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Test Subject
Original Poster
#1 Old 21st Oct 2006 at 7:29 PM
Pets Custom Markings?
I'm not sure if I should post this, but since it's a question, not a request maybe I wont get beat? Well, lets try.

I wanted to know if it was possible to make custom markings. It appears that Pets has a little icon thing for custom markings, but I can't figure it out. They didn't update the body shop to offer anything about pets. So is customs even possible for pets? For eyes, colors, or markings? Maybe we're stuck to having human customs only... (Boring)

Thanks for reading!
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Test Subject
#2 Old 21st Oct 2006 at 7:32 PM
I'm sure in the future that Maxis or any third party software may figure out. By the way, the continental cut poodles given in this game are not fluffed up enough and would love to see a program that allows to fluff it up.
world renowned whogivesafuckologist
retired moderator
#3 Old 21st Oct 2006 at 7:38 PM
Maxis didn't seem to give us any tools for doing this.

I've already figured out how to do default replacement eyes (pretty easy) and will soon start working on custom pet markings. I'm sure other modders will be looking into it too, but be patient: we don't have the tools we're used to in order to do this, we don't have SimPE even updated yet, and I have a feeling it's going to be, um, difficult to say the least.

I'm sure as soon as someone figures it out you'll know - as they'll be shouting it from the rooftops.

my simblr (sometimes nsfw)

“Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.”
Panquecas, panquecas e mais panquecas.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#4 Old 21st Oct 2006 at 8:38 PM
Well, then I'll have to leave my window open to hear the shouting. ^__^
Thanks, though. Who knows, maybe it wont be as hard as it seems. *shrugs*
Test Subject
#5 Old 22nd Oct 2006 at 7:47 PM
I am disappointed that Maxis didn't give us a way to import/export pet skins, I thought for sure when I loaded up the new body shop there would be a spots for our new pets but nothing I wanted to make the cat I own in real life but it's difficult because she has patches of like 3 colors, and when all you can do is layer and not erase parts so that the bottom will show through it makes it really difficult.
Test Subject
#6 Old 22nd Oct 2006 at 8:08 PM
I was disappointed to when I went into body shop and no pets the layers they have in the game limets us. I searched the new pets files hoping to find the layers so I could edit them but I have not been able to find them.

HystericalParoxysm were did you find the eye files to edit?
Test Subject
Original Poster
#7 Old 22nd Oct 2006 at 10:16 PM
Yeah. I can only find breed files. It kinda ticked me off. I still love the game and all, but still. I would have liked more for it. Luckily my workings pets find me some extra nicknacks for it. *shrugs*
world renowned whogivesafuckologist
retired moderator
#8 Old 23rd Oct 2006 at 4:30 AM
MightyMom - Come to think of it I'm not sure precisely which of the game files they're in. However, you can find them yourself by going into your SimPE options and changing your settings so that SimPE can find items in the Pets files... I just changed my options to read "The Sims 2 Pets" instead of "The Sims 2 University" under the EP directories.

Then you can use SimPE's Resource Finder to search - try searching for "dubodysm-cblack" and look for a Texture Image with that name. Double-click it to open the .package containing the eye textures. It also contains all the fur textures. If you want the actual full-size 512x512 image, open the LIFO_0 with the same name.

But because the fur and eyes are combined, and because there are different fur textures for each colour, and each colour has a TON of different files (including the accessories and stuff), edits of them are fairly limited as they get to be big files very fast, and any non-personal-use edits need to be done with care... we don't want to be conflicting with each others' work.

my simblr (sometimes nsfw)

“Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.”
Panquecas, panquecas e mais panquecas.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#9 Old 23rd Oct 2006 at 4:44 AM
So, it is possible, but indeed hard? Wow, I suppose it's time I use SimPE more. >.> <.< ^.^'
world renowned whogivesafuckologist
retired moderator
#10 Old 23rd Oct 2006 at 4:49 AM
Default replacement pet genetics are doable right now (textures, not meshes). They are not generally a good idea except in small doses, like the pet eyes I made because the originals looked like doll eyes. Actual custom pet genetics that are an addition to the originals are not currently possible. Once I get over my initial "omg cute puppies and kitties!" squealing I'll be taking a more serious look at ways to make our own custom ones that don't replace any of the defaults.

my simblr (sometimes nsfw)

“Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.”
Panquecas, panquecas e mais panquecas.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#11 Old 23rd Oct 2006 at 4:56 AM
I see... Well, thank you for that! SimPE won't work on my computer at the moment. It won't find any pet files and I updated it. Figures
Test Subject
#12 Old 23rd Oct 2006 at 9:09 AM
Thanks HystericalParoxysm I found them I want to be able to edit the alpha files (the black and white ones) to add my own markings.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#13 Old 25th Oct 2006 at 4:40 AM
Could you (HystericalParoxysm or MightyMom) please explain that to me? If you can make new markings, I'd really love to know so I can worship you! My stupid SimPE doesn't seem to work >.>
world renowned whogivesafuckologist
retired moderator
#14 Old 25th Oct 2006 at 8:46 AM
oceanpupz, I would not really recommend messing with markings at this point, especially if you're not already familiar with searching game files and creating default replacements. You -can't- make *new* markings that are an addition to the ones already there, period. We haven't figured that out yet - so if you WERE to create another type of marking, you would have to replace one of the existing ones... and to be quite honest, I don't think any of them (well, except maybe the star fur) are so useless as to need replacing. Making actual new markings that do not replace the defaults is not currently possible.

If you really still want to try it now for your own personal use, you'd need to change your SimPE settings as I mentioned above, so that you can search the Pets files. I just went in and under the list of EPs, changed "The Sims 2 University" to "The Sims 2 Pets" so it would scan those files instead. Then, using the Resource Finder, try searching for the name I mentioned, "dubodysm-cblack" - it'll take a while to find stuff, but then you should have a Texture Image in the list. Double-click it and it'll open the file containing all the pet textures. Sort them by name, and then you'd just go through clicking on names that sound right and looking at what they look like in Plugin View.

If you find one you want to replace, right-click on it in the resource list and choose Extract. Save it somewhere you can find it again. Then File-New and right-click in that same area (the resource list) and choose Add. Add in the file you just extracted. Save the file you now have as "DEFAULTREPLACEMENT_etcetcetc.package" where the etc. part is a description of what it is, just so it's nice and clear what that is. You now have a default replacement package for that texture.

In order to get the full-size original image that the game actually uses for the texture in it, you'd need to bring up the resource finder again. Now you can use the name of whatever the texture you're using, and search for that. Look for Large Image Files in the results. You want one that says lifo_0, not lifo_1. Double-click it to open the containing file. In Plugin View, right-click on the image itself (not the resource) and choose extract. Save it as a .png somewhere you can find it again.

Then you can edit that .png with whatever changes you want to make. When you're ready to import it to test how it looks, you'll need to use Build DXT, using the nVidia DDS Utilities, to import your full-size image into your default-replacement package. If you're not familiar with that process there are links to the utility to download as well as instructions on the "recolouring objects with Object Workshop" tutorial by Numenor over in Object Creation & Texturing.

... and as I'm reading back I'm realizing that it's a bit of a complicated process. As I said before, probably should only be for personal use if you decide to try it... and any pets already using any marking you decide to replace will no longer display with the old marking type. But if you really really wanna do it, there ya go, that's basic instructions.

If custom markings are possible, I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually.... but I don't think it'll ever be easy.

my simblr (sometimes nsfw)

“Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.”
Panquecas, panquecas e mais panquecas.
Test Subject
Original Poster
#15 Old 26th Oct 2006 at 3:38 AM
I agree that I wouldn't change the markings for now. I just want to get rid of the red eyes. They scare me >.> Thanks!
world renowned whogivesafuckologist
retired moderator
#16 Old 26th Oct 2006 at 6:32 AM Last edited by HystericalParoxysm : 26th Oct 2006 at 6:50 AM.
I'd suggest just getting my default replacement pack then - the red eyes for dogs have been changed into a warm, rich brown.

Or, if you don't like my textures (waaah) then you can save yourself a LOT of trouble with the finding and exporting and just grab my blank default replacement pack for pet eyes, stickied at the top of this forum.

my simblr (sometimes nsfw)

“Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.”
Panquecas, panquecas e mais panquecas.
Test Subject
#17 Old 20th Nov 2006 at 5:00 PM
Question : If custom markings will be possible in the near future,then is it possible to make shirts and clothes for pets ?

May Viegramukha have pity on you,Nomad Soul !

Xardas :" And He said "Come !" ,and they came.All of them,even the dragons !"
world renowned whogivesafuckologist
retired moderator
#18 Old 20th Nov 2006 at 5:06 PM
Translation of question: If elephants can fly, can pigs fly too?

Real answer: Dunno, we haven't even figured out custom markings, I don't think anyone's near that far yet.

my simblr (sometimes nsfw)

“Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.”
Panquecas, panquecas e mais panquecas.
Test Subject
#19 Old 22nd Nov 2006 at 1:14 AM
I must admit I'm quite dissapointed that Maxis did not make a Pet Bodyshop. Is it me or could Maxis give us more tools to do stuff for the game?
Inventor
#20 Old 23rd Nov 2006 at 12:42 AM
Tey could have, but it seems that they want to make it harder now - so we have more reasons to buy their stuff packs - maybe I'm just feeling cynical though.

Reyn Silversong-Sim Architect

Terms of Use-All of my stuff is available for use anywhere that is free. All I ask is credit and a link back to the objects in question, or the house they are featured with. DO NOT POST ON THE EXCHANGE!
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