5 Minute Vehicle Recolor with Photoshop CS3

[Chameleon1977]

I threw this tutorial together for those who are new to recoloring. With a bit of practice, you can recolor a vehicle in about 5 minutes using this method.
The best part is, you really need no in depth knowledge of SimPE or Photoshop to do this.

What you need:
-The Sims 2 with nightlife expansion
-SimPE
-Adobe Photoshop CS3
-Nvidia DDS Tools

(You'll have to look up where tofind SimPE and the Nvidia DDS Tools, they are both free downloads. Just google them or ask another member. I dont have my bookmarks on this PC).

Step 1.

Open SimPE.
This may take a few minutes depending on your machine.
When SimPE is loaded, open object workshop (Tools-->Object Creation-->Object Workshop).
When object workshop loads you will have 2 options "Start" or "Open". You can use "Start" to recolor objects included with the game. For this tutorial we are going to use "Open" which allows us to recolor or clone a custom or user made object. So, click open.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image1.jpg

Step 2.

Open the vehicle package file you want to recolor.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image2.jpg

Step 3.

In object workshop, choose "Recolor" from the dropdown menu and click start.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image3.jpg

Step 4.

Give your new recolor a name. Make sure its one that you'll remember if you need to find it later. I suggest this format,
"your name_car name_recolor name". In my case, it looks like this "chameleon1977_r8_01".

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image4.jpg

Step 5.

SimPE will now bring up a mesh selection box. Depeding on the car, it ma have 1 or more otions. In the example pic, I have 2. Leave just the box for the exterior checked and click "Ok".

Just a quick note, some meshes will have parts of both interior and exterior together. In this case you'll have to experiment when you get further into this tutorial. I suggest Fresh-Prince's cars for recoloring when you are just starting as they are usually in a simple layout for recoloring.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image5.jpg

Step 6.

In the SimPE Resource Tree, click on Texture Image. In the Resource List box, click your testure file. The texture will display in the Texture Editor.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image6.jpg

Step 7.

Click "Export". An "Export Image" box will pop up. I suggest just saving the file with the name SimPE provides. I also suggest saving the file in the directory where the original vehicle package was located, this prevent confusion as to where you exported to.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image7.jpg

Step 8.

Now that you've exported your texture file, open up Photoshop CS3.
Open your newly exported texture file. DO NOT CLOSE SIMPE!! Let it run in the background as we will be switching back to it.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image8.jpg

Step 9.
Find the "Quick Selection" tool in the toolbar. Make sure you set the brush size to alarger size. I suggest between 30 and 50. You may need to adjust to smaller for some texture files.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image9.jpg

Step 10.

Click on the texture image until all of the exterior is selected (has dotted lines around it). This step might take a little practice but gets easier as you get to know the process. If needed you can experiment with other selection tools.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image10.jpg

Step 11.

Hit Control+U in Photoshop to open the Hue/Saturation adjustment box. Make sure the "Colorize" option is checked.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image11.jpg

Step 12.

Use the HUE ajustment to find your color, and then adjust it with the SATURATION and LIGHTNESS adjustments. Darker shades usually look better in the game. If its too bright or the saturation is set too high, it may not look as good.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image12.jpg

Step 13.

Once you find the color you want, click ok on the HUE/SATURATION adjustment box. Save your work in Photoshop and then switch back to SimPE. Right click on the texture image in the Texture Editor. Choose "Build DXT..." from the menu that opens.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image13.jpg

Step 14.

a "DDS Builder" box will now open. Choose "DXT3format" from the drop down menu and open your edited texture file with the "open" option. Once you've set the DXTformat and opened your texture, click "Build". It might take a few seconds...

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image14.jpg

Step 15.

Once you see your new texture loaded in the Texture Editor, click commit and wait for the "Changes Committed" box to appear. Click ok on that box and save your work.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image15.jpg

Step 16.

Click "Material Override" in the resource tree and choose the MMAT file in the Resource List. Normally its the first file in the MMAT list. Once youve selected the MMAT file, click "Prieview" in the CPF editor and wait, it will take up to a minute to build a preview.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image16.jpg

You should now have a rough preview of what your new car will look like. IF by some chance it doesnt show the car recolored, go back to Step 16 and choose the other MMAT file and try again. If you still dont see the recolored car, chances are you forgot to save after you clicked "Commit" in step 15. If so, just save your work and try the preview again.

http://sims2outlet.info/photos/recolor/Image17.jpg

Thats it. You can close SimPE and load your sims game. Make sure the package file for your recolor is in the downloads folder so it will show up.