Replacing the Maxis Defaults

[child_of_air]

I really hate the default green eyes in the game. I mean, they are totally unrealistic. (I have green eyes, and nobody's eyes are that green!)

Anyway, I use the paradise nude skins to replace the maxis defaults, and I was wondering, is it possible that we can replace the eyes as well? I'd love it if we could, for my problems with breeding out those ugly green eyes would be solved!

[Faylen]

I've done a few recolored eyes that bred true. I know there's supposed to be some complex genetics formula for these things, but my custom eye colors have shown up in babies born in-game, so go for it!

[taniaoakley]

I would like to know this too actually. Surely there is some way we can overide the default eyes so that all maxis generated sims and npcs, etc, automatically took on the new default eyecolor instead of the original maxis ones?

I would LOVE to replace the default eyecolors, just as we replaced the default skintones with realistic ones...

[Faylen]

Way at the very end of tutorials I found this one: http://modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=25449&highlight=replace+default+skintone

It's old, and it involves a lot of stuff I don't do, but it's probably a good starting point for someone who does do hex editing to figure out how to replace other defaults besides skin tones.

As I said, it's not something I'm capable of, but someone on here might be able to tell us whether it's a doable thing and figure out how to do eye colors.

[Morague]

Ok - I just tried this & it works in Body Shop. I didn't test it in the game, but it should also work.

1) Start Simpe & open up Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 2\TS Data\Res\Sims3D\Sims12.package then type into the Instance Filter (at the top) 0xFFDA620A
3) Click on Large Image File in the right panel & make sure the Plugin View tab is selected. You should see an image of the green eye. Click the Export Button & save it somewhere you'll remember. Edit this file in a paint program - remember to save it as a PNG.
4) Open Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 2\TS Data\Res\Sims3D\Sims07.package then type into the Instance Filter 0xFF4C0AC1
5) Right click on Texture Image in the right panel & choose Extract from the context list. Save this in the same place you saved the image.
6) Do File Menu >> New (use Long Index)
7) In the right panel, right click & pick Add & find the TXTR file you just extracted in step 5.
8) Click on Texture Image in the right panel, then click Import & pick your modified PNG. Click Commit.
9) In the bottom part of the screen is a list of files that mostly say uuface-eye-green. Click on each of those files & delete them. You want to delete everything except the one that says Image 512 x 512 - uuface-eye-green. Then click Commit & then Save the package as default_green_eyes into your SavedSims folder.

I've attached the sample I did - note that the eyes are weird green because I wanted to make sure Body Shop was using them as the default green.

Alternatively, you could just replace the PNG in this file with your own colored one & save it.

Morague

[Faylen]

Thank you, morague. Normally, I would have edited out that zip file - against forum rules, but in this case, it's part and parcel of the whole thing, and I really appreciate your contribution.

Now, I know that in the tutorial I linked to before about the default skintone, the package was Sims07.package - is there an easy way to find out which package is which? I'm sure there are other default packages that people would like to change. . .(we need a smilie to represent picking people's brains.)

[taniaoakley]

Yay! Thank you so much! :D


Now I just need to find all of the rest of the eyecolors... :lol:

[wycked]

yeah the Maxis made eyes look like anime eyes, horribly unrealistic. I really would like to get rid of them all so they'll never turn up again.

[Morague]

Oh - I am so sorry! I forgot about the attachments :/ Speaking of them - go to http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=38392&page=2&pp=38 & grab the SimShape attachment in mcmikey's message. It's an Excel spreadsheet that lists what is in each Sims01 through Sims12 package & it's invalueable! It doesn not include University stuff but it's still very, very useful. I use it all the time :)

Using the spreadsheet you can easily look up the Instance numbers for whatever it is you want to access by searching in the text for the name of the thing you want.

Just remember, if you want to change the default eye color of the other colors you'll have to make you own package following the steps outlined above & substituting the proper instance numbers for the ones I used - the example & attachment I did was only to replace the green eyes.

Morague

[Mr. Biggles]

The eyes aren't supposed to be realistic, they are supposed to match the way the sims look.

The green eyes match my eyes perfectly, btw. ;)

[Faylen]

Even if you don't want "realistic" eyes, this helps if you want your green default to be less GREEN or your brown to have a darker ring around the edge, or whatever, I downloaded a very realistic eye, deleted it as soon as I put it on a sim - but that doesn't mean that there aren't other applications for this information, or other people who like it better than I did.

[child_of_air]

Could you show us what the package contains? I'd like to see what you've done with them.

[Morague]

child_of_air - who are you addressing the question to? I'm not sure I understand what you are asking. Sorry.

[child_of_air]

To you. I was asking if you had a picture of the default green eyes. If I understand you correctly, these eyes will replace the original in the game?

Thanks ever so much for doing this and sharing. :)

[child_of_air]

Nevermind. I just reread this thread, and now I understand I have to do my own default green, which is fine. Thanks so much for doing this again, like I said before. Those damn green eyes are my biggest complaint when it comes to genetics.....so much so that I sometimes kill of sims just for having green eyes....all but Don Lathario. Now I'm able to breed sims with green eyes that are otherwise good looking. :)

[child_of_air]

Morague- I send you a private PM regarding this. I was hoping you could help me because I seem to have really screwed it up. :(

[Lyran]

Thank you Morague for an excellent tutorial. It worked like a charm. I also did the other eyes and here are the instance filter numbers if anyone else is interested. It took me a while to find them LOL


Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFF672AC -- Drk Blue

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF1BA3A5 -- Brown

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFDA620A -- Green

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFFBB8BB -- Grey

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF520051 -- Lgt Blue


Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFA4A165 -- Drk Blue

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF77AF87 -- Brown

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF4C0AC1 -- Green

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFA333D0 -- Grey

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter --0xFF1C5E4E -- Lgt Blue

When I extracted the texture images from Sims07.package I also noticed that there were images both sized 512x512 and 256x256. I assume this might mean that people with lower capacity computers will not be able to use new defaults created for 512x512. Does anyone have more info regarding this? The instance filter numbers above are all for size 512x512.

[Faylen]

Thank you so much for this. Not everyone can understand how the hex editing works, but with this information, they can at least make changes without breaking anything. Much. ;)

[Airelda]

This is great! Thanks so much for sharing this information!! I've been wanting to do this since the game came out.

A question - do you follow the exact same process if you want to replace the skin sets with your own? Has anyone done this yet? I am trying to do this this morning and have a few questions.

[ladydrb58]

Would like to thank you for all the help you have given us. This is a great tutorial.Ok - I just tried this & it works in Body Shop. I didn't test it in the game, but it should also work.

1) Start Simpe & open up Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 2\TS Data\Res\Sims3D\Sims12.package then type into the Instance Filter (at the top) 0xFFDA620A
3) Click on Large Image File in the right panel & make sure the Plugin View tab is selected. You should see an image of the green eye. Click the Export Button & save it somewhere you'll remember. Edit this file in a paint program - remember to save it as a PNG.
4) Open Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 2\TS Data\Res\Sims3D\Sims07.package then type into the Instance Filter 0xFF4C0AC1
5) Right click on Texture Image in the right panel & choose Extract from the context list. Save this in the same place you saved the image.
6) Do File Menu >> New (use Long Index)
7) In the right panel, right click & pick Add & find the TXTR file you just extracted in step 5.
8) Click on Texture Image in the right panel, then click Import & pick your modified PNG. Click Commit.
9) In the bottom part of the screen is a list of files that mostly say uuface-eye-green. Click on each of those files & delete them. You want to delete everything except the one that says Image 512 x 512 - uuface-eye-green. Then click Commit & then Save the package as default_green_eyes into your SavedSims folder.

I've attached the sample I did - note that the eyes are weird green because I wanted to make sure Body Shop was using them as the default green.

Alternatively, you could just replace the PNG in this file with your own colored one & save it.

Morague

[child_of_air]

I've replaced the green eyes awhile ago. You can find my creation under skin downloads here at MTS2.

[chazachiu]

What about the vampire red eyes?

[Monea03]

This is a great tutorial that's easy to follow. Thanks Morague. :)

[Petchy]

Yes I too find the Eyes HORRIBLE-y unrealistic.
what about the Vampire and aliens and warewlf AND thr Plantsims are thay also replaceable?
I have seen normal eyes replacements and normal skin replacements but no paranormal replacments.

[hugsforfrazier]

Great tutorial Morague, but it's too bad I can't actually do it--I have the newest version of Simpe, and when I opened up the Sims12 file, I didn't see 'instance filter' ANYWHERE. I don't know if they changed Simpe with the newest version, or if I'm just too dumb to find it. :P
Gosh, I HATE the default eyes. They make the Sims look more like cartoons, and not real people, which is what I prefer. And the skintones! Ugly, ugly, ugly.

[NotxYourxEffingxSweethear]

I'm now beating my head against the wall. My computer is taunting me on the other side of the room. I'm pretty sure I'm typing this with my mind. I made some really pretty eyes when I couldn't sleep last night, and I really want them to be default, but I can't figure out how to make a default set. I'm probably not going to upload these eyes, and I'd never ask someone to default them for me... If there was some way to explain this as one would to a child, a duck, or a very stupid person, I'd love you forever and a day and a half.

[NotxYourxEffingxSweethear]

Or maybe not as one would to a duck. I don't understand Quackingese that well..

[HystericalParoxysm]

It's much easier than all this now, little duckling. This tutorial was posted a looong time ago...

Basic rundown:

1. Open each of your finished eye .package files in SimPE. Click on the Texture Image resource. In Plugin View, you'll see your eye, surrounded by checkerboard. Right-click on your eye and choose Export. Export a .png format of your eye to a folder somewhere on your computer. Name the .png something descriptive - i.e. blue eye. Repeat for all the colours you want to make defaults.

2. Open an existing default replacement eye .package file. You're welcome to use either of mine on my eye uploads (Blasphemy and Precious Jewels are both available as defaults). You'll see there are textures in it, too. Click on the first one and see what it is - you can look at the image and I think there's a little text thing (uuface_eye_blue or something like that) for the resource as well to tell you what is what.

3. Now, right-click on the eye already in the default package and choose Build DXT. This will allow you to bring in the texture for your eye that you'd like to use instead. If Build DXT is greyed out look for Numenor's tutorial in the Object Creation & Texturing forum about recolouring objects in SimPE's object workshop - it has links to the nVidia DDS Utilities you will need and further info on setting it up. If you do have Build DXT, go ahead and choose the corresponding .png file you exported with your eye textures - if you've got the light blue default eye open, choose your light blue eye .png. Let it import the textures (it'll pop up a black box and take a sec) and then you should have your eye in the file, still surrounded by checkerboard. Click the Commit button.

4. Repeat step 3 for all the other eye colours in the .package file. Make sure to commit after each one.

5. Save when you're done.

6. Put the now-edited default file in your Downloads folder (take out any existing default eyes!) and load the game or Body Shop and see if it worked.

[NotxYourxEffingxSweethear]

I love you, H.

[lovebottle]

Thank you HystericalParoxysm. I think my brain broke on that last tutorial! I am using your default package to put my eyes in but will it work with all EPs, even Bon Voyage?

[pinkgrapefruit00]

I made one of my eyes defaults, but I have one problem, file that I have now in my Downloads-folder is bak-file, not package-file. How can I get it package or do I have to change it package to get it here?

[tiggerypum]

the .bak file is a backup that simpe saves when you edit the file. You should ALSO have a .package file in the same directory, go take another look. You can delete the .bak file.

[pinkgrapefruit00]

oh, thanks (:

[leushy]

i'm having a prob replacing default objects too - i want to recolour the baby bottle and the coffee/hot chocolate mug. as stupid as this sounds, i can figure out how to do it. i can *clone* or *recolour* the bottle/mug, but not replace it. is there a way to edit the existing bottle/mug without creating a new object?

[LadyMari]

You're my hero, HystericalParoxysm.

[jazzchanteur]

Dear Lyran,
I was able to install my own default green eyes using Morague's tutorial. However, when I try to do the other colors, even with the correct instance numbers and following the same steps, I keep getting missing faces (and eyes), white with vague line patterns. What am I doing wrong?

Thank you Morague for an excellent tutorial. It worked like a charm. I also did the other eyes and here are the instance filter numbers if anyone else is interested. It took me a while to find them LOL


Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFF672AC -- Drk Blue

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF1BA3A5 -- Brown

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFDA620A -- Green

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFFBB8BB -- Grey

Sims12.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF520051 -- Lgt Blue


Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFA4A165 -- Drk Blue

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF77AF87 -- Brown

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFF4C0AC1 -- Green

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter -- 0xFFA333D0 -- Grey

Sims07.package -- Instance Filter --0xFF1C5E4E -- Lgt Blue

When I extracted the texture images from Sims07.package I also noticed that there were images both sized 512x512 and 256x256. I assume this might mean that people with lower capacity computers will not be able to use new defaults created for 512x512. Does anyone have more info regarding this? The instance filter numbers above are all for size 512x512.

[wyntir]

Hi everybody (particularly HP) - I tried to do your tutorial, but BUILD DXT doesn't show up. I did everything else mentioned, however and my eyes show up blurred. I am working on alien defaults.

[CatOfEvilGenius]

Did you download the legacy Nvidia DDS utilities? If not, Build DXT will be greyed out.

[wyntir]

It doesn't sound like something I would do... :)

I will download and make the reattempt. Thank you for answering. Wish me luck!

[camonen]

Thanks SO much :] This was really helpful

[CameoAppearance]

I installed the DDS utilities like you said to, but Build DXT still isn't showing up. Anywhere. Greyed out or usable. It is nowhere to be found. And this is a major concern for me, because I didn't use it and now my default-eyes are dim and blurry. (The blurring reminds me strongly of what happens when it tries to use textures that are half the size they're supposed to be, but I'm not sure why the colors would be wonky.)