Forum Announcement, Click Here to Read More From EA_Cade.
Guide - How to create Custom Patterns - updated
Simsprocfun
Posts: 1,499 Member
Sims 3 Tutorials for custom patterns are already up! Creators have worked really hard to publish those. In this guide are links to the free opened tutorials how to create own custom patterns. Linked sites are well known and free. I believe you are already registered there.
The aim of this guide is to split all tutorials in one thread for better understanding and quick access to these.
What you need to create own custom patterns:
1. Photoshop or The Gimp to raster image.
2. Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape or similar program to paint image.
3. DDS utilities. Get here.
4. Patterns maker program:
4.1. Sims 3 Workshop. This program will make you only .Sims3Pack file.
4.2 Pattern Packager. This program does .package file and Sims 3 pack. You are able to manage your patterns by this way and delete them easily if they are not succeed.
As well you are able to upload it on Exchange too as .Sims3Pack.
5. Tutorial how to create patterns actually.
5.1. Youtube Tutorial by Murano:
Another tutorial for beginners from Murano:
Pattern Plugin Manual
How to create a RGBA Stencil Mask and use DDS plugin.
6. Tutorial with pictures how to create custom patterns for those who just yet started (4 channels): TS3 Patterns Tutorial
TSR provides whole package of tutorials:
Workshop Guides
5.2. Splitting patterns into channels using Photoshop by JaneSamborski.
Separating patterns without vectors
5.3. Creating Masks and some tips for Photoshop by MetalKat0642
A Fast Way to Make Patterns for The Sims 3
5.4. Creating in In Paint Shop Pro 9 by Misty_2004
TUTORIAL: Four-Color Patterns In Paint Shop Pro 9~Graphic Intensive!
5.5. Creating Clothing with Paint.NET by daluved1
Tutorial: Creating Clothing Stencils [Calling all Paint.NET users]
That's all what you need! For more information please visit Wiki.
Some important notes:
- If you upload your custom patterns as .package file in game they will not seen as custom content (plumbbob, red star or folder icon). They look like default textures.
- If you upload custom patterns as .Sims3Pack in game they will appear with plumbbob icon or with red star.
- Recolored objects with custom patterns uploaded as .Sims3Pack contain this pattern as well. Textures will appear with red star in the game.
Good luck! Happy creating and sharing!
The aim of this guide is to split all tutorials in one thread for better understanding and quick access to these.
What you need to create own custom patterns:
1. Photoshop or The Gimp to raster image.
2. Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape or similar program to paint image.
3. DDS utilities. Get here.
4. Patterns maker program:
4.1. Sims 3 Workshop. This program will make you only .Sims3Pack file.
4.2 Pattern Packager. This program does .package file and Sims 3 pack. You are able to manage your patterns by this way and delete them easily if they are not succeed.
As well you are able to upload it on Exchange too as .Sims3Pack.
5. Tutorial how to create patterns actually.
5.1. Youtube Tutorial by Murano:
Another tutorial for beginners from Murano:
Pattern Plugin Manual
How to create a RGBA Stencil Mask and use DDS plugin.
6. Tutorial with pictures how to create custom patterns for those who just yet started (4 channels): TS3 Patterns Tutorial
TSR provides whole package of tutorials:
Workshop Guides
5.2. Splitting patterns into channels using Photoshop by JaneSamborski.
Separating patterns without vectors
5.3. Creating Masks and some tips for Photoshop by MetalKat0642
A Fast Way to Make Patterns for The Sims 3
5.4. Creating in In Paint Shop Pro 9 by Misty_2004
TUTORIAL: Four-Color Patterns In Paint Shop Pro 9~Graphic Intensive!
5.5. Creating Clothing with Paint.NET by daluved1
Tutorial: Creating Clothing Stencils [Calling all Paint.NET users]
That's all what you need! For more information please visit Wiki.
Some important notes:
- If you upload your custom patterns as .package file in game they will not seen as custom content (plumbbob, red star or folder icon). They look like default textures.
- If you upload custom patterns as .Sims3Pack in game they will appear with plumbbob icon or with red star.
- Recolored objects with custom patterns uploaded as .Sims3Pack contain this pattern as well. Textures will appear with red star in the game.
Good luck! Happy creating and sharing!
0
Comments
And side note: ONLY sim3packs allow for the workaround of sharing patterns via objects on The Exchange.
Thank you so much for correction. I had still his old version lol
To czsworld: you can use another software where you able to separate images on channels RGB and Alpha and then save it as DDS.
Yes they will appear in your game.
Yes you can. Just delete them with the launcher.
only if it was uploaded with the pattern saved as a sim3pack
an object uploaded with a pattern saved as a package file will create those wonderful blank spaces staring at you with their pink asterisks :?
Last time as I did that, it removes only .Sims3Pack from your download folder not patterns itself from the game. Moreover for such custom patterns with plumbbob I don't see a trash icon available in the game to delete. Probably I'm doing something wrong
Tutorial for beginners from Murano:
Pattern Plugin Manual
How to create a RGBA Stencil Mask and use DDS plugin.
The game supports 256 by 256 repeating patterns, I tried for ages to increase the pattern size without any luck. Any idea on how to do this will be helpful. I've got the gut feeling the size is hard coded into the game, but you can only ask.
Thanks again for the guide.
Something I've been playing about with is Delphy's Pattern Packager found here
http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=342998
Not sure why this is, but when I package a file with this program I can edit the DDS file using MultiExtractor and change the file if I'm not happy with the results, thou with the Workshop it seems to package the file diffrent so I can only access the PNG files with MultiExtractor.
Update
Sorry I wanted to do a little more research into this I made the same pattern with Delpy's and the workshop and had some intresting results
Delpy's total size was 196KB this was a DDS format pic, the same picture curropted in the workshop and was converted to png format and had a total size of 232kb so I made the same picture again in PNG format so it would work in the game the size this time was 231kb in png format.
So which format is better DDS over PNG, haveing looked up the answear from another forum I found more people favour DDS format images, http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=68349
It seems that many report DDS format to be faster and look nicer, it might be worth thinking about if you plan to make extensive use of makeing patterns.
So far it's impossible to increase the size of the patterns. Maybe in future will be additionally a mod or a tool (program) for that.
Thank you for your kind reply! Glad you like this guide :-)
Thank you for this interesting update. This is a very important one.
Myself I do use DDS. But with Delphy's program you will have a wrong view if you have 4 channels (included Alpha) in a case if you have set a background color for your image in Alpha channel. You have to test your file in the game before to do Sims3.Pack from it to upload.
If you see a pink asterisk ingame that has no design [blank square] you have an either DLd an item with a void pattern or a void pattern itself from the exchange.
[only recolors of EA created patterns will DL from The Exchange as patterns]
Go to your launcher select 'installed items' and find the item [obviously it would be the pattern you didnt see in CAS], select it and uninstall.
Same with the pattern itself, launcher, installed items, select, uninstall.
If you have DLd an item and the pattern appears ingame and you want it removed, you must uninstall both the item and the pattern that came with it.
This is for things DLd from The Exchange only,
CC installed any other way should be removed via instructions found on the forums you got them from. [if there was a how to install, there is usually a how to remove]
Please forgive me, I didn't mean it to happen.
To Twitches: thank you much for this info :-)
I have edit my thread consider your suggestions:
Some important notes:
- If you upload your custom patterns as .package file in game they will not seen as custom content (plumbbob, red star or folder icon). They look like default textures.
- If you upload custom patterns as .Sims3Pack in game they will appear with plumbbob icon or with red star.
- Recolored objects with custom patterns uploaded as .Sims3Pack contain this pattern as well. Textures will appear with red star in the game.
TSR provides whole package of tutorials:
Workshop Guides
This link is included in the thread.
Happy creating!
ill prolly lose this thread so if you could, plz respond to my e-mail when its convenient for you..
cckm18@hotmail.com
thanks a bunch
You may open a topic here (registration free) for your questions. I'll answer on your questions if I'm able to :-)