Skin textures fail to load ~50% of the time

[EnnPeeCee]

I am in the process of installing Skyrim SSE fresh install, and am running into an issue that I have not seen before. Sometimes when loading into the game all characters are missing body skin textures (skin appears either bright blue or purple depending on what weather loads). It is only about 50% of the time, which is making it harder to diagnose what the issue is. When it happens, it affects all characters, male and female. It appears to only be affecting the body skin textures, I have not seen any other textures missing, including faces.

 

My test process consists of launching the game, then from the main menu using 'coc riverwood' to load the game. So far it seems like quitting to main menu and reloading the game persists the issue, but I would need to test more to be sure. I have also tried starting a new game from the main menu and get the same issue, so it does not appear to be linked to using coc.

 

I am suspicious that it might be linked to my system performance. When I get the missing texture issue, I have noticed that my framerate is noticeably lower than when the textures load properly.  My interior lights also have significant flickering when the textures fail to load, but are fine when things load properly.   Whether the texture issue could be caused by the game lagging, or is causing the game to lag though is hard to say.  I did try lowering my game resolution to test, which gave a significant fps boost, but did not solve the issue.  My VRAM usage is about 7500/15000 according to the readout from SSE Display Tweaks when I load in, so I don't believe it is an issue with VRAM getting overloaded.  RAM is also only about 50% capacity.

 

I am also suspecting that it might be related to SMP bodies. I did not notice any issue after installing female SMP bodies and textures, but I did start to notice it after installing the male SMP bodies and textures. But again, since it only happens some of the time, I can't say for sure that's when it first started.  And since it affects both genders, it seems odd that it would be an issue with one of the body mods.

 

It does not seem like it is mis-installed body textures. Male and female should be using different textures, and when the issue arises it affects both. Bodyslide's preview window also is able to see the textures properly.

 

I am hoping someone has some idea of what the issue might be. I will be continuing to troubleshoot and see if I can narrow down a specific mod causing the issue.

I can also post a screenshot if that would be helpful.

 

Thanks!

 

Modlist:

https://loadorderlibrary.com/lists/skin-textures-sometimes-not-loading

 

[traison]

When your player character is blue, open RaceMenu and save a preset of it. Inspect the resulting jslot file in notepad and go through the overrides array and any reference to a file ending with ".dds". Make sure they all exist, and can be opened in a dds editor or converted to some other format - i.e. make sure they can be read. If everything seems fine, then make sure you're not hitting the stdio limit.

[Grey Cloud]

Ah, the joys of installing a 1,000 mod collection.

[EnnPeeCee]

6 hours ago, traison said:

When your player character is blue, open RaceMenu and save a preset of it. Inspect the resulting jslot file in notepad and go through the overrides array and any reference to a file ending with ".dds". Make sure they all exist, and can be opened in a dds editor or converted to some other format - i.e. make sure they can be read. If everything seems fine, then make sure you're not hitting the stdio limit.

I can give this a try, but I don't think it is an issue with an overlay.  This is with a fresh game vanilla default character, so it should not have any overlays applied.  Also when it happens it affects ALL characters, not just the player character.  You can see the NPC running down the path in the screenshot is also missing textures.  If it is an issue with an overlay, that means something is applying the same broken overlay to the player and every NPC simultaneously.  But I will tris this and see if it gets any more insight.

[EnnPeeCee]

2 hours ago, EnnPeeCee said:

I can give this a try, but I don't think it is an issue with an overlay.  This is with a fresh game vanilla default character, so it should not have any overlays applied.  Also when it happens it affects ALL characters, not just the player character.  You can see the NPC running down the path in the screenshot is also missing textures.  If it is an issue with an overlay, that means something is applying the same broken overlay to the player and every NPC simultaneously.  But I will tris this and see if it gets any more insight.

 

It doesn't look like any overlays are loaded.  The only dds I see that looks like it could impact the body is skintone.dds, which it doesn't look like I have a loose file for, so I would assume is just the vanilla file.

Spoiler

{
   "actor" : {
      "hairColor" : 6574658,
      "headTexture" : "Skyrim.esm|03B521",
      "weight" : 75
   },
   "faceTextures" : [
      {
         "index" : 0,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Male\\MaleHead.dds"
      },
      {
         "index" : 1,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Male\\MaleHead_msn.dds"
      },
      {
         "index" : 2,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Male\\MaleHead_sk.dds"
      },
      {
         "index" : 3,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Male\\BlankDetailmap.dds"
      },
      {
         "index" : 7,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Male\\MaleHead_S.dds"
      }
   ],
   "headParts" : [
      {
         "formId" : 333359,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|05162F",
         "type" : 0
      },
      {
         "formId" : 333361,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|051631",
         "type" : 1
      },
      {
         "formId" : 546143,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|08555F",
         "type" : 2
      },
      {
         "formId" : 333063,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|051507",
         "type" : 3
      },
      {
         "formId" : 331956,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|0510B4",
         "type" : 5
      },
      {
         "formId" : 148036,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|024244",
         "type" : 6
      },
      {
         "formId" : 333064,
         "formIdentifier" : "Skyrim.esm|051508",
         "type" : 7
      }
   ],
   "modNames" : [ "Skyrim.esm" ],
   "mods" : [
      {
         "index" : 0,
         "name" : "Skyrim.esm"
      }
   ],
   "morphs" : {
      "custom" : null,
      "default" : {
         "morphs" : [
            0.05999999865889549,
            0.1000000014901161,
            0.07999999821186066,
            -1,
            0.03999999910593033,
            0.01999999955296516,
            0.5,
            0.5,
            -0.05999999865889549,
            -1,
            0,
            -0.239999994635582,
            0.6600000262260437,
            0.1599999964237213,
            -0.3400000035762787,
            -0.4000000059604645,
            0.1800000071525574,
            -0.6399999856948853,
            3.402823466385289e+38
         ],
         "presets" : [ 1, 4294967295, 1, 19 ]
      },
      "sculpt" : null,
      "sculptDivisor" : 10000
   },
   "tintInfo" : [
      {
         "color" : 4291211432,
         "index" : 0,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\SkinTone.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 1799554049,
         "index" : 1,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleUpperEyeSocket.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 1621709906,
         "index" : 2,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleLowerEyeSocket.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 3,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHead_Cheeks.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 4,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHead_Cheeks2.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 5,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHead_FrownLines.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 816403538,
         "index" : 6,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadNord_Lips.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 7,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHead_Nose.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 8,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadHuman_ForeHead.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 9,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadHuman_Chin.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 10,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadHuman_Neck.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 11,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHead_Frekles_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 12,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 13,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_02.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 14,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_03.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 15,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_04.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 16,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_05.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 17,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_06.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 18,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_07.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 19,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_08.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 20,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_09.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 21,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadWarPaint_10.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 22,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadNordWarPaint_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 23,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadNordWarPaint_02.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 24,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadNordWarPaint_03.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 25,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadNordWarPaint_04.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 26,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadNordWarPaint_05.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 27,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadBothiahTattoo_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 28,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadBlackBloodTattoo_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 29,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadBlackBloodTattoo_02.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 30,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\RedGuardMaleEyeLinerStyle_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 31,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadDirt_01.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 32,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadDirt_02.dds"
      },
      {
         "color" : 16777215,
         "index" : 33,
         "texture" : "Actors\\Character\\Character Assets\\TintMasks\\MaleHeadDirt_03.dds"
      }
   ],
   "version" : {
      "formatVersion" : 3,
      "runtimeVersion" : 17039392,
      "signature" : 1163086675,
      "skseVersion" : 33685600
   }
}
 

 

[traison]

Next step then is to inspect the armor:

1. prid 14
2. inv
3. Make a list of all items marked "worn".
4. Open each of these items in xEdit.
5. Find their associated ARMA records.
6. Make a list of all nif files referenced in these. You can rule out female nifs, since you have a male character.
7. Open each nif in NifSkope.
8. Inspect each BSTriShape -> BSLightingShaderProperty -> BSShaderTextureSet node.
9. Make a list of all dds files in these lists.
10. Make sure all these dds files exist.

If you know what you're doing, you can avoid searching things like the helmet and potentially your boots and gloves. The issue appears to be limited to the body, and is not present on the head/hands/feet. When inspecting the iron armor in NifSkope, you can also ignore any potential BSTriShapes that do not include the bits of the mesh that appeared blue in-game. If in doubt, go through it all, all you'll lose is a bit of time doing that.

Edited February 13, 2025 by traison

[danna233]

What textures do you use? And what bodies?

[EnnPeeCee]

21 hours ago, traison said:

Next step then is to inspect the armor:

1. prid 14
2. inv
3. Make a list of all items marked "worn".
4. Open each of these items in xEdit.
5. Find their associated ARMA records.
6. Make a list of all nif files referenced in these. You can rule out female nifs, since you have a male character.
7. Open each nif in NifSkope.
8. Inspect each BSTriShape -> BSLightingShaderProperty -> BSShaderTextureSet node.
9. Make a list of all dds files in these lists.
10. Make sure all these dds files exist.

If you know what you're doing, you can avoid searching things like the helmet and potentially your boots and gloves. The issue appears to be limited to the body, and is not present on the head/hands/feet. When inspecting the iron armor in NifSkope, you can also ignore any potential BSTriShapes that do not include the bits of the mesh that appeared blue in-game. If in doubt, go through it all, all you'll lose is a bit of time doing that.

The issue applies to the body, hands, and feet, but not the head.  It happens to both male and female characters, regardless of the items equipped, dressed or nude.  I have added a couple more screenshots to show that I've dropped everything from my inventory and the character has nothing equipped; no AMRA records to check.  Also attached a shot showing when I don't have the texture bug.

Spoiler

 

Edited February 14, 2025 by EnnPeeCee

[EnnPeeCee]

1 hour ago, danna233 said:

What textures do you use? And what bodies?

My full current list is linked in the OP, but here are the bodies and textures I have:

Spoiler

•   651.  XP32 Maximum Skeleton Special Extended
• 652.XP32 Maximum Skeleton Special Extended - Legacy Settings Loader
• 653.CBPC - Physics with Collisions
• 654.CBPC Equipment Physics
• 655.Faster HDT-SMP
• 656.SMP-NPC crash fix
• 657.SMP Wind
• 658.Caliente's Beautiful Bodies Enhancer -CBBE-
• 659.CBBE AE-CC Outfits
• 660.CBBE 3BA
• 661.CBBE 3BA - Physics Reinstaller
• 662.Creation Club CBBE 3BA
• 663.Fair Skin Complexion
• 664.dw's CBBE 3BA With UBE Anus
• 665.LOVERGIRL Skin - HD Complexion for Women
• 666.LOVERGIRL Skin - dw's CBBE 3BA with UBE Anus Patch
• 667.Feminine Argonian Textures (Chameleon and Lizard) [CBBE]
• 668.Feminine Khajiit Textures (Grey Cat and Leopard) [CBBE]
• 669.HDT SMP beast race tail
• 670.The New Gentleman
• 671.Highly Improved Male Body Overhaul -HIMBO-
• 672.Hoodies
• 673.Bad Dog's Hoodies for TNG
• 674.SkySight Skins - Ultra HD Male Textures and Real Feet Meshes (4K2K HIGH)
• 675.SkySight Skins – Schlongs of Skyrim
• 676.Masculine Argonian Textures (Chameleon and Lizard) [SOS-FULL]
• 677.Masculine Khajiit Textures (Grey Cat and Leopard) [SOS-FULL]
• 678.The New Gentleman Pubic Addons

 

I have been following Aylis's Skyrim AE for Beginners from this forum for the most part.

[traison]

3 minutes ago, EnnPeeCee said:

no AMRA records to check

 

The naked body is armor too, just like your iron armor. Its defined in the race record.

 

5 minutes ago, EnnPeeCee said:

I have added a couple more screenshots

 

For some reason when you were blue and outside you had 29 textures, and when you were indoors looking normal you had 37 of them. Use More Informative Console to compare those texture lists to see what's changing. I did the same walk from Riverwood to the Sleeping Giant and my texture count was 19-19.

[EnnPeeCee]

19 hours ago, traison said:

 

The naked body is armor too, just like your iron armor. Its defined in the race record.

 

 

For some reason when you were blue and outside you had 29 textures, and when you were indoors looking normal you had 37 of them. Use More Informative Console to compare those texture lists to see what's changing. I did the same walk from Riverwood to the Sleeping Giant and my texture count was 19-19.

 

Looks like I get the same 29 textures shown for both working and not working conditions.  It is when I run showracemenu that the texture count jumps up to 37.   Looks like they are related to headparts, so doesn't look like it would be related to the issue I'm having.

Spoiler

added:

BeardShort04

BeardShort04_n

BlankDetailmap

MaleBrow1_n

MaleBrow_1

 

duplicated:

MaleHead_S

MaleHead_msn

MaleHead_sk

I will take a look and see which mods edit the race record, and try disabling them to see if that makes any difference.

Spoiler

 

Edited February 14, 2025 by EnnPeeCee

[EnnPeeCee]

Ok, I may have found the culprit, but I really don't understand WHY it would be causing an issue like this.

 

The only 2 mods I have currently that modify the race records are USSEP and Lore-Corrected Races.  Lore-Corrected Races is only a plugin that forwards the USSEP changes plus edits the races Height factor (I looked in xEdit and didn't see any other changes).

 

But I tried disabling Lore-Corrected Races, and so far I've been able to launch the game 5+ times without having the texture bug appear.  Since it seems random, its still possible that I'm just getting lucky and it will come back still.  But hopefully that was the fix?

 

Makes no sense to me why it would be causing a problem like this (and USSEP doesn't), and why it would only be an issue some of the time.

 

I'll report back if the issue returns.

 

Thank you for the help.

[Grey Cloud]

Use spoilers FFS.