Trying to make open bottom dresses

[JoshQ]

I’ve been using version 2.2.47 for a year without a single problem when importing/exporting WSOs and I’ve made around 300 .sims3packages with it, it seems there was some issues but is OK now:

 

[Guest]

Hmmmm... Oops! Tool Kit is CmarNYC's, not cmomoney's. I see that post was in April 2018. I'm not sure when the post about the issue with TSRW was written, but I guess its been sorted out. I'm also wondering when that version of TSRW came out? I deleted it, but I want to swear I had version 2.1.86, or something other than the one you posted and not the older version I reinstalled?

 

But then again, I was, and still am having some problems with those darn waist seams, and figured anything was worth a try.

 

Speaking of waist seams, I'm trying something I really didn't want to do, but think it will work to hide the seams... texture on the multiplier instead of the smooth satin look. One of the dresses by Winnie017 at TSR that I'm going to upload uses a similar texture in the original multiplier and the seams don't really show in game. I'd been avoiding using that, but... And my famous close... "I'm testing it in game now..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Nonsequitur]

On 11/2/2019 at 7:34 PM, LadySmoks said:

One of my biggest problems is a total lack of organization and bouncing around projects.

Oh boy... do I know what you mean!

[Guest]

? Yup! That's me!!! I guess we're kindred spirits!!! 

[Guest]

How's it going with the next version of PG? Not sure if its a content problem, but yesterday I was in Cheetah Club and there were no stairs to the 2nd floor. I was putting in a stage and dance poles to make an all male review for the ladies!

[Guest]

Well, I really didn't want to do it this way, but it looks like adding that texture to the multiplier has done the job of hiding the waist seam! I've been testing for a while. Had to make some height adjustments to some vertices on the skirt to eliminate some minor thigh clipping. To celebrate, I threw together a teen version. ) No problems so far! Harley didn't want to wear the cocktail mini, so Laura called her sisters, Ingrid and Moyra to help out. )))

 

[JoshQ]

As creators is easy to detect even the smallest of imperfections but most of the time people just concentrate in playing so maybe they don’t notice what we see.

 

By the way, good job!

[Guest]

Thank you! Well, I'm still an amateur creator at best, but getting better with your help and advice. Because of things you have taught me, I now see imperfections that I never noticed before... especially in my own work.

 

As you said, and I had said before that most people would probably never notice many small defects during game play. A short hemline, open bottom and cleavage, and its all good! When all I did was play Sims, I never noticed half of what I notice now. BUT... now I do see things and try to find ways to fix them. The waist seam is still my demon. Things I've tried have looked good from 99 of 100 angles, but then I see it, and tried something different to get rid of it. The most effective so far has been to reduce the inner skirt by .950 on x and y, verge all vertices on the smallest setting (I think its .00001)... if I don't reduce the inner, it makes shadows on the outer, add custom normal split under geometry data, hide that mesh... Open the same mesh and use data transfer of the normals from the mesh with no seams. Some times, I hit the waist seam again in Tool Kit, but not always. And a corset or belt simply would not work with the low back of the cocktail dress. And as I said, I've been working on a sequin dress by Winnie017 TSR, which uses texture to simulate light and shadow, as well as an overlay, for the sequin effect. 

 

When in TSRW and coloring the cocktail dress, I found that the "cast iron" metal pattern hid the seam, but if anyone used plain colors in CAS, they might see the seam. So, I pulled the pattern from TSRW, desaturated it, multiplied the squares until I covered my multiplier, erased it by 50% or so to make it an overlay that would show the texture but still show folds in the cloth of the original multiplier... (breathe)... trimmed the overlay to fit the multiplier and merged down. ))) And waist seam is gone for now on this project. ) To be honest, the cast iron pattern may be the same one Winnie used on her dress. Her's isn't open bottom... yet.

 

I will probably use this technique on a few dresses, but still search for the answer to the waist seam.

 

The teen version is a mesh I made for duplicating adult dresses for teens. My morality made the teen hemline a little lower than the adult, but not much lower. 

 

I learned something very useful while making that teen dress! I used the image overlay tool in 2.8 to see how well the adult multiplier fit the teen mesh. Something made me move UV vertices. Don't know why I did that, but I found that I could adjust the UV vertices and it moved the position of the image on the mesh! I was able to fix multiplier alignment around the boobs without changing the multiplier to fit the UV in GIMP... which was how I use to fix alignment problems.

 

This image overlay tool will save me soooooooooooooo many headaches trying to align mesh and multiplier. )))

 

There has been some debate whether the game actually monitors packages, or reads them only during loading. Well, I can say for certain that my game is constantly reading. I have actually changed a mesh in a package while the game is running, and seen the change in game. ) There was clipping at the hip bend on the cocktail dress. I saw it while dance testing, hit game pause, pulled the mesh from the package, opened it in 2.8 and moved skirt vertices up a little at the bend. Then, put that fixed mesh back into the package. When I went back to the game, I went to town view, then back to my sim and the clipping was gone! The game read the new mesh!!! Some times I have to open CAS. Doing that with imgs sometimes crashes the game for some reason?

 

Anyway, its looking really good so far! If I don't see anything soon, I may upload this by tonight. )))

[JoshQ]

On 11/7/2019 at 8:34 AM, LadySmoks said:

I have actually changed a mesh in a package while the game is running, and seen the change in game

That’s interesting in my case when I do that the game crashes ?

[Guest]

Hey Josh! Yea, its crazy, but most of the time, it works. The mesh will go into the game and I can see if the changes I made look okay. I can move mesh or UV vertices, but adding or subtracting, or merging or splitting edges means I have to renumber and then I have to repackage everything with new bones and morphs.

 

I think I'm ready to upload the cocktail dresses, adult and teen versions, tomorrow. ))) I had to redo the teen dress and move some UV vertices around, and reduced the shading around the torso in the multiplier for both.

 

After these, I actually have another adult dress that might be ready very soon. I have it in my game, but haven't looked at it too much because I wanted the cocktail dress so badly. And... I redid the Late Night Club Chic mini skirt. I made it for myself a while ago, but updated it with the stuff I've learned, and now I think it might be good enough to upload also. )

[Guest]

Well, FINALLY! I think the cocktail dresses are good enough to upload. I think I got the waist seams, at least under control.

 

Hey! A sneak preview of a side project.... "Naughty Harley Quinn" Pin-up posters!

[Guest]

Hmmmm... I think I'll upload this package! Semi-tasteful Harley Quinn nudes... ? She almost has a "Med Bod"... I made her small, but a little curvy and busty... and she trims, but doesn't shave! )))

 

These are the in game poster pics. I found a giant poster on Around The Sims 3 that I cloned. That's my selfie sim in the photo to give perspective to the size of the poster. She's wearing the EA Club Chic miniskirt (not a full outfit) that I opened the bottom of and will probably upload soon. I think I got all the clipping out of it, but still testing it along with about 5 other dresses.

 

[JoshQ]

3 hours ago, LadySmoks said:

I think I got all the clipping out of it, but still testing it along with about 5 other dresses.

As long as you keep the original body proportions you’ll have few problems with clipping, for MedBod besides expanding the skirt I have to add new vertices and reduce the length further, plus modify the seam on the hip and scale down the legs inside the skirt just a bit. As you can see keeping stretching under control is tricky.

[Guest]

I've thought about adding vertices and increasing poly count to see what things look like... smoother I assume... but I have enough just getting what I'm doing to work. 

 

You know, I'm proud of myself that I found a video explaining how to overlay multipliers on the mesh without having to ask you how you did it. ) And then I found I can move UV vertices and it changes how the multiplier appears on the mesh!

 

Anyway... Yes, I stay with the basic body proportions. Something I learned is that there may be a slight difference where the hip joint bend is calculated on a skirt/ dress and the lower body, and I think THAT is the cause of much of the thigh/ hip clipping. What I now do, is to move a couple rows of skirt/ dress mesh vertices up at the hip, but keep the vertices position at the butt and smooth out the transition. I did this on the cocktail dress, and solved most problems I had.

 

 

Oh, and I've learned to use "hide selected"!

[JoshQ]

Increasing polycount helps making clothes “less blocky”, although at normal camera distance is hard to notice. In MedBod’s case is necessary to avoid clipping on the butt.

 

An alternative to hiding is using ‘Alt+B’ and then drawing a box, press it again to go back to normal.

 

[Guest]

I can see why you need to increase poly count on the MedBod, and what you mean about a blocky but if you didn't. ) When playing around with increased poly count meshes, I found it helps for standard EA body types too, when it comes to clipping since its easier to match the curves of the body (especially the butt) and the curves of the garment. BUT... I also found that increasing the space between body and garment slightly, as well as sometimes aligning a bit closer on the x and z axis works with low poly as long as I don't distort the appearance of the body to where its noticeable.

 

But as agreed, generally, you, me and others who work on meshes are the only ones looking THAT closely... If it doesn't clip, or even clip badly, most people playing won't notice or care.

 

I always have trouble trying to remember all the "hotkeys" on Blender, or any programs I use. )

[Haraldh]

On 11/10/2019 at 9:51 PM, LadySmoks said:

Well, FINALLY! I think the cocktail dresses are good enough to upload. I think I got the waist seams, at least under control.

 

Hey! A sneak preview of a side project.... "Naughty Harley Quinn" Pin-up posters!

Looks realy nice ever noticed the tatoos on her legs are upside down or is it intendet?  I noticed while reading what you wrote about litle details you notice while modding.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Haraldh said:

Looks realy nice ever noticed the tatoos on her legs are upside down or is it intendet?  I noticed while reading what you wrote about litle details you notice while modding.

Thanks! I might upload some Harley Quinn nudes and some of my spokes model, Laura Klein. ) 

 

I'm really just learning. I started this thread because I play vampires and became annoyed by closed off bottoms when they floated above the altars, and wanted to just remake some of my favorite CC that I had and didn't know how to flip normals on the inner mesh... So I asked... And Josh Q and Non-sequitur were kind enough to answer, and have helped me a lot. I remade Lemonleaf's Lolita Maid outfit, and got it to where I felt it was good enough to share. Then I got the bug, and want to make more to share, but I'm finding the more I learn, the more critical I am of what I make. "Ignorance truly is bliss!"

 

I have a bunch of CC I made in my game, but the quality is just "good enough for me... until I get around to making it better". )))

 

And yes, I know about the leg tattoos being upside down... Those were done by Shushilda (I think?) for a Suicide Squad Harley he did. Check the movie... they'r upside down because SHE did them herself while in Arkham (I think?). I'm sure they look just fine from her perspective!

[Haraldh]

Beeing a Vampire she reminds me of Jeanette from Vampire Bloodlines 2 think that char was somehow based on Harley Quinn.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Haraldh said:

Beeing a Vampire she reminds me of Jeanette from Vampire Bloodlines 2 think that char was somehow based on Harley Quinn.

I honestly know nothing about Vampire Bloodlines 2, so I did a quick search and... I'd have to say Jeanette's appearance is very much like Harley Quinn. But, in her short comic book life, Harley has had several looks. Mine is kind of the Arkham nurse Harley.

 

 

 

[Haraldh]

Found a smal problem with Kinky world and that dress i have option to remove panties in exebition but at same time whole dress is removed^^ Striptease dance is fine but this could just lead to random naked sims because they tend to remove panties all time even if they are just dirty or wet ect.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Haraldh said:

Found a smal problem with Kinky world and that dress i have option to remove panties in exebition but at same time whole dress is removed^^ Striptease dance is fine but this could just lead to random naked sims because they tend to remove panties all time even if they are just dirty or wet ect.

There are several different clothing items removed in exhibition depending on request by a sim or what a sim wants to take off. KW takes off full outfit dresses for top and bottom interactions. Panties as accessories need to be left garter and registered with KW in the menu under underwear to work.

 

I also get annoyed when my sims start taking off their close when I don't tell them to, and yes, that's in the KW scripts. If you have Master Controller, you can change sim exhibition levels back to 0 or -1, but that also changes sims taking off clothes when you tell them to.

 

I've said before that if my panties got wet or dirty as often as KW makes my sims panties, I could never leave the house! If you don't have University, or which ever EP does laundry, dirty/ wet panties just fill your sims' inventory and have to be constantly deleted. (

[JoshQ]

On 11/12/2019 at 12:09 PM, LadySmoks said:

I always have trouble trying to remember all the "hotkeys" on Blender,

The only way is practicing (and watching videos even if you don't understand, the idea is to gradually getting familiar with the interface), when I started with 2.8 I used the left toolbar all the time, now I don't need it.

 

These are 90% of the shorcuts I use:

 

e = extrude

g = move

s = scale

k =  to use the knife

o = activate proportional editing

c = use circle selection (double tap 'a' to unselect)

b = use box selection

Alt+r = to make a loop cut

Alt+s =  shrink / fatten

Alt+b = alternative to hide (h)

Alt+right click = select a row (works with vertices, edges, faces)

Alt+z = x ray mode

Shift+tab = activate snapping

Alt+m = merge

Alt+n = normals menu

 

The rest can be accessed via the right click menu.

[Guest]

Practice and patience! ))))))))) Well, I almost never use the left side bar. Its one of the things that kept me from using 2.8... stupid pictures! 

 

I have gradually gotten use to finding the things I use regularly, but through the drop down menus. I don't even know what half those things you use even do! )))

 

There are a few on your list that I'll probably try out. Right now, I'm happy I remember that "z" opens the menu to transpose an image onto the mesh! I think I have that down, and maybe it is time to expand with some hotkeys?

 

Well, I just made some alterations to a mesh I'm doing for a new (old) dress, the EP3 short tight dress, and getting ready to test in game again. I wonder if its possible to insert animation poses to the mesh while overlaying the multiplier on a mesh to check for clipping?

[Guest]

Hey Josh! Just wanted to thank you, and Non-sequitur (must be busy doing touch ups on PG) again for all your help and advice! Every time I finally finish a project, it was your help that got it done. And every time a project is delayed, and delayed, and..... THAT is also because of things you taught me! ))) I try not to upload something that just isn't good enough.

 

I have about 20 projects that are "good enough" for me, in my game (until I get around to make them better), but I don't think are good enough to upload for others yet.

 

Remember that "Little Black Dress" EA remesh from a few months ago? Well, I think its finally almost ready. I went with the solid mesh, and moving the whole UV and shrinking it to about 80%. Then, I worked on the multiplier to fix the distortion from it being stretched back out to fit the mesh. Maybe a little more touch up here and there, but maybe I also should stop playing with it too much? The solid mesh and moving the whole UV allows patterns to work on this one, although not really perfectly centered, but I don't think I feel like going back and redoing both the mesh UV and multiplier just for that.

 

I think I got all the clipping fixed, and may even try to add a pregnant morph? )