x13v3
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by x13v3 on Feb 21, 2021 6:45:19 GMT -5
Hi all, first of all huge thanks for this great tool! Are there any plans on supporting updated versions of Blender? I've been using version 2.91 and going back to 2.76 is a sacrifice I'm willing to make if really necessary, but a sacrifice of 5 years of features nonetheless. I read that it's possible to "convert" files by appending them to empty ones in 2.76, however the diffuse maps seem to have stopped working, so I'm not going to do that for now. Edit: Here's the writeup.
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Post by mauvemorn on Feb 21, 2021 7:20:02 GMT -5
Hi. The newer versions (2.8+ ) of Blender are not supported for 3 reasons: 1). The system requirements for Blender 2.8+ differ from those of The Sims 4, meaning people who can play TS4 on older/weaker computers will not be able to alter mesh-based custom content using s4s and newer versions of Blender; 2). The current plugin works with 2.7, 2.76-2.79 not because there is no difference between these versions but because the developers adapt it to them. Sometimes the plugin stops working for certain versions, so my guess is, the developers change it if not every time then occasionally. Since the release of 2.8+, there were dozens of new versions of Blender, the developers would need to adapt the plugin for all of them and keep updating it every time not only the game gets an update but Blender as well. Imagine how long would it take to do all of that and for what?; 3). To continue the previous one, it would take a user 30 seconds to save the file in Blender, close it, open 2.76, append the meshgroup(s) they need, add cut numbers and type, save.
The reason the diffuse stops working must be because you used Principied PSDF material which was introduced only in 2.79. You need older versions only to add type and cut numbers, it does not matter what the material looks like, it is not imported in s4s regardless
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x13v3
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by x13v3 on Feb 21, 2021 13:25:27 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for the in-depth explanation and especially pointing out the potential issue! I wasn't sure I'd get support for this. To clarify: When I open a file that I exported from s4s in Blender 2.91, the diffuse maps aren't visible anymore. I think this is because blender changed the way it handles material shaders? The material properties, esp. surface settings, aren't all available on the "old" DiffuseMap material, see screenshot: I've also tried re-applying the texture using principled BSDF or diffuse BSDF, without any luck. The material preview seemed to kind of work, but otherwise, nothing changed. I did try both material and rendered preview. The biggest issue I have with not seeing the diffuse maps is that I can't really work on the UV maps without them. I've also found my way around 2.76 a little now, but it's a lot less intuitive and more clunky workflow imo. However I understand that the devs have a lot of work on their hands, and I'm grateful there's such a great, well-documented modding toolchain at all.
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Post by mauvemorn on Feb 21, 2021 14:42:11 GMT -5
Seems like Blender 2.91 does not append the texture images at all. Switch to the Texture tab ( checkered icon below to the material tab), add a new texture, click on Open, and add any of these ( or whatever skin texture you want ). Make sure the shading is set to Texture or Material, not Shaded
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x13v3
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by x13v3 on Feb 23, 2021 2:48:38 GMT -5
Okay, so I figured something out. Gonna document this in case anyone else comes searching. imgur.com/a/J9oxgShThanks a lot, again!
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Post by mauvemorn on Feb 23, 2021 3:32:23 GMT -5
Interesting that in your case the maps were present in the drop down list and in mine they were not
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