The time has come to give this tutorial a retirement party :baloons:

It has served us well for over a year, helping many meshers get started modifying sims bodies.

The replacement tutorial is found here:

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=141997

Thank you Brianna and Windkeeper for all you've given to the community.

--------------

EDIT (by Numenor and Tiggerypum):
NOTICE: This tutorial makes use of the MeshTool, which prevents the creators to add or remove vertices in the mesh (only moving vertices is allowed).
If you are planning to add/remove vertices in the mesh, then check the Clothing Mesh Tutorial by NeptuneSuzy

Also, be sure to check the additional info included on step 27 - Exporting the original mesh (look for the mark).

NOTICE: this tutorial was written using the old, non-graphic interface of SimPE; this interface, though not completely supported by SimPE's creator any more, still exists, and can be accessed by using the START MENU, and going to the SimPE selection, then choosing: THEME/CLASSIC LOOK [/B].
The new graphic interface has a different layout and some new functions; in any case, the tutorial can be followed either using the standard graphic SimPE, or the Classic one; the decision is up to you

THE INFORMATION ABOVE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOWNLOADABLE VERSION OF THIS TUTORIAL!

---------------------------------------------

New Clothing Mesh Tutorial by WDS BriAnna
Pictures by Windkeeper
French translation by Rosemat, German translation by Rado, Spanish translation by guppy_gabriel, Russian translation by Ole4ka, Thai translation by lovelysims2 (See links at bottom of post.)

This tutorial will help you alter a clothing mesh. The resulting mesh will be a stand-alone file that doesn't overwrite existing meshes and is expansion pack compliant. This has a lot more steps than making an object mesh.

You can only alter existing meshes, and you can not add parts (hats, purses, etc.) to the mesh.

You will need the following:
A. SimPE 0.32 or later: http://sims.ambertation.de/
B. Delphy and Miche's Sims 2 Mesh tool: http://meshtool.modthesims2.com/
C. A 3D Program that can read and write obj files. (We'll be using Milkshape for the tutorial).
D. Basic knowledge of SimPE and Bodyshop. If you don't have this knowledge, make a skin or two with bodyshop and recolor an object or two with SimPE first. There are tutorials everywhere.)
E. Basic knowledge of the 3d program you picked. I can't teach you how to use every one, but every 3d program has tutorials on the web.



We will remove the hanging back decoration from the full skirt formal dress for this example.


Part I - Creating a temporary texture for testing.

1. Open bodyshop and choose the item you want to alter. It should be similar somewhat to what you would like to end up with (a skirt for a skirt, pants for pants etc.). For this tutorial we're fixing the full skirt formal with the back piece, so we'll pick that. Export it and name it anything you'd like. We won't be keeping it for the final item, so I'll call it MeshTutorialTemp. Import it to your game (tooltip and category don't matter right now). Close bodyshop.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29770

Part II - Finding the mesh parts.

2. Open SimPe.

3. Open the package file you created in bodyshop. (It will be in my documents/ea games/the sims 2/saved sims and it will be named with a hash number at the beginning, an underscore, and then the name you gave it part 1. For example, 7f835c0e_MeshTutorialTemp.package.)

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29771

4. Click on property set in the "Packed Files" window. Then click on the plugin view tab in the middle of the screen. Write down or remember the name from the name (dtString) line. In our case, it's afbodydresslongloose_grayline. We only need the "afbodydresslongloose" part so ignore the "_gray". We're done with this file for a while. We'll get back to it later.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29772

5. Make a new folder to keep your project files in.

6. File-Open "C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\Sims3D\Sims06.package"

(note: To find meshes from expansion sets, look for them in the corresponding folders, for example: "C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\Sims3D\Sims06.package")

7. Using the namemap, find the item that matches what you copied down in step 3. [Note: one says lod15 on it. Don't pick that.] Copy the instance field (OxFF70C65F in our case) into the "instance filter" box that's in the top right corner of the screen.

In the newer SimPE - click on the filter tab (with the magnifying glass) and paste the instance field into the 2nd box, click 'set' below it then follow the steps below (added by Tiggerypum)

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29773

8. Click on "Resource Node" Only one item should appear in the Packed Files list. Right click on it and hit extract. Put it in the folder you made. Clear the instance filter box. (newer simpe, clear it and click 'set' below it)

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29774

9. You've got the resource node (cres), now repeat steps 5-7 for the shape (in sims05.package), the geometric node (gmnd - in sims04.package), and the geometric data container (gmdc - in sims03.package). Remember to empty the instance filter box each time.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29775


Part III - Building your mesh package.

10. Click new in simpe. Leave long index checked.

11. I'm starting to repeat myself, but make sure your instance filter box is empty.

12. Right click in the packed files window and choose add. Go to your project folder and add all 4 files that show up there. All four files should appear in the packed files window (unless you didn't clear your instance filter box -- but you did right? Do it now if not, and the files will appear.)

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29776

13. Save your file in the downloads directory. Call it MESH_YournameAfilenameThedate. For example, MESH_WDSGown020505.package.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29777

14. Click "fix integrity" in the PLUGINS menu.
For the New SimPE - it's the TOOLS menu - Object Tools - Fix Integrity

15. A Scenegraph rename wizard window will open.

NEW STEP: Uncheck the box at the bottom that says "UNiVERSITY READY V2" -- our files will still be Expansion Pack compatible, but skin meshes need to be in EP1 format. (The screenshot doesn't show this new box.)

Type your filename in the ModelName box. For mine, it's WDSGown020505. Click update. Then click OK.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29778

16. Save.

17. Extract new copies of your resource node and shape into your project folder. Name them modifiedcres and modifiedshape so you can tell them from the originals.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29779



Part IV - Pointing the temp skin at the new mesh package.

18. Open the package you made in bodyshop (see step 3 for locating it.)

19. Right click in the packed file window and choose add. Pick only the modified cres and modified shape from step 17. They will appear in the packed files window.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29780

20. Go to the 3D ID Referencing File (3IDR). In the plugin view tab, you will see a button that says package. Click it. A window will pop up.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29781

21. Drag your shape and resource node from the popup window into the list on the left. You will now have two shapes and two resource nodes.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29782

22. Click on the resource node at the top of the list and delete it. Click on the shape at the top list and delete it.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29783

23. Move YOUR shape and resource node from the bottom of the list up to the top (resource node first, shape second).

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29784

24. Click commit. (If you can't see the commit button - resize your window, it likes to hide.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29785

25. Delete the shape and resource node from the PACKED FILES window. (They were added in step 19, just to make changing the reference easier, and we don't need them in this file anymore.) Then Save your file.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29786

(Note: I like to check in bodyshop now to see if my temp skin is showing up in bodyshop. If it is, I can go on. Your mesh hasn't been modified yet, so you don't know if it's actually grabbing the new one, but the important thing is: if it isn't showing up you messed up. Go back and double check steps 17 and 20-23.)

Part V - Editing your mesh (finally!)

26. Open up your MESH package in simpe.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29787

27. Choose the geometric data container. In the plugin view tab, :here BE SURE THAT THE SELECTOR IS IN "XYZ" POSITION (otherwise their mesh ends up laying down), and then click "Export to OBJ"

:here In the new SimPE - the button is 'EXPORT'. Once you click it, you will be offered various formats - use the 'Maya Object Exporter (.obj)' format.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29788

28. Edit: In the new simpe, you get to name your object file, name it body.obj if it's a whole sim, top.obj if it's a top, bottom.obj if it's a bottom.

29. Open your 3d program, and open up your obj file. (Use import wavefront obj if you're in Milkshape.)

30. Edit your mesh, be creative. YOU CANNOT ADD OR DELETE POINTS ON THE MESH, YOU MAY ONLY MOVE THEM!
Some tips/rules: a. If you're in Milkshape, uncheck the "auto smooth" box in the groups tab before you move anything, or else you'll get all these weird sharp edges. b. Don't delete any vertices, just move them

As for me, I'm just going to grab the vertices that make up the hangy thing on this gown and move them inside the body where they won't cause more ugly trouble. For anything else, we could probably delete them - but we avoid deleting vertices, remember?

31. Save your file in case you want to make more changes later. Export your obj into your project directory and call it something like mygownforimport.obj.

Part VI - Putting the new mesh into your mesh package file.

32. Open up your MESH package in simpe. Right click on the geometric data container (gmdc) and choose extract. Call it something like originalgmdc.5gd and save it to your project directory.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29789

33. Open Miche & Delphy's mesh tool.

34. Click "sims 3d file" and choose your edited obj file (mygownforimport).

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29790

35. Click "load sims 2 mesh" and choose the gmdc from step 32 (originalgmdc.5gd). (You'll have to tell it to show 5gd files at the bottom, it defaults to showing only .simpe files.)The tool uses this as a reference to keep your names and the animation and skeleton data. (By my understanding).

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29791

(Note: I've heard that some 3d programs may require you to edit settings with the settings button, for milkshape, I've been leaving everything but overwrite names checked - it works best in my experience. I've also heard that requires you to uncheck "export polygons" for hair. Haven't tried. Let me know. )

37. Click save file (something you can find like editedgown.simpe)

38. Go back into SimPE and reopen your mesh .package file if it's not already open.

39. Right click on the geometric data container and choose replace. Pick your new .simpe package (editedgown.simpe.) Then click commit. Save.

Go see if it works in the game and bodyshop. If it has weird problems like holes, you probably deleted vertices or moved too many too far. If it is still the old one, repeat steps 34-39 and check that you did part IV correctly. If it's just not quite right visually, repeat step 30, 31, and 33-39 until it's wonderful.

http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29792
http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=29793

Part VII - You're done! You rock!

40. Now you can go back in bodyshop and pick the new thing (the temp skin) and choose it to make a new skin from. You need to have at least one skin with this mesh in it to be able to choose it in bodyshop (obviously), but that first temp skin (the one still using the maxis texture) can go in the garbage once you've made more.

Additional notes:
You can distribute that MESH_ .package with the .zip/.rar file of any skin that needs it, and it'll overwrite itself if your user already has it - as long as you leave the name alone. So, no need to say "grab my ugly green dress and don't ever delete it if you want the pink one". The skins rely only on the MESH_ .package file and not on each other.

I hope you had fun, and I hope it wasn't too hard. It gets easier the more times you do it. I'll put the gown mesh in beta testers for anyone that wants it.

Thanks to Windkeeper for the great screenshots!

Ole4ka wrote a Russian translation -- it also has pictures that may still help English-speaking meshers. http://www.i.morning.ru/~vev/GONZA/...eshTutorial.htm

Rado wrote a German translation. http://people.freenet.de/rado-sims2...al_(German).rar

Rosemat wrote a French translation at her site, Pronup Sims. http://rosemat.chez.tiscali.fr/Sims..._Pronupsims.htm

guppy_gabriel wrote a Spanish translation at site, Guppy Sims.
http://guppysims.gratishost.com/

lovelysims2 wrote a Thai translation.
http://www4.modthesims2.com:81/getimage.php?file=48544

Thanks so much for the translating work, guys!!

Could we also use this knowlege to create different meshes for skins or only for clothes ? Great tutorial !!!

You could theoretically clone a skintone in part I and then follow the same instructions for body modifications. Haven't tried.

thank you thank you...i am so slow

Thankyou - I was working on some meshes today, trying to figure out how to get them back in the game. Now I know, and I have my first modified mesh! Yay.

Unfortunately I get as far as Step 22

(Click on the resource node at the top (the one marked [userfile]) and delete it. Click on the shape at the top (the one marked [userfile]) and delete it.)

and SimPE hangs and does not progress any further. Can anyone please assist with anything to resolve this or tell me what could be causing it?

roxxy, usually when that happens to me it's because I'm low on memory. After a brief lag it usually does come back up. Try closing some background tasks if you have any running.

Brianna, thanks for writing this up. I've been wondering how to do this and now I know how.

Thanks BriAnna for writing this, it really help us , as then we no longer have to spend the time trying to write tutorials and can instead spend it improving the mesh tool.

roxxy
did you hit the delete button in the program or on the keyboard? i was having lag when i did it with the keybpard but it was fine with the in program button

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I'll go through your methods and let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for your answers everyone.. I thought that might be the problem. Unfortunately I tried it on another PC here at home and still the program stopped responding. Guess it's one of those things that at this point in time I will put on the backburner.

Thanks again... and btw it was a great tutorial and very complete. Thank you.

Bleh.
Didn't work at all. The model is totally destroyed once brought back into the package and viewed in Body Shop. I didn't delete any vertices. I didn't move anything really far out. It's not even using a texture, it's solid black. Ugh. I did everything mentioned in this tutorial, followed it exactly... doesn't work.
(Somehow, I was expecting this to happen-- everything I attempt doing lately ends up being some huge ordeal that isn't worth the trouble.)

Can I see your package files, Saikatsu? It's especially weird that it lost your texture.

Lemme try starting over again... if it still does it after that, I'll post it. :\

BriAnna great tut. I'm getting confused on step 20. which 3IDR FILE--In the plugij veiw tab???? in the packed file area there are 22 of them--its alittle obtuse.

22? Are you doing a skintone landoman? The trick with bodyshop files that contain multiple meshes (hair, skintones) is to figure out which of the 3IDR matches the mesh you're working on (the adult female body or the elderly male body or what not) Go through the material definitions and find the one that matches yours. Write down it's subtype and instance number from the packed files window. Then go back to the giant list of 3idrs and go through and find one whose material definition line matches the numbers you wrote down. The first set of numbers 49596978 will be the same for all of them, the third will be the same in all of them as well. Watch the second and fourth till you find the one that matches. That's the one to change.

Started over completely, only moved a few vertices a bit, same exact result. Friggin ridiculous.

I need the other package, too. The one with the gmdc in it. Are you using Milkshape or something else?

Oh, right. Attaching that.
EDIT: Okay, now I just feel like an idiot, because the file I gave DOES have the GMDC in it. -_- What exactly is it I need to post?

I used MilkShape to convert it to a 3DS then imported that to 3D Studio Max, which I've been able to successfully use to create new object meshes, then exported it to a 3DS again, imported to MilkShape, export to OBJ. I really don't like working in MilkShape, it's poorly designed. :\

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have been trying for a while now to figure out how to do this.

You rock!

Saikatsu, when I open your file, it is the bodyshop package only. The one with the 3IDR, texture, etc. Only one package in your rar file. I need both packages: this and the one that starts MESH_

But I suspect that your converting to or back from the 3ds is losing some data. Try (though it sucks) just moving stuff with milkshape (leave 3D Studio Max out of it) and importing back in. If it works, you know it's the converting, and you can try using the obj import/export plugin for 3D Studio Max or another method. If not, then something else is wrong in the tool or elsewhere. Since it's showing up in bodyshop and the game, we know you followed the tutorial exactly.

Okay. Confusion on my part, I thought I gave you the one that started with MESH_ x_x
The 3D Studio MAX OBJ plugins don't work. Otherwise, I'd be using them. -.- I don't get how 3DS works fine with objects, but not clothing meshes.
I'll try again with only Milkshape in the morning, I'm too tired and angry to work with it any more at the moment.

Thanks, that hekps. You did the tutorial perfectly, but all of your normals are inverted. In the giant tool help thread someone said something about how to fix that. It is coming from the conversion, but I believe there was a solution in there.

Good luck.

Try importing just the vertices , not the normals , then the normals shouldn`t get imported.

Argh! I've tried this several times now. I've followed the tutorial to the letter, but the mesh never changes!

I've tried to trace the error and as far as I can tell, it seems that either the Mesh Tool does not alter the gmdc with the obj, or replacing the gmdc in the package with the one produced with the Mesh Tool does not work. Because if I try to export the obj again, AFTER I've imported the edited one, the original mesh shows up!

I have absolutely no idea what to do. Have anyone else had this problem and solved it, or can anyone think of a possible solution? I would more than appreciate it, thank you.

Btw. I'm using Blender to import/export and edit the obj's... If that helps.