Basic car Recoloring: The Quick and Dirty Way

[Momma Michele]

(I received a request to post this tut here on the new site, so for all you intrepid and courageous recoloring wanna-bees, I am happy to comply.)

Hello, everyone:

Some of you might desire the chance learn to recolor cars for yourselves, and as I am running a recoloring contest, it might be nice for you to use that forum to get some experience.

For those of you who are totally new, as I am, to recoloring Maxis objects, let alone cars, I am sharing a quick step by step tutorial of what I did to get the Smoogo recolor into my game.

This first post is a list of the programs/downloads you will need to have on your computer. It is not my work. Credit for this list goes to Numenor and our friends at Mod the Sims2. At the end I will send you to Numenor's tutorial, but you will get started more quickly because every program and file you need will already be installed on your computer.

Step 1.

Download and install the needed programs to make it work:

CEP--THE COLOR ENABLER PACKAGE by Numenor and RGiles

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=92541

Run the installer for your system. It works for all games base to BV. Without this mod, many Maxis recolors will not show up in your game.

SimPE--THE SIMS 2 PACKAGE EDITOR by Quaxi

http://sims.ambertation.de/

This is the utter heart of Sims2 custom content creation. Run the installer for the latest version (Seasons). It will support any and all games.

THE LEGACY DDS UTILITIES by NVIDIA

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/dds_u...egacy.html

This is needed for Maxis recolors using the Object Workshop in SimPE

SIMS2 PACK CLEAN INSTALLER by Karol Rybak

http://sims2pack.modthesims2.com/index.php

This is not required but I highly recommend it.

Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...-4842-8157- 034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en

This is needed for the Sims2 Pack Clean Installer to work.

Done with all of that?
Yes. I know it seems like a lot but just leave the icons on your desktop for easy access. You will need a couple of them handy.

Now I am going to send you back to Mod The Sims 2. Numenor has written a wonderful tutorial on basic recoloring. This works for Maxis objects; however, it will not work for the cars. Even so, take an hour and follow his instructions. It will make car recoloring much easier. Here is the link:

RECOLORING OBJECTS WITH OBJECT WORKSHOP by Numenor

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=102356

Steps 2-21 are on the next post in this thread. Come back here and we will proceed with a car recolor. Trust me. It will be fun!

[Momma Michele]

Alright everyone:

So. I can assume that you all have at least done a Maxis lamp as described by Numenor. Now I will walk you through the steps to make sure your creative recolor of a Maxis car shows up in your game.


Step 2: Boot SimPE.

I hope we can assurm the DDS files and all the other programs are happily living on your hard drive. Numenors Color Enabler "_EnableColorOptionsGMND.package" must be in your downloads folder. If you found your recolored lamp in the game, it is there, so no worries.

Step 3. Open Object Workshop.

Step 4. Click "Start" and wait for the game files to load.  (This might take up to 5 minutes so be patient.  Even if your computer says "SimPE is not responding, just wait.  The files take a while to load.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: I recommend you visit http://sims.ambertation.de/ and make sure you have the latest version of SimPE.

THEN: Read the FAQ section for ways to ensure that all your Maxis content shows up. There are some small bugs in the latest SimPE that are fixable by just following their instructions.

Step 5. Go to General/Cars/The Smoogo Minima (Cached)(0x7589...)

Step 6. Click "Next"

Step 7. Click "Start" The file is already set for recolor by default.

Step 8. Save as "Smoogo_Recolor" or any other name you desire.

Step 9. The Subset window is visible. Un-check the bottom (vehiclehatchbacknew_matte), and select any "surface" color (I recommend the white on the top right) Leave "surface" checked.

Step 10. Click OK

Step 11. The top-left window has AllRes (3) and three subfolders. Select Texture Image (TXTR) (1)

Step 12. On the bottom of the page click on the Plugin View tab. You will see the skin of the car.

Step 13. Click the Export button. Save the file to your desktop.

Step 14. Close SimPE

On your desktop you will find the .PNG file. Open this with your paint program.

Step 15. Have fun and get down and dirty with making your crazy recolor.

Save the file as a .PNG file. This is the only format that SimPE will see.

Step 16. Close your paint program and start SimPE and repeat the process through Step 12.

Step 17. Click "Import." Select your recolor on the desktop and Open it.

Step 18. Your recolor is in place. Right click on your recolor.

Step 19. In the pop-up window it says "Update all Sizes." Click on Update all Sizes.

Step 20. Click the Commit button.

Step 21. Save your file.

Close SimPE and move your new recolor to your downloads folder. Boot your game and let your simmies buy your funky recolor of the Smoogo.  

[LaredoRV]

Thanks for reposting it MM !

[Momma Michele]

This question was submitted by Carprince92 on the old forum:


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"Momma Michele, when I save as my recolour files for maxis car. and no subset selection come up and I was in workshop object and say that Object was created. No plugin view of images to export?
_________________
My most respective and honored teacher

-Vovillia"


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I want to work with Carprince on this as it might help other beginner recolorists who might be having difficulty with a couple of the steps.

Momma Michele

[Jezza421]

Id like to thank you Momma Michele, if i had a glass of drik in my hand right now I would toast to you, you were the one who taught me how to do the whole recolouring thing, not that i have made any Good recolours yet but hey, Im working on it

So Thanks Again Momma Michele

Jezza421

[Momma Michele]

Thanks for the nice comments, Jezza421. Have fun developing your skill. I look forward to finding your recolors around the web. Have a great '08!!

Momma Michele

[mrjosh13]

When I hit start on the recolor thing my simPE crashes!!! HELP!!!!

[Momma Michele]

Hi, MrJosh13:

Thanks for letting me know about this.  

When you click on start, it takes a long time for the Maxis content to load.  If your computer says "SimPE is not responding", ignore that message and go get a snack.

Unless there is something else wrong with SimPE, the content list should be up and ready for you to choose your item for recolor when you return.  

I recommend you visit http://sims.ambertation.de/ and make sure you have the latest version of SimPE.

THEN: read the FAQ section for ways to ensure that all your Maxis content shows up. There are some small bugs in the latest SimPE that are fixable by just following their instructions.

Hopefully, you are just being intimidated by that "not responding" message and a bit of patience will fix the issue.  

Momma Michele

P.S. I have added the bold recommendation to the main instruction. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, MrJosh13.

[CAHollister]

tahnx Momma Michele i have 1 question do u no how 2 recoloe custum content cuz if u do cud utell us maybe??



Love yallz
Jesse May

[Dashie]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!