Editing Nif

[Loller99]

Hello, can you please explain me how to be able to edit nif files? I'd like to split some armor pieces, but i cannot even understand where to start editing the meshes....thanks!

[Sunspot2]

If you want to split a nif in many parts, there are 3 ways of doing it that I know of. From easier to harder:

1 - open the nif in nifskope, it might be already split in more than one nitrishape. Then is only a matter of deleting the ones you dont want and saving.

2 - Get Bodyslide 2 and Outfit Studio. Open in outfit studio and zap the parts you don't want.

3 - Ugh. Learn to use blender or 3ds max or some similar software (good luck).

For all these things are plenty of tutorials around the forums.

[Loller99]

The first one doesnt work, since the armor i want to edit it's all in one nitrishape....i did not know i could do this with outfit studio....i will surely try it out, thanks for the tip!

[Keyboard Warrior]

The first one doesnt work, since the armor i want to edit it's all in one nitrishape....i did not know i could do this with outfit studio....i will surely try it out, thanks for the tip!

 

 

You're gonna want to get GIMP 2.0. Then get the plugin for GIMP 2.0 that allows you to open DDS files (Gimp 2.0 dds plugin), follow the instructions to install that.

 

Now that you have that, open the texture you want to edit. Press N, find the piece you want to remove. For instance, let's say you want to take the shoulder pad off of steel armor. When you click with N enabled (Pencil tool), you'll leave a big black trail (Hot), use this to basically "Find" what you're trying to delete. You need to overwrite for ANY changes to show up, since that's basically saving the texture and applying the changes. After you locate the piece you want to edit, press Ctrl + Z. Spam it until the texture is back to normal, then overwrite it (DO NOT SAVE, overwrite), this will put it back to default.

 

Now, press F, this will give you the "Freeform" tool. You're gonna use this to basically circle the object you want to delete. Once you've circled it, press Delete key. Now, you should see it turn white with grey on it, a checkered pattern / tiled pattern. If it's just pure white, Ctrl +Z, go to "Layer > Transparency" and "Add alpha channel", then delete it.

 

Now, you've done the texture. Good shit. Overwrite it, and open the nif.

 

This is pretty easy, you need to right click the piece you want this to show on (If it's all just one, go ahead and right click the whole thing). You'll get a menu, use "Attach Property", and "NiAlphaProperty". If the part you want to edit is already invisible, you don't need to do any of this and what's about to follow.

 

After you've added the "NiAlphaProperty" (This just tells the mesh to look for transparency), go into the side bar (Should look like this: http://gyazo.com/6175d0385990669bba4069672181fd76) and drop down the blue highlighted bar. Right click the "NiAlphaProperty" You just added (Should be in that bar somewhere", and click "Flags". 

 

- Uncheck "Enabled Blending"

- Check "Enable Testing"

- Change "Alpha Test Function" to "Greater"

- Set "Alpha Test Threshold" to "128"

- Hit accept

 

 

NOW, FINALLY! Be 100% POSITIVE you go to the top left of the .nif, and click "Save As", then just replace the original .nif. Once you're done with this, bam! Go ingame and it should work.

 

 

-- Why did you have to do that "Flags" part? Often times the Alpha for the .nif is kind of fucked up, for lack of a better term, and will just kind of appear "Opaque" ish. Like it'll be invisible but block out anything under it, so it's like giant holes on your armor.

 

 

Alternatively, you could just send me the textures and meshes and I'll do it for you.

 

 

/WALLOFTEXT