Creating Sims 3 Custom Patterns: Tutorial Q&A Thread

[HystearicalParoxysm]

This is the Q&A thread relating to the tutorial on creating custom patterns.

Click here for the tutorial! (http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Sims_3:Custom_Patterns)

You can ask questions about the tutorial and get help on it here. Please note that this thread is ONLY for questions -directly- relating to that tutorial. If you have questions on something else (trouble with a specific pattern you're working on, for instance), please post them in the main Patterns Forum (http://www.modthesims.info/forumdisplay.php?f=595) thread, so they don't clutter up this one.

[Deluxe Designs]

I am using PDN to edit my images, when i go to save them with the DDS format i get no popup like you displayed, i get the usual PDN popup which gives me odd and coded options, i tried using the:
A8R8G8B8
option, do i need to use a different vector program like photoshop or gimp?

[Reyn]

A question - if you are only doing a two colour texture, would it still be four channels or only 2? I've never messed with this sort of stuff before, r if I have, its been a long, long time.

[yggdrasil]

Just a superquick Illustrator note here - if you're using Illustrator to vectorize bitmap graphics, there is an option called "LiveTrace" that will allow you to trace a raster image to varying degrees of faithfulness. For a pattern like in the tutorial, it's actually probably faster and nicer to do it by hand (as the author did), but for more textural items (such as pebbles and the like) LiveTrace is probably a speedier option.

And as an aside: absolutely brilliant, and so fast.

[HystearicalParoxysm]

Deluxe Designs - I have no idea what the proper save item on PDN is - that sounds about right. Your images should be 341 kb when saved at the 8.8.8.8 ARGB

Reyn - Yep, it'd be 2 colours. You can just fill in the red and green and ignore the rest.

yggdrasil - I tried LiveTrace for mine (for those patterns that were based on real wallpapers) and it all looked terrible, but you're right, textural items would probably work a lot better with LiveTrace.

[JaneSamborski]

I think I know how to do the color separation without vectorizing. It wouldn't give you as clean a line, but might be easier for people not familiar with a vector program.

Edit: Tutorial is here (http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=343264).

[HystearicalParoxysm]

JaneSamborski - Go right ahead. The main thing is getting the colours all channel-separated - however you do that, by whatever technique, is fine. :)

[sweetswami77]

HP, have you tried greyscale gradients? How do they fair? Muddy or no?

[feyona]

I need to know some things. We need to vectorize a picture just to get a picture with not more than 4 colours? If so, we can use Photoshop pen-tool to draw by lines whole picture. Just in case i've found very good tutorial for Illustrator, how to draw seemless swirls.
http://www.gomediazine.com/design-tip/freebie-seamless-swirls/

[i saw drones]

I haven't tried out the tutorial yet, but if you're creating your pattern in Illustrator (I use CS3, so I can only speak for that) - and you create your pattern on layers - can you use the feature to export your Illustrator file as a layered PSD, rather than go through all the copy and pasting in Photoshop?

Surely having it exported to layers already would make that part of the process easier. I was gonna try it out after work today, but I thought I'd mention it just in case someone else wanted to try it and see if it worked.

[Sookielee]

I'm sorry if this is a noob question. Can I start making custom patterns for Sims 3 before I get the game? I didn't really get into making cc for Sims 2, but the pattern feature in Sims 3 is soooo cool and appealing to me I just cant wait. Doe anyone know if Paint Shop Pro will be good enough of a program to do this, it doe handle raster layers?
Thanks so much!!

[HystearicalParoxysm]

sweetswami77 - There is support for greyscale and gradients probably work fine, since individual steps work okay - it might look weird saved as a DXT due to compression but saving as an uncompressed 8.8.8.8 (about 3x the size but I'm a texture snob) looks beautiful.

feyona - It may not be necessary to vectorize - as long as you can do a very good, precise colour-separated version of the image, you can do it however you want. Vectorizing is merely the method which seemed the most efficient to get the results I wanted for the patterns I was doing.

i saw drones - You probably can - I'm just used to print screen + paste. Illustrator and I are on uneasy terms - it's sort of a love/hate thing. ;)

Sookielee - You can, yes, though you really need the game to test how they work. You can always start working on getting your textures basically ready. Paint Shop Pro is a raster program - it may have limited vector support as Photoshop does, but it can probably do what you need to. I'm not aware of DDS plugins for it though, which would be the limiting factor.

[Sookielee]

I found a site that explains how to use the DDS plug-in for Photoshop in Paint Shop Pro, so I think I will be okay there. Have to at least try as PSP is the paint program I've been using for over 10 years lol. Thanks for the quick response. I am so happy, first time since sims 1 that I have been excited about creating my own cc.

[i saw drones]

LOL HP, I totally understand. Its taken me several years to whip it into submission!

[Reyn]

Oh, so in theory I could do the whole thing in GIMP and not have to try and figure out inksplat or whatever it is called.

I'll try it and share the results then. And thanks! I like all the base textures and I'm enjoying yours but more is better. :)

[feyona]

HystericalParoxysm, oh thank you. I guess i became to understand a principle of doing patterns for Sims 3. We just need 4 clear colours in pattern (without square JPEG-compression or 1000 hints of one colour) to create without problem 4 masks for them. Right? Pattern for Sims 3 is not the same as for Sims 2. For Sims 2 we were using different raster pictures and for Sims 3 we use a pattern just to create 4 so-called alpha-channels which will be filled by different colours in a game.
I am asking because as i need to put an end to be sure that i've totally understood :).
Thank you very much!

[JaneSamborski]

Something you might want to note in the tutorial: if you are using less than four colors you do not eliminate the lowest channel layer, but the highest. For example if your pattern has 3 colors you get rid of the alpha channel, if the pattern only has 2 colors you only need to use the red and green channels. I figured it out once I got to the packager, but it meant back tracking.

[Mirablu]

I followed the tutorial pretty easily up to the point that said to save the image as a DDS file.

I'm making a four-color pattern (I uploaded it here (http://www.box.net/shared/sxy5knv0k8), if it helps) in Adobe Photoshop 7.
When I attempt to save it as a DDS file, it gives me the following error: "Error: Too many channels to export (5)".
Obviously, the issue is that it considers five layers to be too many. Yet in the tutorial, this doesn't come up.
It seems to export well enough with four channels (Red + Blue + Green + RGB channels), but when I add the alpha channel, it gives this error. I tried naming the channel both "alpha1" and "Alpha 1", but there was no difference.

Is this because I'm using an older version of Photoshop? I can just try to make some three-color patterns for now, and I can probably just temporarily export this pattern using black as a background color, but I'd really like to find a way around this problem for future reference.

Edited to Add: If it makes a difference, I made the base image in Photoshop instead of Illustrator. I took a simple pattern my friend asked me to use, flood filled over the colors on separate layers, and then used Edit Brightness/Contrast and Edit Levels to make each layer white. Then I created a black layer behind them, and used Copy All Layers on each layer with just one layer plus the black background layer showing.
I assumed that since the end result appeared to be the same, it wouldn't make a difference. Could that be the source of my problem?

[i saw drones]

So I'm just wondering if anyone can help me. I have followed the tutorial and managed to get some patterns in game.

The problem I'm having is that when you select the texture in the swatch list and apply it to the object, it looks fine, but when you tick ok and leave CAST, it looks pretty crummy. Here are a couple of screenies to illustrate my point.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/i_saw_drones/sims%203/th_Screen3048.jpg (http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/i_saw_drones/sims%203/Screen3048.jpg)
While picking the pattern

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/i_saw_drones/sims%203/th_Screen3049.jpg (http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg318/i_saw_drones/sims%203/Screen3049.jpg)
After leaving CAST

I have done another pattern which does it also, but you don't notice it to the same extent, and I'm quite okay with that pattern.
I guess I just really want smooth crisp lines.. Is that possible?

*Edit.

It seems to be fine if I remove the alpha channel, and in the pattern packager set the background to the colour I want as that channel. But then... I can't change that colour if I want (obviously). I will keep playing with that channel.

[HystearicalParoxysm]

Huh, that's weird. I haven't noticed that happening in mine.

A couple things. First, what's your game settings on? Do you have everything cranked way up?

And you're saving as an 8.8.8.8 ARGB, right? Not a DXT5 or DXT3 or whatever?

[i saw drones]

Huh, that's weird. I haven't noticed that happening in mine.

A couple things. First, what's your game settings on? Do you have everything cranked way up?

And you're saving as an 8.8.8.8 ARGB, right? Not a DXT5 or DXT3 or whatever?

Yep all settings high, and yep, saving as 8.8.8.8 ARGB. It is weird :P

ETA. I always speak too soon. I rejigged my alpha layer and now it is fine. It looks great. *sigh*

*needs to just spend a little more time on these things before bothering people ;) Thanks HP

[Andu Samar]

I've followed the tutorial and get some pattern int the game, but the pattern didn't had the default colors I've chosen in the pattern packager. I've tried serveral times, but I can't find out, what I did wrong.

edit: Oh, I just realised there is now version 1.1 of the pattern packager available which resolves my problem.

[kawaiimiyo]

Hi hi ^_^; Okay hope this isnt a silly question.... how to ask..... say i have a pattern with "5 colors" and I cannot take out a color without losing what i'm trying to make....

is it possible to continue with this pattern, follow your steps on 4 of the colors, to make them changeable, but just have 1 color that isnt? i.e. a black outline of something...?

hope i asked that right....

[Melian_Alcarime]

I was fine until I got to:

"Next, take each layer from your 4-layer tiled document and copy it, and paste the contents into a different channel in the new document. Remember the layering if it's important to your pattern - red on bottom, alpha on top."

The instructions are simple enough, but when I paste the layers into the channels, nothing appears and the entire image is selected. I am selecting the individual chanels, and pasting in the correct order, but it's not working. :( I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Should I attach the PSDs?

[Delphy]

kawaiimiyo: Yes, thats possible. Cut out the red layer for the areas you want to fill with the background colour, in black. That'll then get filled in by the game in the "Background Colour" - default black.

[Abbey12388]

My pattern doesn't want to work. I did everything right - I think, but when I go in game it's all grey, but the colors are there.


http://i43.tinypic.com/2lveeqw.png


When I picked the pattern in CAS. Anyone else have this?

[Delphy]

Abbey its not exactly clear from your screenshot what your problem is - please detail it. Thank you.

[Abbey12388]

Ahh, sorry =P I was kind of in a rush

[Nien]

I followed the tutorial pretty easily up to the point that said to save the image as a DDS file.

I'm making a four-color pattern (I uploaded it here (http://www.box.net/shared/sxy5knv0k8), if it helps) in Adobe Photoshop 7.
When I attempt to save it as a DDS file, it gives me the following error: "Error: Too many channels to export (5)".
Obviously, the issue is that it considers five layers to be too many. Yet in the tutorial, this doesn't come up.
It seems to export well enough with four channels (Red + Blue + Green + RGB channels), but when I add the alpha channel, it gives this error. I tried naming the channel both "alpha1" and "Alpha 1", but there was no difference.

Is this because I'm using an older version of Photoshop? I can just try to make some three-color patterns for now, and I can probably just temporarily export this pattern using black as a background color, but I'd really like to find a way around this problem for future reference.

Edited to Add: If it makes a difference, I made the base image in Photoshop instead of Illustrator. I took a simple pattern my friend asked me to use, flood filled over the colors on separate layers, and then used Edit Brightness/Contrast and Edit Levels to make each layer white. Then I created a black layer behind them, and used Copy All Layers on each layer with just one layer plus the black background layer showing.
I assumed that since the end result appeared to be the same, it wouldn't make a difference. Could that be the source of my problem?

I was running into the exact same problem as you and finally figured it out. When you're ready to save as DDS, you need to do a Layer -> Flatten Image first...even if you only have 1 layer, it will change the name from "Layer 1" to "Background", and your channels will still keep their data.

Maybe in HP's copious spare moments he could add another line in his tutorial for Photoshop users along with the Gimp info on the Compose step since this happens at the same time. ;) Either way, it's an awesome tutorial! Thanks for all the hard work you put into it.

[Schaapje82]

Hi, I tried the tutorial this morning and it took me a while, but now I have a pattern imported in Delphy's. The only thing is, when I try to save I get a message and it won't save. Any ideas?

Image (http://schaapje82.mine.nu/linda/msg.jpg)

Translation: An exeption has occured. If you press 'doorgaan' the message will be ignored and the application will continue. If you press 'afsluiten' the application will be closed.

Cannot find file or assembly blablabla or cannot load one of it's parts. The system cannot find the file.


Edit: It turned out that I was missing the .net framework-thingy. Now it works! :)

Now I have another problem. When I select my pattern and choose the same colors for all options, I still see an outline. This isn't right is it? See screenshot.

Screenshot (http://schaapje82.mine.nu/linda/cas.jpg)

[Delphy]

Schaapje82, the outline would depend on how you have your channels setup. Can you zip up and post the DDS?

[Schaapje82]

Schaapje82, the outline would depend on how you have your channels setup. Can you zip up and post the DDS?

Here it is...
the dds (http://schaapje82.mine.nu/linda/eli_pattern.zip)

Hope you can tell me what's wrong. :)

[Reyn]

I do have another question. I get the impression that you want a very clean line, no blurring - but when I shrink the texture down, there is blurring and I'm not sure how to keep that from happening.

[Argentee]

My pattern doesn't want to work. I did everything right - I think, but when I go in game it's all grey, but the colors are there.




When I picked the pattern in CAS. Anyone else have this?

I had this happen. I then applied different colors to each of the layers and the pattern appeared. I went back to the Pattern Packager, applied those color values to the pattern and resaved. The pattern now looks right in game. Edit: It could also be that your channels are in the wrong order. Try putting the patterned one uppermost, and the solid one bottom most.

[Schaapje82]

I do have another question. I get the impression that you want a very clean line, no blurring - but when I shrink the texture down, there is blurring and I'm not sure how to keep that from happening.

Maybe that's where my outlines come from too... Tomorrow I'm going to try to first shrink the vector to 256x256 and then make the different layers. Maybe that will help.

[Reyn]

I haven't even gotten to the other layers - I have some really nice gimp brushes but they are huge - when I shrink the results down, its blurry and pixellated.

[plasticbox]

Just a pointer for OSX users: the NVidia photoshop plugins are Windows-only, but apparently you can use GraphicConverter instead:

http://www.lemkesoft.com/content/193/key-features.html

It's a quite useful tool for lots of things. Shareware, but the unregistered version is almost as powerful as the paid one – it only can't do batch processing.

[Nien]

That reminds me...another limitation of the nVidia DDS Photoshop plugin is that they don't work in 64bit Photoshop CS3/CS4, you have to use 32bit or they aren't loaded.

[kawaiimiyo]

kawaiimiyo: Yes, thats possible. Cut out the red layer for the areas you want to fill with the background colour, in black. That'll then get filled in by the game in the "Background Colour" - default black.

so with the 4 channels, red, green, blue, alpha ..... i would cut out red for the area i want black, would i need to add another channel after alpha? to get the 5th color in so it can be changeable? ^_^; sorry i'm a bit slow here...

[Schaapje82]

so with the 4 channels, red, green, blue, alpha ..... i would cut out red for the area i want black, would i need to add another channel after alpha? to get the 5th color in so it can be changeable? ^_^; sorry i'm a bit slow here...

I think what Delphy means is dat on the red-channel, you can make shapes in black, that will get the background-color you select in de pattern packagers. The shapes you make in white will get the color that you select under palette 1. On the other 3 channels you can put the other three colors.

[Schaapje82]

Maybe that's where my outlines come from too... Tomorrow I'm going to try to first shrink the vector to 256x256 and then make the different layers. Maybe that will help.

I finally got it right. No outlines and a fully working pattern. Yeah!
Thanks for the help, if I can help anyone, please let me know.

[r@ffe]

To kawaiimiyo: You have 4 channels (Red, green, blue and alpha 1).

Each of them has a colour.

You have a pattern with 5 colours, and you don't need one of them to be changeable, let's say, Pink.

If you leave the PINK part out of the 4 channels, it will be filled with the Background colour, which is not changeable.

When you are in the Pattern Packager, you can pick the Background colour. You set it to PINK and that part of the pattern, in-game,will be PINK and will not be changeable.

[Melian_Alcarime]

I apologize for making another post, but I've got the feeling that mine got lost in this thread. When I try to copy+paste the black and white masks into the channels, the image remains transparent, but the entire image becomes selected as if something was, infact, pasted there. It seems like it should be quite simple, but for the life of me I can't figure out why it's not working. Thanks.

[Reyn]

I for the life of me am not sure what I'm doing wrong. I am using GIMP.

At first I thought it was because I was using the coloured layers into the decomposed layers, so I instead pasted in my raster layers. Then I thought that using a fourth colour was complicating it, so I stitched to three colours, then I thought maybe the blue layer [which is set to red in the colour picker] was in the wrong place, since when I decompose red is at the top instead of the bottom, so I put it back the way the tool set them - no matter what I do, when I import it into the game, the pattern is gone and I've got this red, pixelated mess.

I don't want to break down and get illustrator, don't really have the money for that right now, but if anyone has managed this with GIMP I would appreciate some pointers.

[flameflash]

I'm looking for a way to center my pattern. Wasn't sure if that was something to mention here or in its own thread. I put all my files in its own thread but thought I'd post here in case there's already that information elsewhere.

[dawg645]

Hi,

This may be a dumb question however is it possible to create any kind of transparency in a pattern?

Thanks

[Reyn]

To the best of my knowledge, transparency is handled by the underlying texture that the CAS one covers. So, patterns can't - if I am understanding things right.

[HeyBubbe]

Just a pointer for OSX users: the NVidia photoshop plugins are Windows-only, but apparently you can use GraphicConverter instead:

http://www.lemkesoft.com/content/193/key-features.html

It's a quite useful tool for lots of things. Shareware, but the unregistered version is almost as powerful as the paid one – it only can't do batch processing.

Hi, thank for the tip! I'm a completely green at CC creation, so I have lots of noob questions:

I'm wondering if a tutorial exists for creating patterns on mac? I'm guessing Graphics Converter is used for making the DDS file, but how does a mac user import the file into the game? I am unable (for... uh... obvious mac-ish reasons) to use Delphy's particularly peachy pattern packager for PC people.

[Simmiller]

So, I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of this. And I would be so happy, except when saving to DDS format in GIMP, I don't get a popup.

Arrrgggg! I have DDS Utilities and the plug-in for GIMP, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Any help????


I've gotten everything done, used Delphy's packager, put the file in Mods/Packages, and I can't even find my pattern in-game.

I must be missing something. Anyone? :cry:

[ChibiShiva]

Hi ^^

I've started making patterns as well - I'm actually very new at making my own custom content (I've tried recoloring, modifying alpha layers, making my own meshes, modifying meshes; I guess I'm just not good at that XD). I understand the vector program (I use Inkscape), the channels (using CS3), how to mask/unmask, where everything should be, how to save as DDS and the packager.

The problem? Placing the different layers into the channels. Either I get a message saying I can't place into the channel since I only have one selected, or if I have all, that I can't copy/paste layers.

I've tried using a 2-color pattern to start; red and green. In the first layer, red = black, green = white, and vice-versa for the second layer. But I can't put these as channels for some strange reason. Could anyone help me out with this? ^^;;

[Reyn]

Are you using GIMP for this part, Chibi?

[ChibiShiva]

Are you using GIMP for this part, Chibi? No, I'm working with CS3 as stated XD;;. Never tried GIMP.

[Reyn]

Ah - I know with GIMP you have to use a tool to decompose the channels, but I don't know these other programs much at all, so I can't be much help.

[kissshugss]

I want to thank you for your time and energy you spend teaching us how to do this stuff. But I still don't get it. Doesn't help that I am using adobe and I am not use to it. I like my coral photo shop but it doesn't save files as DDS. I have tried for hours to get this right and still failed. All I am using is a solid background with a solid flower design. Should be simple, but the flowers still show up transparent in the game and the flowers are picking up other patterns instead of being a solid color. which in some ways that's kinda cool, but that isn't how this is supposed to work. or is it?

[gz152]

Trying to prevent some confusion for those using GIMP 2.6 with the DDS plugin. The tutorial explains the format to be Default when saving. Doing this will crash delphi's pattern packager, and will cause almost any image editor to crash with an unexpected end of file error if attempting to reload and correct. When saving the format used should be RGBA8 and that should import with no problems.

:up:

[leehee4444]

Error message appears if press save button

What problem is it?

sorry...bad English

http://pds12.egloos.com/pds/200906/08/31/f0014731_4a2cab2edc4e1.jpg

[Delphy]

leehee: Simple: You didn't read the installation requirements of the Pattern Packager. :) It requires .NET 3.5. :)

[leehee4444]

leehee: Simple: You didn't read the installation requirements of the Pattern Packager. :) It requires .NET 3.5. :)

Thank you so very much Delphy :D ...it's working :)

[Elyasis]

My problem is I've no idea how to set channels or if I can even do it in Pdn.

I found a channel mask plugin for it but I'm not sure how it works or how to set the different channels, ie; order and what not. Plus it makes the visible area white and the transparent is the background checkers which makes it hard to distinguish if its working like it should.

Anyway if anyone is using Pdn and can give me some pointers in this area I'd appreciate it.

[Nien]

Hi ^^

I've started making patterns as well - I'm actually very new at making my own custom content (I've tried recoloring, modifying alpha layers, making my own meshes, modifying meshes; I guess I'm just not good at that XD). I understand the vector program (I use Inkscape), the channels (using CS3), how to mask/unmask, where everything should be, how to save as DDS and the packager.

The problem? Placing the different layers into the channels. Either I get a message saying I can't place into the channel since I only have one selected, or if I have all, that I can't copy/paste layers.

I've tried using a 2-color pattern to start; red and green. In the first layer, red = black, green = white, and vice-versa for the second layer. But I can't put these as channels for some strange reason. Could anyone help me out with this? ^^;;

Chibi -

When you have your layers ready to paste into channels, try creating a new image that's 256x256, but for "Background Contents" choose a White/Black background instead of Transparent. This will create a flattened image and give you easier access to the channels.

Hope this helps...

[sweetichigodream]

Hello!

I wanted to do an encore of the Retro Waves wallpaper I made for Sims 2, so I went by the tutorial and tried to make a pattern out of it.

It consists of a groovy geometric pattern of 3 colors, all should be recolorable.

In the pattern packager the dds file shows 3 different colors. I picked 3 recolor option.

But when imported to game two of the patterns turned into one color so it is only 2 colors.... (there's 3 color buttons in game, but graphic shows only two)

I have tried to swap the order of the channels, but to no avail.

I am not sure I understand which order it should be in. To me it seems that it does not matter? Or maybe I am stupid and have missed something obvious?

I hope I am not of too much trouble.

I have uploaded package, dds and psd to my ftp, you can look at them and maybe help me find where I did wrong.

http://www.monostar.net/ichigo/misc/sims3/

THANK YOU in advance!

[Reyn]

I had a similar propelm, except all the pattern vanished, and the only colour was the colou of the flowers of the pattern. I posted about it on page 2, and think it got lost - hopefully somehow someone can point out where we went wrong on this.

[Duckeh]

Is it possible to post questions for the pattern packager here too?
If so when I try to run the program i get this message: The application failed to initialize properly (0xc000007b). Click OK to terminate the application.

I'ev re-downloaded this program 8times and I can't seem to find anybody with the same problem who might me able to help. I was thinking it might be my .NET FrameWork but the microsoft website isn't loading on my computer so I download it off another website but it can't connect to their website to repair, uninstall, OR download. This has never happened before with any other program I've downloaded in the past. Please help! I really need this pattern packager.
Does this picture help?:
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr28/AquaMickeh/Untitled-2.gif

[VampireMike]

Forgive me for asking, but...
Is it not possible to upload your custom creations you made using the Pattern Packager?
So far I tried, and it looks like the pattern will not show unless the people who download it has the resource.cfg file and the .package file I created.

[HystearicalParoxysm]

Duckeh - Please post questions about the Pattern Packager in its download thread.

VampireMike - People will need the .package and resource.cfg - that's how it works.

[VampireMike]

Duckeh - Please post questions about the Pattern Packager in its download thread.

VampireMike - People will need the .package and resource.cfg - that's how it works.

That's a shame :/
Maybe I'll have to add a link to downloading them on each upload?
I'm sure alot of people would grow tired of none proper custom community content which is why I may upload the ones I make.
But I'm promising myself to not create anything that breaches the rule of copyright.

Duckeh - You'll have better luck in typing your error message up in google, that's the best way to go when recieving error messages.

[sweetichigodream]

I hate to nag, but could anyone see on my files above? Or should I start a new thread about it? :P

[Reyn]

I'd look, but I've not got any of the adobe graphics programs, and can't even figure out where I'm going wrong following this thing.

I am -working- on getting a copy, but it might be a while yet - its not cheap.

[VampireMike]

Well Reyn you can actually find Photoshop's that have like a free 30 day trial

[thaliagoo]

Tutorial: Next, take each layer from your 4-layer tiled document and copy it, and paste the contents into a different channel in the new document.

I'm using Photoshop but every time I paste a layer into the channel, it appears in all 4 channels... I'm new to all this (never worked with channels), so bear with me please.

Edit: figured it out, had something to do with pasting using Illustrator instead of Photoshop

[Nien]

I hate to nag, but could anyone see on my files above? Or should I start a new thread about it? :P

Let me preface this by saying I am certainly no expert...

But I opened your PSD, and there is a lot of overlapping white areas between the Red and Blue channels. From what I understand, any particular spot on the pattern should only be white on one channel.

It could be that the game or the Pattern Packager isn't designed to do a "mix" of colors if a particular area is affected by two color channels at once....or I could just be uninformed.

Hope this helps...

[sweetichigodream]

Oh, maybe you are right and I was totally stupid and overlooked. I will look at the files now!

Thanks!

EDIT:
Yes, it was true. I must have been confused by all the similar looking shapes and the thinking/switching of "layer", "channels". It works now. But it is not very pretty looking, ugly edges. But now I know how to do it I can polish it further!

Thank you!!

[ambereve]

HELP!!!!! This is my first time at creating things sim wise and im having a bit of trouble, i've created a pattern put it to a dds file loaded it into Delphy's Pattern package gone through what it says then when it comes to save as i just get an error message and the waffle below can anyone help please????




See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'System.Core, Version=3.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
File name: 'System.Core, Version=3.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089'
at PatternCreator.Form1.sanitiseString(String input)
at PatternCreator.Form1.validateFields()
at PatternCreator.Form1.saveAsToolStripMenuItem_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.RaiseEvent(Object key, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEventInteractive(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEvent(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mea)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mea)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripDropDown.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

WRN: Assembly binding logging is turned OFF.
To enable assembly bind failure logging, set the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog] (DWORD) to 1.
Note: There is some performance penalty associated with assembly bind failure logging.
To turn this feature off, remove the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog].



************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
PatternPackager
Assembly Version: 1.1.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/DOCUME~1/HP_ADM~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/Rar$EX00.594/PatternPackager.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
Gibbed.Sims3.FileFormats
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/Local%20Settings/Temp/Rar$EX00.594/Gibbed.Sims3.FileFormats.DLL
----------------------------------------
Gibbed.Helpers
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/Local%20Settings/Temp/Rar$EX00.594/Gibbed.Helpers.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
Accessibility
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Accessibility/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Accessibility.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

[ChibiShiva]

Well, I solved my problem of not being able to paste a layer into a channel, maybe this will help some people as well. Select the layer you want and just Select => All (CTRL+A), then copy/paste into the desired channel. Dunno why I haven't thought about it before x.x

Thanks for the tips! ^_^

*Goes off to make new pattersn!*

[Delphy]

ambereve Reinstall .NET Framework 3.5.

[Reyn]

Well, apparently, the issue I was having came from using GIMP, which is a shame, I much prefer it. But I suppose i can still do the original design work there, then use photoshop to import it to DDS format and paste into the channels.

[Reyn]

Well, apparently, the issue I was having came from using GIMP, which is a shame, I much prefer it. But I suppose i can still do the original design work there, then use photoshop to import it to DDS format and paste into the channels.

[Simmiller]

Hi. My patterns are showing up in game as objects-floors. I can't figure out why this is. Can you help? Please?

[roadzhang]

How to make a custom specular map just like the changelog of v1.2 said? Thanks!

[Nors]

I import an DDS file but it never show up in the Pattern Program...

[songbirdRobyn]

Okay... So I'm a total noob, following tutorial STEP by STEP.

I'm at the point where you create a new image 256x256 and PASTE the layers from the first vectorized image INTO the CHANNELS of the new image?

Can't copy layers? Only duplicate layer! How do I copy layer and paste it into a different image's Channels?
I'm lost!

[songbirdRobyn]

AH! Well, I figured out you can just Ctrl+C the layer, and Ctrl+V to paste it into the channel when selecting the channel! Well now! :D

[songbirdRobyn]

Well... moving on... My problem now is that in the Pattern Packager, when I click browse to bring up the DDS file I made in photoshop, I get one of the error messages that says "File is not a supported DDS format."

I have the DDS Utilities plug-in for Photoshop CS4
I have .Net Framework build 3.5
I saved it as the DDS file and selected 8.8.8.8 ARGB or whatever it was.

Any ideas?

[Melian_Alcarime]

songbirdRobyn: How on earth did you get the pasting to work? I'm no newbie at photoshop, far from it, and it is very simple task, but it won't actually paste. It looks like its trying to, but nothing appears. :(

EDIT: Oh. Apparently, I need to have some sort of a solid background on my new image. That would have been nice to know, since I had a transparent background. >.<

[red_dragons]

Newbie photoshop user here:
Am using HP's tutorial, but stuck on where it says, 'Then I need to save the result as a raster image'.....

How do i save as a raster when it's not in the save as drop-down list?
Do i just save as psd file?

Saved as psd for now, but have another problem, photoshop wont 'step backward' on all the steps so cant completly undo.

I prefer psp 9, much easier to use but saving as dds wont work in that

[elmorenz]

I've got .NET framework 3.5 installed but i get stuck when trying to save my pattern on Delphy's Pattern Packager. I don't know where I've gone wrong. This is the error message I always get

"Could not load file or assembly 'Gibbed.Sim3.FileFormats,
Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral. PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its
dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified."

Thanks & cheers

[DeusExMachina]

Random question... What does making a pattern as a decal mean? I want to make a pattern that'll be centered on the back of a leather jacket and the pattern so far looks awesome but I want to make sure it's just on the back.

[HystearicalParoxysm]

DeusExMachina - That's more for stuff like blood splatters and suchlike, I think. If you wait a couple days, you'll be able to do what you want with a soon-to-be-released tool. :)

[Delphy]

elmorenz, you didn't extract all the files. :)

[elmorenz]

Silly me. Never download anything when you have kids around you. You'll never get it right. Thanks Delphy. You are a real gem. Cheers

[DeusExMachina]

HystericalParoxyism: AWESOME! I'm working on Sims of the un-morphed Rangers from Power Rangers: RPM so their jackets just have the emblem on the back. Good to know you guys are on top of things.

[Lethe_s]

Reyn,

there is a trick to using Gimp.
If you have a four-tone pattern, you can follow the tutorial and use the default settings.
For anything less, when making the dds, you'll need to set it to RGBA8. It's in the drop-down list that also has the dxt settings. If you use that setting, your dds will not crash the pattern packager.

[khakidoo]

Hi :) a lot of this is totally new for me, I'm clinging desperately to my Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7.0 but it seems I have to figure out some of GIMP to do this channel-pasting stuff and also so I can save as .dds.


So far I've been working thru the tutorial, and a couple other ones too, and I'm having some trouble working thru the channel pasting parts (it's exciting though, with each attempt I'm figuring out a tad bit more: i be learnin. is fun.) and I was wondering if the general idea here is that we are sort of 'tricking' the game into recognizing the areas of our patterns by plugging them into the particular channels?

[Lethe_s]

Hi khakidoo,
there's very little 'tricking' involved, though a lot of it is counterintuitive.
The basics are these: in any channel the black bits will be transparent (aka, invisible), and the white bits will receive colour. Gray bits are semi-transparent.
However: channels go on top of each other. So if you put a full white channel on top of a patterned one, you'll only see a floodfill in the game.
The game reads them in this order:
- red channel is at the bottom (this means, for me at least, that this is usually the background colour)
- green channel goes on top of that
- blue channel is one above that
- alpha is the top channel.

So anything that is white in the alpha channel, will overlap whatever you have put in the blue channel, and so on.


An example. Say you make a simple heart pattern. Just a background and some small hearts in a different colour.
- The background would be a fully white 'red channel'.
- The heart pattern will be in the 'green channel'. Make your channel black, with little white hearts.
- In the game itself, you can change the colours of the background and the hearts to your *ahem* heart's content.

Hope that helps :)

[sanspaper]

OK, so this is probably going to turn out to be a confusing question, but here goes:

I am continually getting stuck midway through the tutorial where it says "After you've got it all done in vector, you need to get it into a raster format...". Presumably we are switching programs here, from vector graphics program to image editing program. And you can't rasterize an image that isn't a vector, right? So how are we supposed to save the vector file for editing in the image editing program? In my case, I am trying to work between Inkscape and Photoshop. How do I save my pattern in Inkscape as a vector file which I can open in Photoshop, in order to rasterize it? Can it be done?

I would greatly appreciate any response. Thanks!

[Kiara24]

How do I save as a DDS file?
Please help!

[khakidoo]

Hi khakidoo,
there's very little 'tricking' involved, though a lot of it is counterintuitive.
... Hope that helps :)

:) Kinda sorta helps. Counterintuitivity gets me all the time. I don't the whys of it, but I did manage to work out the hows, and finally got a pattern to show in the game. It's like a treasure hunt, bits of info from here and there, and then finally it all falls into place. Hopefully I can now help some other folks:


OK, so this is probably going to turn out to be a confusing question, but here goes:

I am continually getting stuck midway through the tutorial where it says "After you've got it all done in vector, you need to get it into a raster format...". Presumably we are switching programs here, from vector graphics program to image editing program. And you can't rasterize an image that isn't a vector, right? So how are we supposed to save the vector file for editing in the image editing program? In my case, I am trying to work between Inkscape and Photoshop. How do I save my pattern in Inkscape as a vector file which I can open in Photoshop, in order to rasterize it? Can it be done?

I would greatly appreciate any response. Thanks!


I don't think it's quite that complicated... or at least not going from vector to raster; raster to vector is pretty much impossible, and I think that's why we are doing the tracing in vector to begin with, because most of the patterns and textures we amatuer creator types find on the internet are raster stuff to begin with. We trace it out vector-style because we want to crisp it up as much as possible. At least that's what I suspect, I could be entirely wrong :)

This may be helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_file_formats#Major_graphic_file_formats

And from http://www.logodesignworks.com/blog/vector-graphics-and-raster-graphics-difference : “Whereas conversion from vector to raster is easily accomplished, raster conversion to vector is much more difficult (and often is not possible). Raster images typically are easily shared across various platforms, but can be more difficult than vector graphics to modify. As well, raster graphics are impacted by scaling.”


You should do the screenshot option. Just hold alt and press print screen on the keyboard and then go into gimp or whatever and paste it like normal (as if it were something you copied) into the channel you want it in.





How do I save as a DDS file?
Please help!

You need to get the plug-in for whichever program you're using. There are links to them in the tutorial, it's up to each person to figure out the details of installing the plug-ins into their programs. Once you get your particular plug-in configured, when you choose save as, the .dds format option should be available.

[Kiara24]

The program that I use is Photoshop.
Thanks for helping.

[sanspaper]

Thanks khakidoo. I spent way too long trying to think around this in a silly way :lol:

[sanspaper]

Oh. Apparently, I need to have some sort of a solid background on my new image. That would have been nice to know, since I had a transparent background. >.<

Thanks so much for posting how you solved this. I was fumbling with the same issue! ;)

[Kiara24]

When I try to save, this message appears.
What am I doing wrong?
Can you help me please. :help:

[PlyrSiaci]

grr! the pattern packager keeps gettin an error:

Unhandles exception has occurred in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.

Could not load file or assembly 'System.Core, Version=3.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089' or one of it dependencies. They system cannot find the file specified.

I've tried continue, nothing. I pressed quit, it closes (probably the only thing that works.) im maybe thinking its the .NET framework 3.5 - i went to download it, and my browser said the document contained no data |:|

SOMEONE HELP MEEE
please :)

[PlyrSiaci]

oh, and i downloaded and extracted all the files twice :|

TO NO AVAIL D:

[Mystheri]

I believe I've gotten everything down just about, concerning patterns, thank you so much for the tutorials :) I HAVE installed the packager and the framework 3.5 My only issue now is getting it to work. Her packager comes up but I cannot access it at all. I cannot type or browse...anything. If I'm in the wrong forum would anyone mind directing where I should take this? I'm new as well and I am really eager to try this. Thanks in advance. Myst~

[Delphy]

Plysiaci: You need to reinstall .NET framework 3.5.

Mystheri: If everything appears greyed out, you need to click File -> New. :)

[Kiara24]

When I try to save, this message appears.
What am I doing wrong?
Can you help me please. :help:
Please someone can answer me? :(

[Delphy]

Kiara, it means you didn't type stuff in all the boxes.

[Mystheri]

Okay, Delphy...thank you so much :)

[Kiara24]

Thanks Delphy, I do not know what should I write where it says "Homepage".
Sorry, I am beginner at this.

[ly_drago]

I have taken some free vector images I found on the net and worked on them and created 4 colorable patterns in Photoshop CS3. I save them as .dds files and open them in the Delphy's pattern packager and save them (either way, tried package files and sims3pack) and put them in the game, all that happens is I see the alpha channel showing. The colors I selected for each channel are showing, but there is nothing but the alpha channel to recolor.

Now I did the same thing with the TS3 Workshop tool (I like Delphy's better) and they came out like they were supposed to with all 4 channels showing and colorable.

Maybe someone can open this file in PS and tell me what am I doing wrong? I really don't want to use the TS3 Workshop tool if I don't have to. I've been a MTS supporter for a long time and I am not particularly fond of TSR.

I have tried and tried and tried some more but cannot get it to work in Delphy's wonderful tool.

[Delphy]

ly_drago: Is the Alpha channel pure white by any chance? How many palettes did you select? What happens if you untick the Alpha channel in the Pattern Packager? Do you see the image then?

[tsukutsukuboshi]

I downloaded .NET Framework 3.5 (what is it for?) and I thought it installed properly. When I started the pattern packager and got it all set up but when I went to save it it didnt work. It said:
"Unhandled exception has occured in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore the error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.

Could not load file or assembly 'Gibbed.Sims3.FileFormats, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified."
So I exited and went back to install the .NET Framework 3.5 thing again it said it was done downloading before it even started downloading and when it did download it said there was a setup error. I guess I didnt see that the first time around. What should I do?

[Delphy]

You need to extract ALL the files in the archive. :)

[tsukutsukuboshi]

You need to extract ALL the files in the archive. :)

Yeah, but what do I do with all of them?

[Delphy]

Nothing. Just extract everything to a new folder and run the pattern packager, like it says on that thread.

[ly_drago]

ly_drago: Is the Alpha channel pure white by any chance? How many palettes did you select? What happens if you untick the Alpha channel in the Pattern Packager? Do you see the image then?

No the alpha channel is black with the pattern in white. I selected 4 palettes.

I've uploaded images of all 4 of my channels so you can see. I've also uploaded images of what happens in the Pattern Packager.

[Delphy]

I just tried the DDS file you attached above. Loaded in PP, 4 colour palettes. Save. Tried in game. Worked fine. :)

Are you sure you aren't accidentally recolouring the entire thing? ie the big circle, rather than the 4 smaller circles?

[ly_drago]

I just did what you did above and fired up the game and it looked fine. Maybe my computer just didn't want to do it properly yesterday, I dunno.

I was having a lot of problems with my alpha channel but I've got that sorted now. I had the alpha backwards with a white background and black on top, maybe that's why it was showing only the alpha channel. I figured out I needed to reverse it and maybe I thought I had loaded one of the new dds files into PP but had one of the old wrong ones.

Thank you so very much for your help Delphy. I'm now off to create a few patterns for upload. I just wanted to make sure they were working properly before I uploaded them here.

[Ingeborgsk]

I have problems starting the pattern packager...

When I open it, it just looks like this:
http://i25.tinypic.com/9gd9x5.jpg

I read on the tutorial that I had to read the license agreement and everything, but it doesn't show up...

I got an error downloading the .net framework, but then I discovered that I already had it installed, so there should be no problem there...


Help?

[Lethe_s]

Ingeborgsk,
that's pretty much what it's supposed to look like, I think.
Click 'file' and make a new pattern to start working.

sweston,
making things tile properly is something you do way before you start making channels :)
there's a tutorial here: http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=136074

and some more info, including a tiling program in this thread: http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=172456

[xanathon]

Thanks for the tutorial and the help in this thread. After some hair-ripping and cursing (I am really not that new to the concepts of layers and channels), it worked. :up: :giggler:

http://imagcon.de/pix/chair_textured.jpg

[ravenjwolfe]

OK, help.....

I am trying to do a 4 color pattern and I've followed the sim2wiki tutorials, and i must be missing something. Here are screens of what ive got and what its supposed to look like...

what my pattern SHOULD look like once the RGB attributes have been added into the pattern packager.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3117/hbelt2.png

pattern packager weirdness in foreground, photoshop channels in background.
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/7200/problemv.png

[ravenjwolfe]

I just realized that ly_drago is having the same issue as myself.......

[ravenjwolfe]

EDIT: scratch that..........

heres what it looks like
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9105/issuez.png



I figured it out!!!!!!!!

Apparently the alpha channel needed to be opposite of what I thought.

[LadyBea34]

i have a question about this alpha thingy. which is the only thing that has me truley confused.

ok so i do my channels as you have in your tutorial. Making the red a solid white and alpha the last part of my butterfly pattern. So when i load in in the package maker under "show source" it comes out all white. But if i hit "preview output" the butterfly shows up.

when i add it to my game like it is as is. i get a white block instead of the butterfly.

now i tried it again, with having the alpha unchecked but loading the package as a 4 layer pattern and it came out correct. Not sure where the white color is in the butterfly is? but in the game, the white comes out under the butterfly like a background its supposed to be.

so my question is...is the alpha supposed to be checked? or can i leave it unchecked and still keep the 4 layers i am needing?

[ravenjwolfe]

hmm i may have figured it out

[St Luke]

Ok I followed all the steps. My design is only 1 colour a ying yang symbol. I uploaded it sucessfully. But when I apply it to somthing in the game the object just turns bright white, and changing the colours does nothing. I first though it was the size of the original image so i shrunk it and tried again same problem. PLease help :cry:

[bratty]

Hi, newbie here. :)

I followed the pattern making tutorial and managed to make a pattern that worked and it was pretty easy. So, thankyou!

But I have what might be a really dumb question, I hope this is the right place to ask. Can I share the patterns I have made using the tutorial (and the items I've used the pattern on) in the exchange?

[dannec212]

i tried doing everything yet it wont open some stuff on my mac. if i send a link to a pattern could someone just do it for me? i mean its right size already i just would like this patter so i can use it on a shirt or bedsheets or ect

[KaylaDX]

I'm puzzled now, after some cursing & head banging trying to get the patterns working in the Package thingy, I figured it, followed everthing in the tutorial & installed the monkey thingy, I can even see the pattern file in the mods folder... but I can't see them in the game... what did I miss? :help:

Edit: Well since I made this post I have since been asleep lol, so with a fresh unsleepy eyes I read the tutorial again & realised I hadn't put the resource file thingy in the right place lol :faceslap: so now I have done it right it works :D

Me happy :D Thanks Delphy :D

[theCreativeRoy]

Random question... What does making a pattern as a decal mean? I want to make a pattern that'll be centered on the back of a leather jacket and the pattern so far looks awesome but I want to make sure it's just on the back.DeusExMachina - That's more for stuff like blood splatters and suchlike, I think. If you wait a couple days, you'll be able to do what you want with a soon-to-be-released tool. :)If I understood "decal", wouldn't this mean there's no editable channels but just a snapshot of the bitmap taken literally & tiled?

I want to know because I want to use this but when "make this pattern a decal" is checked it tells me:You have a missing or invalid field! Please double check everything and try again.Also, 3 of the 4 channels automatically get checked (RGB).

All the other fields are filled that I can see but no "recolourable palettes" are selected (intentionally). Am I the only one trying to do this? Let me know what it's supposed to really do please.

[Rikachu]

Okay, I have a question. I have all the channels set up as they should be, but what do I do next? How do I get them all in one file? :/

[violet1]

I've searched through the threads and cannot find an answer to this one. I have a four colour pattern. When I select the blue for Palette 3, the entire image, including the background turns blue. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong.
Help!
Please!!!

[Ryan220]

I am in need of help. I am currently woking on a cruise ship on the sims 3. I need a logo on the ship but i dont know how to do it. If you know or have a answer please email me here:
[email protected]
I really need help!!!
Thanks
Ryan

[Tahera]

I've searched through the threads and cannot find an answer to this one. I have a four colour pattern. When I select the blue for Palette 3, the entire image, including the background turns blue. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong.
Help!
Please!!!

I`ve been working on that for hours but still have the same effect that you experienced. I`ll let you know if I`ll find a way how to do that.

[busta]

Please can any one help me? When I try to save my package I get this:
You have a missing or invalid field! Please double check everything and try again.

What can I do? Thanks.

[IrisJuylyenne]

I don't know what I am doing wrong. I installed the dds support for photoshop and figured out that it was the non-support for the 64 bit version that was holding me up. But now that I can see the .dds option after clicking save as.. it comes up with an error saying it can't save the file. No nvidia dialouge box comes up at all. I've unistalled and installed the tool several times now. Any suggestions?

Edit: Found the problem. 16th time is the charm I suppose. Whatever it was...its gone now. :jest:

[sasha525]

aww :( i get this error message while trying to change the colours (i think)

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae338/xx-muffins-rox-my-sox-xx/errormssg.jpg

before that i followed the tutoral and i have a question, do you use the image that is in black and white and here : http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:Sims_3_Custom_Patterns/Multi_Colour_Patterns_1 do you overwrite the black and white image or what do you do next, after the last step, thanks !

Riblan- that is more less what i would like to know :L :rofl:

:help: :help: :help: us !!

can someone help us soon ???

i guess not :(

[Emolicious]

Hello i wanna ask somthing plz

am from saudi arabia and my english is soo suck

thats why i need help with making patrren with picturs plz

^^ if u dont mind

and thanks :)

[ajy0903]

I want to make transparent cloth.
How I suppose to do that with pattern?
Please reply me through my pm please

[ClassicRock]

Ok not sure what i've done wrong here LOL
I just created my first new pattern using this tutorial ( yay go me ) and added it to my bedding and carpet.
My floor is still there but the bed is now invisible ROFL
There is a shadow where the bed should be as in the image below.
Any idea what went wrong ?

http://i48.tinypic.com/4t0eoo.jpg

Edit: Hmmmm seems to have sorted itself out after an hour of gameplay *scratches head*

[Janec]

Stupid question i'm sure, but i've looked and I can't find it... Where do I find the Mods/Packages folder?

[HugeLunatic]

Janec please see the Sims_3_Game_Help for help with installation.

[Janec]

Ah thanks :) I didn't realize I needed to install anything other than the pattern packager :).

[Samekh]

Please help with my home made patterns being in game okay but just completely blank. I'm using Paint Shop Pro 7.02 and trying to follow Delphy's simple method using Photoshop. I know I've got my settings wrong, possibly I've got the whole method for creating a DDS wrong. I've created a screenshot image to show my process and settings. But I don't seem to be able to insert an image here!!!

I'll have to explain it.

I create an image with four layers in PSP. They're all black and white. One has white where I want the red colour (I know it doesn't have to be red), one where I want the green, one where I want the blue, and one a combination of red, green and blue. I'm thinking this combined one might be important somewhere.

I start a new 256 image. Split it into channels (Colors - Split Channels - Split to RGB). I paste the red, green and blue PSP layers into their respective channels in the new image (this leaves the fourth - original image - blank).

I select the blank image and recombine the channels (Colors - Combine Channels - Combine from RGB) which produces a third image with the RGB channels showing up as the colours red, green and blue on a black background. I save this resulting image as a 32 bit ARGB DDS.

I open Delphy's Pattern Packager. Fill in the details. Find and open the saved DDS. Set it to three recolourable pallettes. Which seems okay but the Alpha is unselectable. It seems okay because each of the channels are different.

I save it as a sims3pack (my home made pattern packages, put in the Mods/Packages folder that Monkeybars installed, were not showing up at all in game but ones downloaded were) and use the game installer to get them into the game. They show up with a plumb bob icon but they are patternless (recolourable but patternless) when I try to use them.

[Sherbrooke]

I managed to get my image converted into dds and did all the manipulations that I needed to. I want to save now and the programme tells me that there is a missing or invalid field. I have filled in everything except my homepage (I don't have one but I don't see why it should be necessary?). I'm sure that everything else is correct. Is the lack of homepage causing me to not be able to save my file?

[tj14]

how do i get a image in the delphys pattern packeg :alarm:

[Lilium22]

I have a question on patterns. I downloaded the pattern maker thing form the sims 3 website. I'm new to all this so please bear my noob questions lol
I have finished my pattern (I'm starting off easy before I work up to the big stuff) and I want to know where it saves. I'm sure no one uses this program but I have to in order to learn something lol. so if anyone could answer this, it would be a big help thanks guys

[mousiejean]

I'm tired of making the 3 square patterns, I want to make normal wallpapers, murals and such. What do I need to start?

[SabienCupcake]

When I want to save my patern as a DDS file it says that the image width and height must be multiple of four. What does it mean and how can I change it??

[BloomsBase]

When I want to save my patern as a DDS file it says that the image width and height must be multiple of four. What does it mean and how can I change it??

imagaes used are:
4x4
8x8
16x16
32x32
etc

You can change them in your texture proggy(image size)

[SabienCupcake]

imagaes used are:
4x4
8x8
16x16
32x32
etc

You can change them in your texture proggy(image size)

I'm sorry, but I don't understand. I don't see those sizes anywhere..? And which size should they be in then?