Creating default skin replacement - simplified method.

[Malifecent]

Ok, I did download a default from MTS2. I kinda like the viney looking skin, but wanted a more realistic female. So I did make the changes to the defaults I had dopwnloaded, except now they look pixelly in game. What can I do to prevent that?

[Ambular]

Ok, I did download a default from MTS2. I kinda like the viney looking skin, but wanted a more realistic female. So I did make the changes to the defaults I had dopwnloaded, except now they look pixelly in game. What can I do to prevent that?

Do you have the nvidia DDS utilities installed, and SimPE set up to use them?  You need to have that done, then choose "Build DXT" when you right-click a texture to replace it, rather than using Import.

[Flamingo]

I'm sorry if this is a bit necromantic, but does anyone know of a way to keep things from getting blurry when importing an alpha channel? I already have the DDS utilities installed, and can't seem to figure it out.

[SaraMK]

If anyone likes the vines on the Plant Sim skin, but not the skin itself, here's something that will help create a better default replacement: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=226196

[Ambular]

I'm sorry if this is a bit necromantic, but does anyone know of a way to keep things from getting blurry when importing an alpha channel? I already have the DDS utilities installed, and can't seem to figure it out.

Try playing around with the order in which you import the texture vs. the alpha channel, and also with the alpha settings when you save the texture in your editing program.  I never did quite figure out what the problem was with some of mine, but I managed to fix them by more or less hammering away with a mallet of blunt ignorance until it worked.  XD

[Flamingo]

Try playing around with the order in which you import the texture vs. the alpha channel, and also with the alpha settings when you save the texture in your editing program.  I never did quite figure out what the problem was with some of mine, but I managed to fix them by more or less hammering away with a mallet of blunt ignorance until it worked.  XD

The order seems to have little effect, because the alpha is overwritten when you select the "Build DXT" option. Though I could've tried simply importing the skin, I guess. Either way, I remembered that my image editing program allowed for transparency, and simply applied it there, instead of through SimPE. After that, I simply selected "Build DXT" again and it worked without a problem.

[MissKitty]

Hey, this is easy! Of course I just did the whole thing without committing but... It's not too hard to do again. ^_^ Yay, I can have all my favourite skins as defaults now if I like

I've also built a new default PT face and now I just need to be able to make new default PT eyes and I'll be set for having some non-fugly alien babies! 

Oh and you are truly Awesome for writing this in a way that even a noob like me can understand. Kudos.

[angelyne]

Glad I helped

[Ellatrue]

I tried the batch converter shareware dealie someone recommended earlier in this thread. DO NOT USE IT. It will add a little label to every image it converts, and ruin your textures.



Fortunately, I'd only done one of the skins before I noticed, instead of all four. Now every sim looks like the victim of some sort of vampire attack with a bandage on their neck.

[jmtmom]

Try FastStone Photo Resizer here: http://www.faststone.org/FSResizerDetail.htm