How to recolor a custom content object
Mar 1, 2016 10:43:09 GMT -5
brujah, dailywalker, and 9 more like this
Post by orangemittens on Mar 1, 2016 10:43:09 GMT -5
Introduction
This tutorial will show you how to recolor a custom content object and make custom swatch thumbnails to match your new swatches. It will not show you how to use your 2D editor.
Please note that while this tutorial will create an item with its own unique standalone catalog entry it will not create an independently functional item. In order to show up in the game properly your recolor will need to have the original item in the Mods folder with it. If you plan to share the recolor you should provide a link back to the original item so the person downloading your recolor can get the original item too...otherwise your recolor will not work properly in their game.
You can use this tutorial to make recolors of your own items but, if you do so, the person downloading your recolor will also need the original item you recolored in their Mods folder or else your recolor will not work properly in their game. If you want to make a recolor of your own content that does not need the original item you're recoloring to show up you will need to use the Create 3D mesh option instead of the Recolor option.
What you will need
Sims 4 Studio
A 2D editor - Paint.Net, Photoshop, and GIMP are all popular choices. Studio can import images as .png and as .dds. If you choose to use .dds images and you're using Photoshop or GIMP you will also need to download the .dds pluging for those respective editors. If you use the .png format or Paint.NET there is no need to obtain a special plugin before beginning.
Set up
Place a copy of the item you plan to recolor in your Sims 4/Mods folder. Place another copy of it in your Documents/Sims 4 Studio Mods folder:
This will give Sims 4 Studio access to the item so it can place it on the thumbnail list of items that you can clone.
Instructions
1. After placing the item you are going to recolor into the folders as described above put a dot in the radio button next to the Standalone Recolor option under the Object button.
2. Click the Object button.
3. When the thumbnail list appears type the name of the creator who made the item you plan to recolor into the search bar.
4. When the list narrows click the object you want to recolor. If you have not previously viewed it in your game it will show as a green plumbob instead of showing the object's catalog thumbnail. You can see the name of items displayed with a green plumbob by hovering over them with your mouse. It is safe to clone an item even if you do not see the catalog thumbnail for it.
5. After clicking on the object's thumbnail click the Next button. Name and save your new .package in your project folder.
6. The next screen you see is the model viewer screen. By default it will show you the Catalog tab. This tab allows you to give your item a new name, description, and price. You can do those things now or you can come back to this tab later after you're finished doing your recolors.
7. Click the texture tab. By default Studio will have the first swatch of the original object selected. All the object's other swatches will be arrayed in the swatch thumbnail box too. To see those swatches you can click on their swatch thumbnail. If you don't plan to recolor over all of the swatches you can delete the ones you don't want to use by selecting the unwanted swatch and then clicking the Delete Swatch button.
8. If you plan to use the original swatch or you just want to look at it to get an idea of how to make your recolor click the Export button in the Texture section. If you don't need the original swatch for anything then skip to step 9.
9. Create your new recolor image and save it as a .png. Click the Import button in the texture section and navigate to where you saved it. Import it into the .package. You will see the model in the model viewer change so that it now displays your new image.
10. Right mouse click in the first Swatch Thumbnail Color box to bring up the eyedropper tool. Drag it over your item until a color you like for the swatch thumbnail shows in the box. If you want another swatch thumbnail color along with the first repeat this step after clicking in the second Swatch Thumbnail Color box. You can select up to 3 colors in all.
11. To create the next swatch click the next swatch thumbnail in the swatch thumbnail box. If your item has only one swatch and you want another click the Add Swatch button. The object in the model viewer will change to show the next swatch. If you've added a swatch it will continue to show the swatch you copied until you import a new image.
12. Import your next swatch image.
13. If your item's second swatch has more swatch thumbnail colors then you want you can clear out the extras as shown below.
14. Continue overwriting the original item's swatches with your own. If you've added all the swatches you want and some original swatches remain you can select them and use the Delete Swatch button to get rid of them. If you want to add more swatches than the original had you can use the Add Swatch button to add more. This will make an exact duplicate of whichever swatch you are on when you click it so the model will not change in the model viewer until you import a new image.
15. After clicking the Add Swatch button import your new image and change the swatch thumbnail as before.
16. When you've added all the swatches you want and deleted any unwanted swatches click the Save button.
Check your new item in the game. If you want to create custom catalog thumbnails for your new item check out this TUTORIAL.
If you have any questions about this tutorial please post them in this thread.
This tutorial will show you how to recolor a custom content object and make custom swatch thumbnails to match your new swatches. It will not show you how to use your 2D editor.
Please note that while this tutorial will create an item with its own unique standalone catalog entry it will not create an independently functional item. In order to show up in the game properly your recolor will need to have the original item in the Mods folder with it. If you plan to share the recolor you should provide a link back to the original item so the person downloading your recolor can get the original item too...otherwise your recolor will not work properly in their game.
You can use this tutorial to make recolors of your own items but, if you do so, the person downloading your recolor will also need the original item you recolored in their Mods folder or else your recolor will not work properly in their game. If you want to make a recolor of your own content that does not need the original item you're recoloring to show up you will need to use the Create 3D mesh option instead of the Recolor option.
What you will need
Sims 4 Studio
A 2D editor - Paint.Net, Photoshop, and GIMP are all popular choices. Studio can import images as .png and as .dds. If you choose to use .dds images and you're using Photoshop or GIMP you will also need to download the .dds pluging for those respective editors. If you use the .png format or Paint.NET there is no need to obtain a special plugin before beginning.
Set up
Place a copy of the item you plan to recolor in your Sims 4/Mods folder. Place another copy of it in your Documents/Sims 4 Studio Mods folder:
This will give Sims 4 Studio access to the item so it can place it on the thumbnail list of items that you can clone.
Instructions
1. After placing the item you are going to recolor into the folders as described above put a dot in the radio button next to the Standalone Recolor option under the Object button.
2. Click the Object button.
3. When the thumbnail list appears type the name of the creator who made the item you plan to recolor into the search bar.
4. When the list narrows click the object you want to recolor. If you have not previously viewed it in your game it will show as a green plumbob instead of showing the object's catalog thumbnail. You can see the name of items displayed with a green plumbob by hovering over them with your mouse. It is safe to clone an item even if you do not see the catalog thumbnail for it.
5. After clicking on the object's thumbnail click the Next button. Name and save your new .package in your project folder.
6. The next screen you see is the model viewer screen. By default it will show you the Catalog tab. This tab allows you to give your item a new name, description, and price. You can do those things now or you can come back to this tab later after you're finished doing your recolors.
7. Click the texture tab. By default Studio will have the first swatch of the original object selected. All the object's other swatches will be arrayed in the swatch thumbnail box too. To see those swatches you can click on their swatch thumbnail. If you don't plan to recolor over all of the swatches you can delete the ones you don't want to use by selecting the unwanted swatch and then clicking the Delete Swatch button.
8. If you plan to use the original swatch or you just want to look at it to get an idea of how to make your recolor click the Export button in the Texture section. If you don't need the original swatch for anything then skip to step 9.
9. Create your new recolor image and save it as a .png. Click the Import button in the texture section and navigate to where you saved it. Import it into the .package. You will see the model in the model viewer change so that it now displays your new image.
10. Right mouse click in the first Swatch Thumbnail Color box to bring up the eyedropper tool. Drag it over your item until a color you like for the swatch thumbnail shows in the box. If you want another swatch thumbnail color along with the first repeat this step after clicking in the second Swatch Thumbnail Color box. You can select up to 3 colors in all.
11. To create the next swatch click the next swatch thumbnail in the swatch thumbnail box. If your item has only one swatch and you want another click the Add Swatch button. The object in the model viewer will change to show the next swatch. If you've added a swatch it will continue to show the swatch you copied until you import a new image.
12. Import your next swatch image.
13. If your item's second swatch has more swatch thumbnail colors then you want you can clear out the extras as shown below.
14. Continue overwriting the original item's swatches with your own. If you've added all the swatches you want and some original swatches remain you can select them and use the Delete Swatch button to get rid of them. If you want to add more swatches than the original had you can use the Add Swatch button to add more. This will make an exact duplicate of whichever swatch you are on when you click it so the model will not change in the model viewer until you import a new image.
15. After clicking the Add Swatch button import your new image and change the swatch thumbnail as before.
16. When you've added all the swatches you want and deleted any unwanted swatches click the Save button.
Check your new item in the game. If you want to create custom catalog thumbnails for your new item check out this TUTORIAL.
If you have any questions about this tutorial please post them in this thread.
but now I have a new problem. Everything was going ok, I got my recolor, or so I thought. When I opened the game, my recolor was shining purple/red/blue, and not the color I recolored to. Does anyone now a good tutorial for paint, I think the error must be there, but hey any other solutions that solve my problem, I'll take it 
