So… everyone knows sims 3 creation tools aren’t the best when it comes to technical side, but another reason why people have problems with creating things for sims 3 is because of lack of proper documentation and tutorials.
I plan to change all of this over certain period of time with information and tutorials regarding sims 3 CC creation, all fully laid out in one place, this tumblr page.
I will start with how specular mapping works in sims 3.
What is a Specular Map?
Specular map, in any game that uses them, not just sims 3, serves to determine how shiny/reflective parts of an object material are. The more bright the map texture is, the more reflective corresponding part on the object will be.
This is an example of a sims 3 specular map:
So… Dark areas, less reflective. Bright areas more reflective. Now that we have this established… how do these maps work in sims 3?
Object Specular Maps
Object specular maps have two separate data sets: - Actual Specular Data (Color/RGB channels) - CAST (create a style)/Object Specular Separation Data (Alpha channel)
Actual Specular Data is basically fulfilling a purpose of a specular map. By using Color/RGB Channels, you can determine where the most reflections will be and where there won’t be any. But it can also determine the color of reflections. If you color the specular map in red, the reflections will be red. If you color it in gold, reflections will be gold. This allow you to have some parts of the material look like actual metal in the game. Sadly, changing the color of the material in game, doesn’t change the color of the reflection that you defined with specular map. You would usually only do this if you had an overlay texture that you can’t change color of in game, so metalic reflection color will always match the base material color. It is important to note, however, that the actual reflection intensity doesn’t necessarily depend only on this part of specular map data. It also depends on…
CAST/Object Specular Separation Data, which exist because of how reflections are calculated in game. EveryCreate A Stylematerial has it’s own specular map. This map is then combined with your objects base specular map to determine final reflectivity of the objects material. That is, if you set yor specular map Alpha/Transparency Channel under a certain value. But if you go over that value, then your material specular won’t be affected by CAST material/pattern specular map, and will have it’s shine intensity exactly how you defined it in Color/RGB channels.
Here are visual representations of values to closer depict how this looks:
- CAST Material with very dark specular map:
- CAST Material with medium specular map:
- CAST Material with fullybright specular map:
And here is a closer depiction of how it works in conjunction with detailed CAST material specular maps ( CAST Material VS Object Material):
It is also important to note that when you edit the Alpha Channel in Photoshop, values will be different. I made sure to include those as PS Alpha in the images Those are actually the true values the game makes disctionction between when reading this data. It seems that the border between two different states is 50% value.
Clothes Specular Map
Sadly, Clothes Specular Map doesn’t work this way. No matter the Alpha channel changes, clothes specular/reflectivity can’t be affected by CAST specular map. So how you make your specular map in Color/RGB channels, that’s how intensity will behave in game. Alpha Channel is completely disregarded and uselessin this context. Only relevant data in this case is Color/RGB channels.
For the end, here’s a little hint on what my friend and I have been working on for the past two months:
So what is this you wonder? It is a first third of clean UI release, currently in beta testing phase.
What does it include? Well, here’s the list: - Completed Game Intro Loading Screen (separate download) - Complete Main Menu - Complete Save Loading Screen - Complete Buy mode (without blueprints) - Complete Build mode (without blueprints) - Most of live mode in progress (without most of EP content)
That’s 30% of it complete already.
Here’s some images of it:
Issues with this build: - going into CAST in build/buy gets rid of half camera control background graphic - career tab days off are colored light blue and are thus barely readable
These are two issues that don’t seem to be easily fixable but for final release I’ll try my best.
Thank you everyone who follows this project. I hope this is enough for now, there’s more to come later, but I will be taking a break from this project for a bit. Next module is CAS and edit town/tutorial/family management.
All of my downloads have also been migrated to google drive, because drop box banned me for some reason.All links on this blog work once again.
I also have a Ko-Fi page here that is open for donations. If you want and can please consider donating. Thank you once again.
This is a really quick shader modification that turns the blobby outdoor shadows into soft ones, like in the family portrait and indoors. Cool for general gameplay and pretty screenshots if you can’t stand the default shadows like me.
It was made on Mansion & Garden but i believe it could work on other versions this time around.
So… this is Tumblr and this is now my Simblr. Neat.
To get myself properly settled in here, i’ll be posting the first “release” version of my custom Sims 2 Launcher i’ve been working on for the past few months/weeks:
I know I said that my next post would be about my futher plans with this project but… Some more updates on it, I breezed trough main parts of buy mode so now it looks almost complete… yet there’s still so much to be done because EA created some really messy UI.
been out the game a LOOOONG time. idk how to make preview images any more. but basically, these are EA facial hairs i liked and wanted to convert into skin details for female sims.
3 facial hair variants (slight mustache, pencil mustache, and mustache with stubble)
4 different skin detail slots these can go in: crease, left mole, nose, forehead
for teen thru elder
turned off for males so there r no repeats
disabled for random
base game compatible
also if ur in the market for more female facial hair, a nice anon recommended @silentgrim’srlly cool ones to me.
A beautiful jacuzzi made. Round - not sharp, angular - shapes. It works perfectly both at home and outdoors. However, this cannot be put at home and you must use the bb.moveobjects code for this.
Modular sofa (Set Milas - Modular Sofa) made of high-quality mesh and texture.
In addition, the recolor (Set Milas - Modular Sofa - Velvet Recolor) of the sofa’s elements is covered with a velvet fabric, which - unfortunately - looks dirtier than soft. But it still has quality.
First of all, the cables are very nice. It’s nice that they go beyond the plot, so you can put a complete series of posts on the estate. The object is also available in subdued colors. It shines gently at night.
The set of fireplaces looks fantastic in the game. The fireplaces are made of high quality and - most importantly - work properly.
Probably many of you have been unsuccessfully looking for these fireplaces. I found it for you (and tested it of course), but it is available on the page where an account is required. The link didn’t work in the Download section, so I am sharing it here. On the other hand, in the Download section you will find direct download links.
Tested files
Hel Studio FC Cast Aluminum fireplace.package
Hel Studio FC Fireplace with bifolds M.package
Hel Studio FC Fireplace with bifolds S.package
Hel Studio FC Pyramidal Fireplace M (PETS pack required).package
Hel Studio FC Pyramidal Fireplace S (PETS pack required).package
Hel Studio FC the minimalist fireplace M.package
Hel Studio FC the minimalist fireplace S.package
Hel Studio FC Through the Walls Fireplace frame.package
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