If you want to learn how to make a completly new body mesh, then read this tutorial!

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Credits

This tutorial was written by Brianna from WellDressed Sim and the images are made by Windkeeper. The tutorial ishosted with permission.

This tutorial will help you alter a clothing mesh. The resultingmesh will be a stand-alone file that doesn't overwrite existing meshes and isexpansion 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.

Tools you need

-Simpe 0.15 or later: http://sims.ambertation.de

-Delphy and Miche's Sims 2 Mesh tool: http://meshtool.modthesims2.com

- A3D Program that can read and write obj files. (We'll be using Milkshape for thetutorial).

-Basic knowledge of SimPE and Bodyshop. If you don't have this knowledge, make askin or two with bodyshop and recolor an object or two first. There are manytutorials available on the web.

-Basic knowledge of the 3d program you picked. I can't teach you how to useevery one, but every 3d program has tutorials on the web.

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

Step 1.

Creating a temporary texture fortesting

Open bodyshop and choose the item you want to alter. It should besimilar 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 formalwith the back piece, so we'll pick that. Export it and name it anything you'dlike. We won't be keeping it for the final item, so I'll call itMeshTutorialTemp. Import it to your game (tooltip and category don't matterright now). Close bodyshop.

Step 2.

Finding the mesh parts

In SimPe, open the package file you created in bodyshop. (It willbe in my documents/ea games/the sims 2/saved sims and it will be named with ahash number at the beginning, an underscore, and then the name you gave it part1. For example, 7f835c0e_MeshTutorialTemp.package.)

Step 3.

Click on property set in the "Packed Files" window. Thenclick on the plugin view tab in the middle of the screen. Write down orremember 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 itlater.

Step 4.

Make a new folder to keep your project files in.

File-Open C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims2\TSData\Res\Sims3D\Sims06.package

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

 

Click on "Resource Node" Only one item should appear inthe Packed Files list. Right click on it and hit extract. Put it in the folderyou made. Clear the instance filter box.

Step 5.

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

 

Step 6.

Building your mesh package

Click new in simpe. Leave long index checked. I'm starting torepeat myself, but make sure your instance filter box is empty.

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

Save your file in the downloads directory. Call itMESH_YournameAfilenameThedate. For example, MESH_WDSGown020505.package.

Click "fix integrity" in the PLUGINS menu. (Note: Ifthere is not a "fix integrity" in the PLUGINS menu, you need a newversion of simpe. Go get one, then open this file and proceed).

A Scenegraph rename wizard window will open. Type your filename inthe ModelName box. For mine, it's WDSGown020505. Click update. Then click OK.

Save.

Step 7.

Extract new copies of your resource node and shape into your projectfolder. Name them modifiedcres and modifiedshape so you can tell them from theoriginals.

Step 8.

Pointing the temp skin at the newmesh package

Open the package you made in bodyshop (see step 3 for locatingit.)

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

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.

Step 9.

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

 

Step 10.

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]) anddelete it.

 

Move YOUR shape and resource node up to the top (resource nodefirst, shape second).

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

 

Step 11.

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 wedon't need them in this file anymore.)

Then Save your file.

Note: I like to check in bodyshop now to see if my temp skin isshowing up in bodyshop.

If it is, I can go on. Your mesh hasn't been modified yet, so youdon'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 steps17 and 20-23.

Step 12.

Editing your mesh (finally!)

Open up your MESH packagein simpe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose the geometric datacontainer. In the plugin view tab, click "Export to OBJ" If thebutton isn't there, double check the "what you need" section at thebeginning of this tutorial, specifically part C.

Edit: In the new simpe, you get to name yourobject 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.

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

Edit your mesh, be creative. Some tips/rules: a. If you're inMilkshape, uncheck the "auto smooth" box in the groups tab before youmove anything, or else you'll get all these weird sharp edges. b.

Don't delete any vertices, just move them -- you never know which onesare being used for the animation.

 

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

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

Step 13.

Putting the new mesh into yourmesh package file

Open up your MESH packagein simpe. Right click on the geometric data container (gmdc) and chooseextract.

Call it something like originalgmdc.5gd and save it to yourproject directory.

 

 

 

 

Step 14.

Open Miche & Delphy's mesh tool.

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

Click "load sims 2 mesh" and choose the gmdc from step32 (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 tokeep your names and the animation and skeleton data. (By my understanding).

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

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

Step 15.

Go back into simpe and reopen your mesh .package file if it's notalready open.

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 thegame and bodyshop. If it has weird problems like holes, you probably deletedvertices or moved too many too far.

If it is still the old one, repeat steps 34-39 and check that youdid part IV correctly.

If it's just not quite right visually, repeat step 30, 31, and33-39 until it's wonderful.

Step 16.

You're done! You rock!

Now you can go back in bodyshop and pick the new thing (the tempskin) and choose it to make a new skin from. You need to have at least one skinwith this mesh in it to be able to choose it in bodyshop (obviously), but thatfirst temp skin (the one still using the maxis texture) can go in the garbageonce 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 youruser 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 pinkone". The skins rely only on the MESH_ .package file and not on eachother.

I hope you had fun, and I hope it wasn't too hard. It gets easierthe more times you do it. I'll put the gown mesh in beta testers for anyonethat wants it. Thanks to Windkeeper for the great screenshots!