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felidae_simsStarting this blog with something useful, I hope. [imported from Tumblr, will be updated here].
Sooo this is going to be a long comprehensive list. I got back to this game after a long time and with a different computer, with a dedicated graphics card, hurray! It made me want to return to making things, so while gathering back all the necessary stuff, I’ve complied this list. It might be It is updated as I go along, but these are the main things I use. Maybe one day I’ll even finish something.
So here are my go-to resources & tutorials; I’m posting it here for safekeeping, and hopefully others will find it helpful.
Everything that’s listed is here free.
So many wonderful things for free, under the cut.
Programs – General:
Creating:
Blender.
Blender Add-ons:
- Node Wrangler, comes with blender, enable it from within the program.
- Source Tools And source tools wiki – for exporting as SMD!!!! (SimPe: to enable bump maps for the mesh on import).
- GMDC Addon for Blender 4.0 by Nopke.
GIMP.
GIMP Add-ons:
- Resynthesizer.
- Nvidia dds?. Doesn’t it come with Gimp?
Other:
Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter (iirc it works with all graphic cards that are compatible, doesn’t require Nvidia). For making Normal / Bump / Cube Maps. For high quality compression.
NormalMaps - Online, For making all types of maps, has good settings menus. A very cool tool.
Converting:
Umodel, for Unreal Engine (Export; Static meshes: gtlf.2. Animated meshes: psk - requires add-on).
Fmodel, and support server, also for Unreal. Seems like it can better handle new games on UE 5. It works differently and it's support is on Discord, not a forum, which is less convenient. (export as gtlf or psk).
AssetStudio, for Unity.
AC Viewer, self implied (Exports as USD. Add-on for blender; pretty sure it comes with Blender & needs enabling).
QuickBMS* and support forum, for basically everything else. (don’t forget the required scrips, down the same page).
*I haven’t tested it fully yet, but it was recommended here. A tutorial for it is listed further down. Works like a charm.
ResHax downloads section: tools and scripts for games not supported by the above.
DTZxPorter, more tools for various games not supported by the above (Various options for export, I recommend getting the accompanying CAST add-on.
Ninja Ripper, if all else fails. Is paid (5$ on Patreon). Less convenient, rips from view in-game.
UV Mapping:
UV Mapper Pro, Classic (free) and the most recent Demo (for visualization).
Programs – Sims:
Never Mind the Bollox, Here’s Osab and MAGIkarp to the rescue! (Direct link in case Tumblr shuts down)
Latest version of SimPe, works with a non-default installation path. Chris Hatch’s updates.
Home Crafter installation, Post by Huge Lunatic at Sims2Artists.
Repository Wizard, by Pick'N'Mix Mods. A game changer.
DBPF Compare, by Pick'N'Mix Mods.
Object Relocator, also by Pick'N'Mix Mods. All of their programs basically.
SMD Tools, by Lazy Duchess.
The Compressorizer, by JFade – Lazy Duchess’s edit.
Bulk Rename Utility, to change file names in well, bulk. As explained by io here.
Lot Adjustor, by Mootilda at MTS.
Tutorials & Info:
Override the game’s graphic settings with Nvidia, as explained by iCad. The settings to Nvidia Profile Inspector she linked to at MTS have been deleted for some reason, here they are via WebArchive.
Meshing in Blender:
Blender manual, homepage for all versions. Click the Menu button, then on the small "4.4" button at the bottom left of the menu, to browse versions.
Mesh Optimization Info (and links), by Crisps&Kerosene.
Additional - Reducing Polycount:
- Edge – Un-subdivide, a quick one by CG Link.
- Transfer high poly details to low poly object in Blender, by 3Dnot2D.
- Blender Photogrammetry Workflow Tutorial, by iwanMods. Three concise tutorials, I highly recommend his channel.
- Placeholder for this Add-on I want to try but haven’t found, something for AR that was on facebook’s defunct AR section.
Scaling tips, by Blender Secrets.
Shrinkwrap Modifier - Blender Tutorial for Beginners - Basics, by in2vert.
How to fix inverted/ flipped normals, by ipaintsmallthings.
How to Setup and Use Texture Maps for Beginners, by Ryan King Art. Detailed and informative, covers auto-setup.
Principled BSDF - Apply All Maps (In 2 Minutes), by Royal Skies. Quickly explains the technicality. Doesn't cover texture coordinate and mapping nodes.
Bake Diffuse/Albedo Maps (In 40 Seconds!!!), by Royal Skies - Includes baking into a UV map.
This guy has a l-o-t of fantastic tutorials, I highly recommend checking his channel, it's sorted in playlists. More info on the matter can be found below, by Pineapple Forest and Crisps&Kerosene.
Blender: How to Combine All Materials Into 1 (Answer: Replace with UV Map/Texture), by iwanMods.
Efficient Lighting Workflow: 10-Minute Studio Setup, by FlippedNormals. A great channel as well.
Converting:
[UModel] How to Extract 3D Models, Textures, Music from Unreal Engine Games, by iwanMods.
[FModel] How To Datamine Games Such As Fortnite and Valorant! (FModel Leaking Tutorial), by iFireMonkey
via FModel Discord.
[Asset Studio] Extract 2D/3D/SFX Unity Assets fast & easy from your Unity Game, by iwanMods as well.
[QuickBMS] How to use QuickBMS, by darkhorse. Not as concise as the latter, but has good tips.
[QuickBMS] How to Use QuickBMS to Extract & Unpack Game Files! (Tutorial), by Stephen Chapman.
[DTZxPorter's tools] Indiana Jones and the Great Circle TOOLS Export Model Anim, by ORACLES 20XX. DTZ's site has clear manuals as well, but a video guide is always nice to have.
Ninja Ripper, links on their Discord channel/website.
A Few Tips for Converting from Non Sims Games, for First Timers, by me.
Guide to Converting 3t2 and 4t2 Part 01 and Part 02, by Chiaroscuro/tenlittlepandas.
Converting TS4 Windows and Doors, by Crisps&Kerosene.
Armatures - Blender 2.80 Fundamentals, by the official Blender channel.
Create a Character Rig in Blender in 1 Minute!, by BlenderVitals.
Full Model Rigging For XNALara In Blender Part 1 [1/5], by Carbint2.
Sims 4t2 Clothing Conversion Tutorial, by PlatinumAspiration, Sims 2 Shenanigans Discord. [uses Milkshape but its good for Blender as well.]
Sims 4t2 Hair Conversion Workshop, by PlatinumAspiration, Sims 2 Shenanigans Discord. [same about Milkshape iirc.]
Sims 2 Mesh Tutorial | Smooth Hair Bone Assignments In Blender, by RedSimmer.
Converting Animations from The Sims 4 to The Sims 2: Blender Portion, by Mortia does Sims 2 stuff.
Materials, Texture Maps and UV Mapping:
Texture Mapping – Wikipedia.
Unity Manual - Material parameters.
Why all world maps are wrong, by Vox. A short video about map projections.
Blender Manual; Image Texture Node -> Properties -> Projections, a demonstration of how different projections affect a texture.
Using Different Texture Maps as Shading/Details for Base Texture; in Gimp or Blender, by Pineapple Forest and Crisps&Kerosene.
Texture Editing in GIMP:
GIMP 3.0 Manual.
Using Gimp Add-ons:
G'MicQT.
Resynthesizer, both by Davies Media Design.
This guy’s channel is my favorite for GIMP in general – here’s a good overview tutorial to begin with. And another one about layer masks.
Making a Texture Tile Seamless:
- My favorite - How to Make Seamless Textures for Cinema 4D - 3 Levels of Photoshop Wizardry using iPhone Photos, by School of Motion.- Simple Trick for More Realistic Texture Patterns in GIMP, by Davies Media Design – Quick and simple, using the Resynthesizer plugin. Good for patterns.
Making walls in SimPe out of a square texture, with minimal quality loss. To be written. Not necessary, just scale to 768p, touch up and cut in three. SimPE can read it.
SimPE:
SimPE original documentation, uploaded by Chris Hatch (via SimPE preservation project page at MTS).
SimPE Forums via WayBack Machine.
Cloneable Objects: A List of Good Objects for Cloning, by IgnorantBliss at MTS.
Huge Lunatic’s Tutorials, Her website.
Object Creation for Absolute Beginners, by Moune.
Sims 2 start to finish Object Creation Tutorial, by JWoods, Numenor, Lethe's & IgnorantBliss.
SimPE Material Definitions Index, by me.
The Material Definition (TXMT) Guide, by PixelHate – very comprehensive. Part 5 is about Bump/ Normal maps.
Tech Discussion: The Material Definition ("TXMT", a.k.a. "MATD"), Thread at MTS.
Null (Texture-less) Groups, by Skell. For bodyshop; for Objects see an elaboration by Midge the Tree below.
How to add specular maps to objects! Crisps&Kerosene discovered how to add them. It’s incredible there are still new things to discover in this ancient game.
More on Specular Maps, by Pineapple Forest.
Making new flooring & walls with SimPE, by Charisa. Includes adding Bump/Normal maps. She added a file to clone from in the comments below. It works for normal maps as well. Here’s cool discovery in the game files.
Expanding footprint: a mini tutorial, by Deedee.
How to add correct drop shadows to objects, by Yuxi, via Wayback Machine.
Making Objects Viewable in Neighborhood View, by iCad.
Making Objects Visible In Build/Buy Mode, Invisible In Live Mode, by Midge the Tree.
Making Seasons-Friendly Trees, by Echo.
Io/ Serabiet’s resources list, mainly for Body Shop but not just.
Pineapple Forest’s Tutorials, useful tips & information for efficiency and optimization.
DeeDee's tutorials, has great one's for some uncommon topics.
MTS modding forum in General.
The Sims 2 Tutorials, on Tumblr. A database, is more updated.
Sims2Artists tutorials section.
LeeFish modding forum.
Garden of Shadows, Tree of Knowledge section.
Troubleshooting:
What to do if you get a System.OutOfMemoryException Error, SimPe Forum, via WayBack Machine. Thank you @fanseelamb for the find.
How to read object error logs: I just want to know what causes it!!, by Episims.
Common TS2 errors, by Midge the Tree.
General game fuckery:
Game Fuckery Help and Linux List, mine.
Graphics card problems, LeeFish forum.
Graphics help - DIY, by Kiri. How to fix faulty Texture Memory allocation, and the problems that stem from it.
Resources:
3D Models Online*:
Various furniture designers’ websites: Porada, Zanotta, Muuto, Hay, Poltrona Frau, many luxury furniture designers basically.
CG Trader's free section. Really interesting stuff.
Epic Store's Marketplace, has a large free section.
3D Warehouse, belong to Sketchfab (get the Collada files).
Poly Haven (Materials as well).
*(most are NOT OPTIMIZED).
Textures:
The Sims 2 (Windows)/Unused Textures - The Cutting Room Floor. How did I forget this?
Architextures. One of my favorites, has setting options for each texture.
Nvidia’s vMaterial Library, it’s free but requires registration.
Ambient CG, a website for free & ready to use materials. Has really good stuff.
Poly Haven (3D Models as well).
Poliigon - free section, has some good stuff as well.
Fabrics & Wallpapers:
Natural Stones:
Wall Plasters:
iCad’s Woods.
Shastakiss’s Cluedo Metals, Yeti Metals, Pirate Woods.
Goat’s Woods.
Stock Images - Pixabay.
Resource sharing threads at Garden of Shadows.
Textures from other games:
Dishonored, Thieve and much more, by Saricoya at GoS.
Dreamfell by io.
Color Palettes:
Encycolorpedia.
Different Colour Standards into hexes, here's RAL for example.
Cambridge Uni's site - about choosing colours for readability + good colour codes & palettes.
SimPe - General:
CEP Extras list, HugeLunatic at Sims2Artists.
TXMT settings for different materials, by Hafiseazale.
Extended StandardMaterial Shader for the Sims 2.
Extended SimStandardMaterial Shader for the Sims 2 Optionally Brighter Sims, both are by Crisps&Kreosene. Opens up a whole new world of materials.
Custom CubeMaps, by Crisps&Kerosene.
Shiny TXMT Settings & Cube Map Packs, by Pineapple Forest.
Build/ Buy:
Templates for Recoloring:
- Hafiseazale, Maxis CC.
- ZeroDark.
Template for Seasonal Trees, Gwenke at Sims2Artists.
Making Roof Recolors, Tutorial & template by Numenor, great template by iCad.
Pack for making food clutter usable, by DeeDee.
CAS:
Default Makeup Packages - BYO Packages, by Huge Lunatic.
Body shape, Io/Serabiet on DW.
Skin template, Io/Serabiet on Tumblr/DW.
Hair texture, iCad.
Color Palettes: Pooklet's Actions on Tumblr.
Other People's Resources Lists:
The Sims 2 Tutorials Resources List. Very comprehensive.
That’s it for now.
Edit: forgot about CEP extras. Added more links.
Edit 02: added Troubleshooting section under tutorials.
Edit 03: added tutorials about setting materials in Blender, and baking textures.
Edit 04: I'm not going to mention every updated, but I've added some good tutorials for blender, a section on textures & materials and a bunch of resources, including my SimPE Material Definitions Index.
Edit 05: Added a few more programs and tutorials for converting, and working with Blender.
Edit 06: Added some more links, mainly under various tutorial sections.
