Create Your Own Blueprints Tutorial - With Pictures! UPDATE: Download Blueprints, too!

Mstybl95 · May 2014

The <a href="http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=502976" target="_blank">Blueprint Maker</a> by <a href="http://modthesims.info/m/3045250" target="_blank">velocitygrass</a> is hosted at <a href="http://modthesims.info/browse.php?" target="_blank">MTS</a>.

This tutorial is assuming you know your way around the game and documents folder and can follow simple instructions.

By creating this tutorial, I hope others will help build a wonderful database of blueprints to share.

STEP 1: First things first: Navigate to your The Sims 3 folder and delete any Error log files that you have in there. If there are none, you are ahead of the game.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep1_zps24af061d.jpg" /></a>

STEP 2: Before running the game you should open the Blueprint Maker and Paint for easy access. Then run the game and load a world in LIVE MODE.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep2_zps733cea41.jpg" /></a>

STEP 3: In order to use this tool, you have to be in live mode. Build or find a room that you want to create a blueprint with. For this tutorial, I am using the first floor of a home I recently built. Click the floor and select Velocitygrass.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep3_zpsaa835539.jpg" /></a>

STEP 4: Next select one of the options. I select <strong>Create Blueprint Template without Outer Wallpaper</strong> because I assume rooms will be connected to it and you will want to change the wallpaper anyway.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep4_zps8d0bf5c6.jpg" /></a>

STEP 5: Try to get the best screenshot that you can while in the game. Try to include everything in the room. Crop it in Paint. I have an X over the bathroom because that room will not be included.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep5_zpsa6814a19.jpg" /></a>

STEP 6: Now hit <strong>Windows + D</strong> to go to the desktop and switch to the Blueprint Maker. Select Browse in the Log category.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep6_zpsb458b26a.jpg" /></a>

STEP 7: When it opens, you will see your log files. If you are lucky, there will be only one. If you are me, you'll probably see more than one. There is a simple way to tell which is the blueprint. First, if you only made one blueprint, then you can click it and it will say something about furniture on the side. However, I usually make more than one at a time so I go off the time-stamps. Try to gauge the time-stamp. I made the blueprint before I the screenshot so the error log I need is the one before the screenshot. It will be more accurate if you take an in-game screenshot using the game camera, too.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep7_zpsb66d2020.jpg" /></a>

STEP 8: Fill in the rest of the information. When you get to the bottom, you will see that there is a default monetary amount to pay for the blueprint of 999. For some reason, the first blueprint you create will always say 999 no matter what. I change it to whatever I think is appropriate or you can make it even cheaper. All the blueprints you make after that will say the correct amount (as long as you don't close the program.) Also select the category you want the blueprint to be in.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep8_zps1d5b266e.jpg" /></a>

STEP 9: Click save. I saved it to my desktop, but you can also save it directly into your packages folder, however, it will not show up until you restart the game.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep9_zpseee914a9.jpg" /></a>

STEP 10: Now...you have the option to continue making blueprints going through these steps again or you can quit the game to test it. I also recommend going into your The Sims 3 folder and deleting the error log file. It will make your life so much easier!

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep11_zps9cb4d150.jpg" /></a>

STEP 11: Move the file you created into your packages folder.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep12_zps9360f0c2.jpg" /></a>

YOU'RE DONE! Start the game and test it out.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

Try your best not to use any cheats while creating the room. Any objects that intersect will not be part of the blueprint. As a builder I know we like to make it look pretty, but this is very utilitarian and is purely focused on function. So don't go crazy. Stick with moveobjects off and don't do anything to the terrain. None of those tweaks will make it into the finished product.

Do not enclose rooms with fences. The Blueprint Maker will Spit out an error and not save the blueprint. I found this out while trying to create a blueprint for the Cinema Plumbob lobby where it has the barrier to entry system inside.

Stocked shelves will display as grilled cheese sandwiches. If sims are interacting with objects, they may disappear and display as grilled cheese or items in their inventory. It just occurred to me to reset the lot in order to clear the sims from using the objects.

And I will show you what I mean:

Here is the blueprint. The red circles highlight where I used the moveobjects cheat.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/9363c75e-f5c1-4764-8c9c-ed34d8ccd7e0_zps50ef16da.jpg" /></a>

There was a deco cabinet here. Now it is missing.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/b3215e1b-e5ce-4e4c-afa0-35b6bf3f0343_zps40ff6a26.jpg" /></a>

The shelves above the fireplace are missing.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/Screenshot-9_zpsca88d268.jpg" /></a>

And a table and plant are missing from the unusable tile behind the L-shaped stairs.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/Screenshot-10_zps0dfb501f.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-63_zpsf3e14202.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-58_zpsed42ddd0.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-54_zps0a3a36ab.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-55_zpsbae274cd.jpg" /></a>

I build with moveobjects off most of the time. I do turn it on for paintings and deco objects. But if you can be mostly mindful of that, you can still create an interesting, beautiful, and functional room.

Happy simming!

Mstybl95 · May 2014

You can download this blueprint HERE.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/Screenshot-7_zps07fba88c.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Blueprints Tutorial/BlueprintStep5_zpsa6814a19.jpg" /></a>

Mistletoe143 · May 2014

Mstybl95,

This is a wonderful tutorial for builders.

I hope that it will encourage others to create blueprints to share.

Thank you for taking the time to create this.

Mstybl95 · May 2014

Mistletoe143 wrote:

Mstybl95,

This is a wonderful tutorial for builders.

I hope that it will encourage others to create blueprints to share.

Thank you for taking the time to create this.

Inspired by you!

Mstybl95 · May 2014

New Blueprints

These are just some of the shops I already have in my town. I will start creating specific ones using store sets, soon. Today was the first day it reached 80 degrees so I took my kids out to enjoy it.

anettesb · May 2014

I think it is a brilliant idea, this or the other thread (maybe link them to each other) could be come blue print central

Mstybl95 · May 2014

A couple of new ones:

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Screenshot-28_zpsbe618bf6.jpg" /></a>

DOWNLOAD

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Screenshot-29_zps913af3f2.jpg" /></a>

DOWNLOAD

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Screenshot-30_zpsb607348c.jpg" /></a>

DOWLOAD

GreenCats · May 2014

Thanks so much for this tutorial :-)

Mistletoe143 · May 2014

Mstybl95,

I really like the idea of housing all the blueprints under this tutorial thread. It makes a lot of sense.

Later on today, I'm going to try your blueprints, as well as amjoie's blueprints in the Store forum. Right now, I'm troubleshooting, trying to figure out why my computer has been so laggy lately.

I suspect it's because I never delete anything and have copies upon copies of files, etc. So, I have a lot of clean-up and organizing to do. Oh, well.

Happy Simming!

amjoie · May 2014

Quoted here, by request:

amjoie wrote:

OK, I need guinea pigs to test some kitchen blueprints. I want to know if these work in your game. No CC. Most of them were saved without wall paper on outside walls. I think the one with PC has wallpaper on the outside walls, but I can't remember. It was the first one I did.

These are compact kitchens for medium homes, in various styles. The smallest ones have some store things, mostly free stuff. But I did include a pie. The cupboards and appliances are from base game, expansions, and/or stuff packs. I have all expansions and stuff packs installed in my game.

The two larger kitchens, both of them "Grandma's Kitchen" have more store things. One has PC and one does not.

Please let me know if these work for you -- I am looking for feedback, so I know what works and what does not. I'm begging, here, for some kind people to actually reply back, even if it is to say these blueprints don't work at all.

MediaFire link:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/43pojwn6yrpbz05/amjoieGenericCompactKitchens.rar

Smaller kitchen pics:

Larger Grandma's Kitchen pics:

No PC:

Lots of PC:

Side by side comparisons:

amjoie · May 2014

Quoted here by request:

amjoie wrote:

I have some bathrooms for people to try, in all different configurations. Please let me know if they work for you. (Please, please -- I need feedback. LOL)

Each configuration has a different color, so you can get used to choosing the right configuration by remembering the color. I would suggest that you place all the bathrooms, and then save the colors of walls, lights, rugs, towels, etc. That way, you can quickly and easily change a certain configuration to whatever color options are available from any other configuration. These bathrooms differ in where the door or doors are placed, and in some situations just the way the room is arranged.

I put an all in one bathroom stall in each bathroom, but that can easily be changed out with shower stalls, if desired.

Edit: I forgot to add that the ITF projection screen in the hot tub bathroom will need to be set each time it is placed. I designed it around the forest scene, but I suppose you could play it with any projection screen you wished.

I also included a few generic hallways. The long hallway is just the right size to place stairs. I tried to save a hallway with stairs included, but for some reason the program won't save stairs. It isn't hard to place them, though. The main thing is having the right space plotted out for where stairs will go, anyway.

Here is the Mediafire link for the bathrooms and hallways:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/x0nsf4ox7enc7pm/amjoiegenericbathroomsand+hallways.rar

Hallway pics (I show the stairs in the one pic below, but you have to place them yourself):

And here are the bathroom pics (don't expect much, because they are just generic bathrooms, with nothing special added):

And this is one I made for DV, for my own game, that I included:

Mstybl95 · May 2014

Amjoie, you rock! I love the hallways. we are going to have so many different blueprints to choose from, building is going to be a breeze!

Mistletoe143 · May 2014

Mstybl95,

Hope you're having a great day! I tried out all of your blueprints and most were ok (no problems), except for two of them.

I don't know why but with the casino room blueprint, only one of the gambling tables showed up. The other two tables were replaced by "floating play cards" and "floating grilled cheese sandwiches."

Also, I had the same problem with the java hut blueprint. It also had the "floating grilled cheese sandwiches."

I have no idea why I saw grilled cheese, but it's The Sims, so it makes some sense on some weird level--LOL. If you're able to fix them, let me know and I'll test them again. Happy Simming!

Mstybl95 · May 2014

Grilled cheese sandwiches!? Bwahahahaha! I have no idea why that happened, but I will definitely look into it. I know I used move objects on when placing the wall lights so I bet that is the problem. But, tomorrow is mother's day here and my hubs and kids will kill me if I spend more time with my game than them. So it will have to wait until Monday.

I'll probably just create a whole new java hut and casino. I've been meaning to remodel a little.

Mstybl95 · May 2014

Mstybl95 · May 2014

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Blueprints/Screenshot-27_zpsd1d812a6.jpg" /></a>

DOWNLOAD **REPLACED** PLEASE REDOWNLOAD AND OVERWRITE THE OTHER ONE

SOME OF MY FINDING ARE AS SUCH:

The program will not recognize fences as enclosed rooms. I knew this from reading the page on MTS, but I tried it out anyway. The program will give you an error and need to be closed.

Stocked shelves will disappear and show floating grilled cheese sandwiches.

And the most important...because this has to be done in live mode (which I despise), any objects that are being interacted with will have problems. The poker tables display chips that can't be deleted, etc. Besides the poker tables (which I have replaced with a clean version) most floating items can be deleted with moveobjects on and the hammer or grab and delete.

Here are some pictures I took to display what I am talking about:

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-63_zpsf3e14202.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-61_zpsf7b0af2f.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-62_zps1460d86f.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-60_zps6cef1c8b.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-59_zpsba9a7ed6.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-58_zpsed42ddd0.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-54_zps0a3a36ab.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a536/theSIMpleRealty/Screenshot-55_zpsbae274cd.jpg" /></a>

This makes it extremely difficult to create blueprints of community lots because most sims are directed to them. I think it would be wise to reset the lot before creating a blueprint. Now I know.

The Sims Forums

Create Your Own Blueprints Tutorial - With Pictures! UPDATE: Download Blueprints, too!

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