Converted LE follower's head texture not working when moved to SE (is purple, says nothing is missing even though it is)

[vexiville]

Hey folks, I have an issue with a follower that I wanted to convert from LE to SE. The mod has a 2.0 version and that converts just fine to SE, but I prefer the 1.31 version instead and that's the one I have trouble converting. I've tried all the troubleshooting in the second link as well with no luck. The follower just keeps having a purple skinned head no matter what I've tried, even though from my troubleshooting it doesn't seem there is any missing texture. To bullet point what I've done:

 

• I've tried texture replacers
• Even used the Asset Doctor mod from Nexus (says there is no missing texture even though the head skin part is purple)
• Used an Overlay remover mod
• Tried using sse edit to change the head part in it (I worked with the TINI/TINC, the alpha, and the TINV/TIAS still no luck though.

 

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/62149?tab=description

 

https://forums.nexusmods.com/topic/11717633-converted-le-follower-has-face-discolor-in-se/

 

 

 

Everything else seems to work about the head (eyes,eyebrows,lips), but just not the head's skin texture/meshes. I am stumped. Is there something I am missing or I need to try?

 

 

 

[IBAGadget]

Where does the head texture set point to? 

is the NIF pointing to the correct location? You can check this in NIFScope

 

You can make all the changes you want in the actor record, but if the nif is pointing to the incorrect location for the textures, you're going to have this issue

[vexiville]

1 hour ago, IBAGadget said:

Where does the head texture set point to? 

is the NIF pointing to the correct location? You can check this in NIFScope

 

You can make all the changes you want in the actor record, but if the nif is pointing to the incorrect location for the textures, you're going to have this issue

It could be that the issue is that there is no head nif in the 1.3 and even in the 1.2 that i found on my old hard drive. I'll give a comparison of the three files female sections in both meshes sets and texture sets (image 1 and 2)

 

i had just started learning a bit about the program to look at these in nifscope. I tried it out on the one mod that had a Femalehead.nif in version 2 and it points to three texture files for the character (image 3). not sure if i can just move this head nif to an older mod that didn't have the head nif

[Dorabella]

SSE NIF Optimizer  Cathedral Assets Optimizer

 

For the correct conversion, use one of these two

[IBAGadget]

You will need to edit the esp of the version you want to use so that it includes the head nif and the correct pathways for the textures, as well as the texture set records - best way to see how to set this up is to have both versions open in SSEEdit at the same time and compare the headparts records.

 

Although this may be difficult as I see in your screenshot that the npc doesn't seem to have any headpart records.

 

Here's a couple SSEEdit screenshots of what I am referring to from one of my follower creations, Solange
The headparts records define what meshes are used and where they are located, as well as what texture sets they use.

The texture set records then define where the necessary texture records are located. Filepaths in the Texture Set records have to match the filepaths outlined in the nifs

[vexiville]

On 5/2/2026 at 11:45 PM, IBAGadget said:

You will need to edit the esp of the version you want to use so that it includes the head nif and the correct pathways for the textures, as well as the texture set records - best way to see how to set this up is to have both versions open in SSEEdit at the same time and compare the headparts records.

 

Although this may be difficult as I see in your screenshot that the npc doesn't seem to have any headpart records.

 

Here's a couple SSEEdit screenshots of what I am referring to from one of my follower creations, Solange
The headparts records define what meshes are used and where they are located, as well as what texture sets they use.

The texture set records then define where the necessary texture records are located. Filepaths in the Texture Set records have to match the filepaths outlined in the nifs

I gave it a look over and noticed it was in form 43 still and had it go to form 44. but even then the texture set isn't very big. Just two by the looks of it. I really don't get how it worked back on LE without the headnif. maybe if i tried the generic headnif mesh from general character assets? i also tried to use the headnif from 2.0 and converting that mesh with nifoptimiser and dropping it in the folder and still showed up as a purple face in-game. I certainly appreciate the help but it might be impossible since the original creator didn't leave a headnif in the 1.31 file or the older ones. I also took a look at the 2.0 version and it had the same two textures in the texture set.

 

I dont think it would help but i had these from a while back. sort of made the preset and sculpt in skse's chargen. Basically the face preset 

 

 

 

Belko Preset.rar

Edited May 7 by vexiville

[vexiville]

Bump. i did try using the alternate method of cathedral assets and found myself at the same issue, purple face at the end of this. through resaving to form 44 on ck i did get this message in the image. not sure if those tints affect anything. i do not know what wizardry was done on the original mod on LE but it worked fine back then. 

 

so at this point i might just try to find someone to remake it or some such. kind of at the wits end to make the 1.31 version work on SE. i do appreciate the input everyone gave but it does seem difficult, like Gadget said. i throw in new body meshes and fair skin textures and those come out fine, just never the head.

Edited June 9 by vexiville

[vexiville]

small update. i messed around with nifskope and was able to get the head to not look purple, there is still texture mismatch (i am replacing textures with the ones from Fair Skin Complexion). added some input to include the character tint. 

 

Before and After images attached. 

 

only thing is if i keep in the male/blankdetailmap.dds it turns the face back to purple