CAS same as CAP? Eyeliner help (Solved)

[tachyglossus]

I've for a long time enjoyed downloading and using custom content, and a few times mused about creating my own. However, I never really had an inclination because usually I could find what I wanted somewhere.

But now with the pets expansion, I am wondering about whether the tools used here abouts for creating custom contents in CAS work the same as with Create a Pet.

I have been wanting eyeliner for cats. I don't mean like makeup, but ever notice how many mammals have a lighter strip of fur around the contours of their eyes? Not quite big enough to be a patch. What I want to know is if it possible to create this as one of the regional patterns for the head/face. I've tried with the moveable patches, but once I get them small enough they are nearly impossible to move around and get exactly where I want them.

Here's a picture to demonstrate the eyeliner I am referring to, both what I mean by eyeliner, and also what I mean by regional pattern. I couldn't think of a better term.

And yes, I know one of the face stripe patterns comes with this, but I want it without the stripes.

Ahem, anyhow, I'm willing to try and do this myself, but don't know the first thing about making custom content, and don't know where to start to work up to this, and furthermore, if they would be applicable to the pets or if we have entered a whole new ball park. I also don't use photoshop or GIMP which seems to be the tools mentioned in most tutorials. I use Corel Photopaint (although I might break down and check out GIMP if it's a matter of availability of plug-ins for certain kinds of files)

For those who read this entire post, thank you for your time and patience.

[omegastarr82]

I would try finding that pattern with TSRW then just get rid of the stripes.

[tachyglossus]

TSRW you say? Would that replace the default (the striped face with eye lines) or add it as a new facial pattern? I've not used TSRW before.

EDIT: Only Horse and Human show up in TSRW. I can't find cat or dog in any of the categories... unless there is something that I am missing.

[CmarNYC]

Try this:

Download and install s3oc if you don't already have it (http://dino.drealm.info/den/denforum/index.php?board=20.0)
Make a copy of Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Pets\FullBuild0_p10.package and (maybe) FullBuild1_p10.package in a work folder (Not sure if you need a copy of FullBuild1)
Open FullBuild0_p10.package in s3oc
In the Cloning menu, click "(Experimental) CAS Part"
Wait for it to load....
Find the part you want to use as a base, select it and Click "Clone or Fix" on the lower right
Tick Include thumbnails if you want to make a custom thumbnail
Change the Unique name to something descriptive with your creator name if it's not already there
Click Start; it will create a new package for you
Close s3oc
Open the package with s3pe (http://dino.drealm.info/den/denforum/index.php?board=19.0)
Select the DDS file (tag _IMG, type ID 0x00B2D882), right-click, Export to file
Edit the image
In s3pe right-click again and Replace with the modified image

I tried this with acRegionsHead_face_0x261ec698221e1dca, erased the EA image to black and put a solid red circle on the face. It showed up in the markings, which surprised me since I thought it would come under regions. Anyway, it did show up - see below. I'll take another look later today and see if I can figure out how to make it show up in the regions.

Don't know if Photopaint has any kind of DDS plugin - if not, I'd advise GIMP. It's free and quite powerful.

[tachyglossus]

I have already downloaded GIMP and will just have to learn how to use it. I can be as stubborn as any old codger about 'learning new things if my thing works'. However, for this, I just might try and learn GIMP, even if its layout makes me want to dig my nails into the palm of my hand in frustration.

I look forward to seeing if you can get it to show up in regions, but a custom marking (that was the word I was reaching for in my original post) is still a step in the right direction. Did you drag the marking onto its face like that, or when you selected it, did it automatically show up there?

I'll see what I can do with this method once I know I'll have some uninterrupted time to patiently learn some new tricks. Thank you very much for your response; it was most informative! As a warm up project, I just might edit those hearts and stars and things to give them more feathered edges to not look so hokey.

[CmarNYC]

Okay, my further learnings...

Apparently the s3oc cloning process loses the species and one of the clothing categories in the CASP. (I'll report this in the appropriate forum.) I got it to show up correctly in the regions by fixing both problems:

Open your cloned package in s3pe
Highlight the CASP file and click the Grid button underneath the file listing
In the data grid, expand the Age/Gender part and change the Species to 0x03 (Cat)
Expand the Clothing Categories part and change Unknown19 to True
Click Commit and save.

Interesting that having those values wrong make it show up as a marking - have to take a look next at the correct settings for them. Do you happen to know offhand if the cats and dogs use the same markings? Oh, and the test circle showed up exactly like in the screenshot with no dragging, and as a Region it still shows up in the same spot. IMO a Region would work better for those eye outlines since you don't really want to resize or relocate them.

Like anything else, GIMP's okay when you get used to it. :)

Glad to help and don't hesitate to ask if you get lost with this stuff! It's a lot to take in at first.

[tachyglossus]

Oh my, that is very interesting. And you are right, it is a lot to take in since I have never tried making custom content for The Sims 3 before. I'll try to follow these steps as close as possible, and I'll let you know if I have any problems or don't understand something. You are very helpful and very patient, and for that I greatly appreciate your time and consideration.

I know it's such a small detail, but I always liked that paler contour of the eyes a lot of cat breeds have. Some of the faces I designed just didn't look quite complete without them, especially my Pygmy Tiger.

If I do this successfully, I just might start making various regional markings that simulate other breeds, like those dark lines that run down from the eye corners on a cheetah, or do things from other species, like Panda eye patches, or something that colours the entire ear, not just the tips.Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. First will be to accomplish this!

Again, thank you so much!

EDIT: I can't see anything that says species anywhere in the Age/Gender category.

EDIT#2: Oh.... wait... i have an outdated version. Let me update then try again.

EDIT#3 Success! It's uneven and doesn't look as good as it could, but now that I know that it works I can do some tweaking! Again, thank you! I'll upload a screenshot later, but right now I have to take a break.

[tachyglossus]

Indeed, I am aware that it defies forum etiquette to post twice in a row, but I felt a need for a conclusion.

There were a few things I had to do slightly differently, but thank goodness I am capable of some flexibility of mind. Since I had downloaded The Sims 3: Pets rather than bought the hard copy, the fullbuild files were in a different directory, under Origin Games instead of Electronic Arts. That might be useful for other people to know. I know there was something else that I had to work around, but suddenly I forgot.

Anyway, the fruits of my labours (and CmarNYC's wonderful help) is included in these screenshots. I won't be uploading these since anyone who actually knows how to make custom content (this was my first time) could probably do this in fifteen minutes.

[CmarNYC]

Very nice work, especially for your first mod! :) Hopefully others will also find this helpful since a lot of people are interested in modding for pets.

And it's okay to double-post if you have something new and significant to say, so people will see something's been added to the thread.

[tachyglossus]

Again, thanks for all of your help. Perhaps if you have the time you could submit what you learned into a tutorial, for as you say, I'm sure a lot of people want to know more about modding for pets. They may not find this thread or even think to look for one. I'd do it, but you did all the work in figuring it out, so it would feel like plagiarism. Furthermore, I don't know what setting Unknown 19 under clothing true does, and I couldn't very well instruct others unless I understood the process fully.

Already I am taking what I learned and am making some new regional markings. I am hoping when I'm done they'll be good enough to upload here.

[CmarNYC]

LOL, I have no clue what Unknown19 is either - that's how we find out what new settings are. Anyway, maybe I'll do a mini tutorial at some point.

[tachyglossus]

This is a bit off topic, but I have a general question about making custom content. When updating a package do you have to exit and re-load the Sims 3 each time to see the changes? Because that's what I have been doing, and when it comes to fine tuning, it gets rather tedious. My kitty eyeliner probably would have looked better if I wasn't getting impatient with this process.

[Robodl95]

Yes though most of the time you can use TSRW, CTU or Milkshake to preview. I don't think they have much compatibility with pets yet. I suppose you could export the cat mesh and apply the texture to it in milkshake.

[tachyglossus]

Indeed, I had noticed the lack of pet support in these other programs. I guess I'll just have to make do with going in and out or try Milkshape as you suggest. Thanks for your prompt response.

[CmarNYC]

Until TSRW adds the ability to work with cat CAP parts, I'm afraid in-game looks like the only option. We really need a tool to take any CASP and load the mesh and textures for it.

Edit: Robodl is right - Milkshape is also a good preview tool.

[grindingteeth]

Well, following this thread as a guide I created a marking for a horse. I cloned the stripe Ahregionshead_strip, edited the image, replaced it and then changed unknown 19 to True.

What I've got now is a blaze that shows up not under horse, regions, head - but in the markings section. It cannot be skewed and moved. The colour can be changed but, it also disappears when you exit the advanced coat editing mode. I assume this is mostly because it's not assigned properly at all.

I see here that when I pull up the grid for the CASP part in S3PE, I should see 'species' under age/gender... I do not :/

Seeing as I've just downloaded it today I am fairly sure I have the newest version and cannot find anything on the site to suggest I don't...

I also wouldn't be sure what to set species to anyhow, since I am not sure how you figured out cat's were 0x03.

I thought I might as well start with something small like markings to see if I could accomplish that before attempting horse hair mesh *deep breath* - alas, it seems like this too is over my head.

[CmarNYC]

If you look up at the screenshot in reply #6 in this thread, you'll see that the data grid for CASPs in s3pe does have Species, and the latest versions have the animal species included in the dropdown. I have no idea why you're not seeing it if you just downloaded and installed it. If you go into Help / About, is the distribution 12-0102-2223 or later? If you're using a test version, possibly something's wrong in it?

Also, if you take a look at this thread: (http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=468478) you'll see that the Unknown flags also play a part in the Regions and have to be set correctly. At this point I don't know if the horses use the same regions as cats but it seems a good possibility. The fact that your region marking is showing up under general Markings suggests that this is the problem.

[grindingteeth]

First of all, thank you again.

Well, somehow I did have an outdated version of s3pe... I am not sure how that happened but it's resolved now :D

Still, even with the species corrected and the region for the marking set to head (unknown 19) the disappearing persists.
I've turned multiple variables on and off but to no avail. I am not sure what I am missing.
Does this have something to do with the fact that horses wear accessories? it only dissapears when the accessories appear after exiting the advanced coat mode.

The marking is categorized as naked, everyday, validforrandom and validformaternity (just as the part it was cloned from). I tried scanning the bridle and saddle to see if there was something conflicting or missing but couldn't see anything. Only knowing 2% of what I am looking at doesn't help either.

Any suggestions?

[CmarNYC]

Yes, try setting Unknown 0C, 0D, and 0E to True. In the EA CASPs those three flags seem to be true for all markings except cat regions. I'll have to take a more detailed look when I have time, but with these settings along with the correct Species and Unknown 19 I was able to add a horse head region marking and it stayed put in CAP when I changed to the accessories screens.

BTW, looks like the region flags are indeed the same for cats, dogs, and horses.

[grindingteeth]

Oh! by the way - this worked.

It's funny because I tried it before but it caused the markings to disappear entirely! ... this was because in my annoyed on off of different variables I had deselected 'for everyday' and never noticed. u_u
At least I was on the right track then.

Thank you for all your patience and help :)