated colours. I try to bring them very close to the center of the colour wheel.
I avoid the patterns that can't be adjusted. As much as I love the crackled paint swatches, they rarely translate well for me on a larger surface.

I try to keep in mind the tints of things that are old and why they probably got that way. Changes are often subtle. We are aware of them, but they don't shout at us.
Wallpapers are likely to be altered by mold and mildew. Metals will be altered by a patina of tarnish, rust, and wear.
Woods will be altered by mildew and wear. Things will be dusty. (So I try to avoid patterns that are shiny.) :lovestruc

[p.s. thank you, plasticbox.]
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