Beginning Clothing/Body Meshing Tutorial - Using MeshTool/OBJ

[tiggerypum]

Beginner Clothing Mesh Tutorial – Using MeshTool and Obj Format


This is a total rewrite of the MeshTool tutorial first created by WDS BriAnna over a year ago. Too many things have changed in SimPE. Thank you BriAnna and Windkeeper for helping get so many of us started! And thank you Snowstorm for the tips on how to gather the mesh pieces.

:!: Meshing is DIFFICULT. There are a lot of steps. Even experienced meshers sometimes have meshes not show up right, explode, or do other fun things. This is a very complete tutorial, don't rate it poorly just because it didn't work the first time you tried. Unless you really don't want to see any more tutorials on site. :blink:

This tutorial will guide you through ALL the steps involved in modifying a body mesh for Sims 2. You must always start with a game mesh as your base.

This uses the simplest of tools – MeshTool, to allow for the changes to the mesh. Because of this, you cannot add or delete points on the mesh, but you can move them. You can change the width of sleeves, make a skirt a bit longer or shorter, or give the sim larger or smaller proportions. Your modified mesh will get fit and fat in the game.

Meshtool appears to NOT work correctly with Maxis meshes that were released with Nightlife and above. You'll need to use the Unimesh Tutorial (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=142305) instead. Hopefully someone will be able to fix this. Also you will need Unimesh if you want to add or delete points on your mesh.

While the modifications allowed with this are fairly simple, 90% of the steps you will learn here to modify your mesh are the same used with other tools to modify meshes.

To follow this tutorial you will need:

Meshtool: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=45457

SimPE (.58) or higher http://sims.ambertation.de/ Note that SimPE is regularly updated/improved, so please always get the newest one, unless otherwise indicated here. SimPE .58 actually had a fix for body meshes.

:!!: If this is your first time getting SimPE, make sure you download and install all the stuff they list at: "Needed Software to run SimPE". If you don't, you'll get errors or blank screens when you try to do parts of this tutorial and be unable to complete your project!

A 3D editor that can modify obj files and will not change the order of the vertices. Most commonly people use Milkshape http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ ($25 to register after 30 days), although some have successfully used Maya (combined with Milkshape) and some have used Wings 3D with Hellborn’s Vertice Mapper. http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=57446

Basic knowledge of Bodyshop (tutorials for that can be found here: http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=249 and of your 3D editor (basic tutorials for that can be found on the web)

And you will need time and patience. There are a lot of steps to modifying a body mesh. Even experienced meshers sometimes have to redo part of their work, so take your time and relax.

Goal:

Modify the women’s long gown to no longer have the hanging decoration on the back. And learn all the steps needed to make your own mesh file and get it working in the game.

Part I – Create a Temporary Texture for Testing

1) Run Bodyshop and choose an outfit you’d like to modify.
(Create Parts/Start a New Project/Create Clothing/Formal) In this example, we’re going to use the formal woman’s gown, and take that odd hanging thing off the back of it. We’re going to pick a name we can find, and as this is only a temporary texture we’ll be using, let’s name it “MeshTutorialTemp”. Import it into your game, use any tooltip and category you wish, I’m going to leave it as a formal. Close Bodyshop.

It is possible that nightlife and ofb meshes cannot be edited using this method, if you want to edit one of those meshes please go try the Unimesh Tutorial (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=142305)

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300955

Part II – Finding the Parts of the Mesh

2) Run SimPE.

3) Open the texture you just exported in Step 1. It will be in your Saved Sims folder (My Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Saved Sims) and will be named with a set of numbers at the beginning, and then the filename you gave it. For example: 7f61a2a4_MeshTutorialTemp.package

4) Look for the property set (it will be dim, in the second column). There you will see the name of the mesh. In this case afbodydresslongloose_grayline. The important part of this is the ‘afbodydresslongloose’, you can ignore the ‘grayline’ part.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300959

5) Go to your desktop and make a new folder for your project. For example, My Documents/TutorialDress

6) Go to SimPE and use the menu File – New

7) Use the Finder Tab (it should be on the right edge or the bottom of the screen, if you can’t see it, try the menu Window – Resource Finder) and put in the name “afbodydresslongloose” and hit the Start button. SimPE will chew on this for a while, there will be a green bar updating at the bottom of the screen. This was really slow on my system, now might be a time to get up and stretch or grab a glass of water.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300960

8) We’re going to look for our mesh parts in 4 files; The GMDC from the Sims03.package, the GMND from the Sims04.package, the SHPE from the Sims05.package, the CRES from the Sims06.package.

Scroll down until you see the Sims03.package file. Choose the GMDC by double clicking on Geometric Data Container: afbodydresslongloose _tslocator_gmdc. You do not want the LOD version. Wait for a bit (the gmdc is slowest to load) and the green bar will do it’s thing twice.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300961

9) Now you should see the Sims03.package open, with the gmdc we clicked highlighted. Right click on it and choose ‘Extract’ and save it to the folder you made (TutorialDress)

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300962

10) Click on the ‘Finder’ tab again, and look for Sims04.package, and find the Geometric Node: afbodydresslongloose _tslocator_gmnd. Double click on it.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300967

11) Now the Sims04.package will open. Right click on the highlighted gmnd, and extract it to the folder you made (TutorialDress)

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300968

12) Repeat steps 10 and 11 two more times looking for Sims05.package with Shape: afbodydresslongloose_untagged0_shpe, and Sims06.package with Resource Node: afbodydresslongloose_cres. Extract them to the same directory.

Part III – Building Your New Mesh Package

13) In SimPE make a new package using menu File – New

14) Right click on the empty window with the heading ‘Type’ and select ‘Add’. Select one of your files, then right click and add again, until all 4 files are shown.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300963

15) Save the file. Use menu - File - Save As
Leave the filetype at the first selection (DBPF Package (*.package;*.cache;*.template))
Name your mesh file something like:“MESH_yournick_agesexmeshname_date”
for example: MESH_Tig_afgown_mar2006
Save this file into your “My Documents/EA Games/Sims 2/Downloads” folder.

16) Fix Integrity – it’s in menu Tools – Object Tools – Fix Integrity

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300964

17) A box will pop up. Type in a unique name for your mesh, for example, the filename. Click on Update. Then click on OK.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300965

18) Save your mesh file. (menu File - Save)

19) Save your new Resource Node (CRES) and Shape (SHPE) files to your project folder by Right Clicking on each and choosing 'Extract'. Give them the name ‘modifiedcres’ and ‘modifiedshape’, so you can tell them from the originals.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300966

Part IV – Attaching Your New Mesh to the Temp Skin

20) Open your bodyshop package from your saved Sims folder. (see step 3, it’ll be named something like 7f61a2a4_MeshTutorialTemp.package)

21) Right click on the packed files window and use ADD, and add your modifiedcres file. Right click again and use ADD and add your modifiedshape file.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300969

22) Go to the 3D ID Referencing File (3IDR).
Click on it in the left window, click on it again in the right window.
In the plugin view tab, you will see a button that says Package. Click on the Package button. A window will pop up.

If you don't see any information at the bottom half of the screen (and thus no Package button) look for the 'plugin' tab at the very bottom or right side of the screen and click on it. If you can't find it still, go the the Menu 'Windows' and select 'plugin'.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300970

23) Drag your shape and resource node from the popup window into the list on the left. You will now have two shapes and two resource nodes. Close the pop up window.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300971

24) Click on the resource node at the top of the list and delete it by clicking delete. Click on the shape at the top list and delete it.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300972

25) Move your new shape and resource node from the bottom of the list up to the top by clicking on the name, then clicking the UP button. When you’re done, the Resource Node should be the first entry, and Shape the second.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300973

26) Click the Commit Button

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300974

27) Delete the Resource and Shape from the Packed Files list by right clicking on them and choosing delete. A line will go through them. Then SAVE.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300975

28) Now is the time to test to see if you still have a working package. Start up Bodyshop. Click on Create Parts - Create New Clothing. Look for the dress in the category you chose (most likely formal). Your recolor will have a ‘*’ in the corner. Click on it. If the dress shows up on the mannequin, then so far so good. If you see nothing, or it changes to a different outfit, you might need to try repeating Part III or Part IV over again. You should now quit bodyshop, all you needed to do was click and see the texture on your mesh. Without any changes to the mesh, it’s hard to know for sure if you’re viewing your new mesh, but so far it looks good.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300976

In the future when you check your mesh this way, your new shape will show up on the mannequin, although the thumbnail (the small picture) will be unchanged. So you’ll be looking for this same thumbnail.

Next it's time to edit your mesh. Go to the next message for the rest of this tutorial.

[tiggerypum]

(this is the second part of the body mesh editing tutorial by Tiggerypum)

Part V – Editing Your Mesh (finally!)

29) Open your mesh file with SimPE.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300977

30) Click on the Geometric Data Container (GMDC), make sure the settings are set to XYZ, and click the Export button.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300978

31) Choose the Maya Object Exporter (.obj) and name your file something like Body1

32) I’m going to take you all the way through the Milkshape edit, just so you can get started and see where everything is. If you are using a different editor, skip to step 47. (Well, after you edit your mesh)

Remember that with this OBJ format, you cannot delete or add vertices to your mesh! You can only move them - and you cannot move them past joints (like make a short skirt long) because your sim will not animate correctly.

Start up Milkshape.

33) Click the Groups tab on the right and make sure that autosmooth is NOT checked

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300979

34) Use File – Import – Wavefront OBJ to read in your body1.obj file

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300980

35) You will see your mesh in the windows with different views. The mesh will be laying down. If you don’t see 3 windows, you can change that by going to the Windows Menu and selecting Viewport – 3 Window (2 left, 1 right).

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300981

I’m going to right-click on the big window and select ‘Wireframe’ (top of the list) and right-click again and select ‘Projection - Right’

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300982

36) Now move the view of the mesh so you see the top of the dress by holding the CTRL key and pressing the left mouse button and dragging it in the big window.

37) Now zoom in by holding the SHIFT key and left clicking and dragging in an upward motion, until you get a good view of that thing on the back of the dress.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300983

38) Click the Select button in the Models Tab. Make sure ignore backfaces is unchecked. Make sure vertex is pressed. To select points click and drag over them. To select more points, shift-click drag. To unselect points, shift right-click drag. I’m going to select the pieces on the part that is hanging down first.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300984

39) Now I’m going to have all the selected vertices collapsed down to the same spot – making most of the faces disappear. I’ll use menu Vertex – Snap Together.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300985

40) Now I want to move the points (it looks like one, but it’s the whole set) up to where the rest of the points are at the top. Click the Move button, and then slide the point over to the left with the mouse.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300986

41) Now all the points are very close to each other, so I’m going to try and select that whole top section (my intent will be to collapse them all, but I better check what I selected before I do that). So click select, and select that block of points.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300987

42) Now check if points you didn’t want got selected. Unclick the Select button. Right click on the window with the mesh and select ‘Projection – Bottom’ (which will show you the back because the model came in laying on its back, not upright). Right click on the window and choose ‘Frame Selection’. Now we can see that I selected some points that were not on that center thing – be sure to look at the very edges, it looks like I’ve selected 4 points I don’t want.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300988

I’m going first make sure that the Select Button is selected, and then hold SHIFT and right-click and drag over the 4 points I don’t want selected to unselect them.

43) Now that it looks like I only have that center piece, I’m going to use menu Vertex – Snap Together to bring them all together in one spot.

44) I want to check carefully how the mesh is going to look. I’m going to unclick the Select Button, and then right click on the window and select Smooth Shaded, Projection 3D, Frame all, and then the menu Edit – Select None. Now use the mouse to move the mesh around and check how it looks. Looks good.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300989

45) I’m happy with this, so I’m going to save it. I’m going to go to File – Export – Wavefront OBJ and I’m going to put the name ‘body2’ in for my filename. Even if you want to make more changes to your mesh, this is the point at which to save it, and test it. If you want to edit more, you can import body2.obj and make more changes and save body3 and test again. But for now, we’re just doing this one thing, so I’m exporting out ‘body2.obj’

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300990

46) Now you can close Milkshape. If you wish, you can also save your file in Milkshape format (I’d name it body2, again, this one will have a .ms3d extension, so it will not effect your body2.obj file)

Part VI – Putting Your New Shape Into Your Mesh Package

47) Open Miche and Delphy’s Sims2MeshTool. (click ‘Run’ if your computer asks)

48) Click on ‘Load 3D File’ and load your new obj file (body2.obj) Click OK on the info box.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300991

49) Click on ‘Load Sims 2 Mesh’ and then find the original gmdc file you had saved, long ago at the beginning. You might need to change the filetype from ‘simpe’ to ‘5gd’ so you can load it. It will have a long funky name, like AC4F8687-1356E054-1C0532FA-FF300D1E.5gd. It will be the only 5gd file you have in your working folder.

There are also options that you might need to try or change, depending on what program you edited your mesh with. In this case, with Milkshape, I didn't change any of them.

50) Click on ‘Save File’ and give it a name like ‘newmesh1’ (this way you if you make further changes, you can use newmesh2, etc). Close MeshTool.

51) Start SimPE and open your mesh file. (for example Downloads/MESH_Tig_afgown_mar2006)

52) Right click on the Geometric Data Container and select REPLACE. Choose your new gmdc (named ‘newmesh1.simpe)

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300992

SimPE will pop up a box saying ‘Resource Changed, should SimPE reload it’. Click Yes.

53) Now SAVE your new mesh file. Quit SimPE.

54) Now test if your new mesh works in bodyshop and in the game!

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=29793

I am not sure if the Milkshape rounding error still happens, I did not notice it on my test mesh, but maybe I didn't look carefully enough - if you notice a tiny gap at the top of the neck, go back and edit your mesh - select all the vertices on the top of the neck with the select tool, and then hit move and move them upwards just a tiny bit.

If your work did not show up in bodyshop, or does not look like you expected - there is a Frequently Asked Questions / Infocenter forum (http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=451) here at MtS2 that you should check, many of the basics are covered there. You might also try the tutorial again, and can ask for help (be as specific as possible) here in this forum.

Part VII - You're done! You rock!

Now you can go back to body shop and create new outfits for your modified mesh. Simply start a new project and recolor the 'temp' outfit, and it will use your new mesh. Once you've made a new recolor, you can delete the original (numbers)MeshTutorialTemp.package.

You can further refine your mesh (and it might be necessary, for other kinds of mesh edits) by adjusting the UV Map for your outfit. You can learn more about that, and find links to tutorials here (http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=135139)

You can share your new mesh by putting your mesh file (from your Downloads folder) and at least one recolor file (from your Saved Sims folder) together and zipping them. (for example, MESH_Tig_afgown_mar2006.package and 7f61a2a4_MeshTutorialTemp.package)

If you wish to share your new mesh here at MtS2, please look at the creator guidelines (http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=338) in the downloads area, take the time to make a nice recolor for your new mesh, and get some good in game screenshots of your work to show it off.

I hope you enjoyed this, and have fun making your own creations. It does get easier each time you do it! And if you found this tutorial helpful, you can scroll back up to the end of the first message and click that little 'thanks' button, I'd appreciate it.

[Blue_Flame]

That is really helpful Im normaly lost without a doubt One question any way that a print out version can be made so that i can go back to it while i am modding im often losting adresses of web pages

[tiggerypum]

Not yet, going to give it a bit of time for all the dust to settle and any unclear spots to be refined. But you can print it these pages as they are, or you can tell your browser to 'save' these pages to your hard drive, so you can look through them if you're on the web or not. There's a lot of pictures, it will be challenging to create a small download.

[porkypine]

HI Tiggerypum - click FILE and SAVE PAGE AS. Put the title of the page as the name of the HTM file. the save feature will place all the associated files in a subfolder.

[tiggerypum]

Yes senicynt, that is indeed how anyone can save an html file to their hard drive for further reference. I'm not going to at this time build a separate download (which people will then click on again to download), nor will I likely make the 'download' a set of html files, although I could.

The point is, that ability is already available to everyone, and they can use it without burning additional bandwidth and using additional hard drive space on the mts2 servers; and without me having to remake and reupload a new 'download' every time I update something in this tutorial (which will again burn bandwidth and my time for no real gain)

[sanchi]

Hi,

Englisch is not my first language, so forgive if i'm not clear.

I have a question about point 15.
Is it right that the format name is that line under where you can wright the file name in the popup screen "save package". I couldn't find "MESH_yournick-agesexmeshname-date"
There are three things i can choose

1. DBPF Package (*.package;*.cache;*.template)
2. Disabled DBPF Package (*packagedisabled;*simpedis)
3. All files (*.*)

I took the first one.

I'm also stuck at point 23. But maybe that is because of what i did at 15.

I hope someone will help me out

Greetings Sanchi

[tiggerypum]

It believe you did step 15 correctly, and I have tried to expand that set of directions to be clearer. You make up the filename, and it should have saved it out as a package.

At 23? Maybe you missed something in step 22? I illustrated the 3 spots to click, but I realize the text is very brief. I'll try to expand that text and I hope that helps.

[sanchi]

Thank you for replying so quickly.
I've seen what i did wrong, It was at 22. I had to click on 3D ID Referencing File by "All resources"
And now i can follow the rest.

Thanks again

[eacz12]

its really confused

[tiggerypum]

eacz, what you posted isn't really any sort of question that can be answered.
If you're lost, maybe this message from the infocenter will help you figure out what you'd like to do - http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=133120

[Lillerzini]

I'm having trouble at step 28. When I upload the outfit, the mannequin's fingers (one on each hand) get all deformed-looking and stretched out. I decided to ignore it and go on, but whenever I clicked on the Geometric Data Container, a little pop-up comes up. It says "File or assebly name Microsoft.DirectX, or one of it's dependencies were not found." That came up once before, too. Is there any way to fix it?

[tiggerypum]

Lillerzini, exactly which dress did you use, and which EPs do you have? Maxis changed the bones in the fingers and added an extra assignment (now we're getting technical) to some of the nightlife meshes (not sure about ofb meshes).

If you try the *other* tutorial that's almost identical to this one that uses Unimesh. (you can still use the same meshfile you built). You'll see that the whole first message of instructions is identical. The 2nd message explains how to edit it with Unimesh instead of Meshtool - please try that and let me know if that solves the problem. I'm also asking a programmer to check and see if indeed there is something in meshtool that needs updating.

http://db.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=142305

Thanks

[shicy]

Thank you tiggerypum really!!!

[bjdavila1992]

I need help with number 30 because when i click on it it brings up a window that says error file or assemblies of direct.x were not foundor one of its dependicies were not found.
But i installed dirext.x 0.9 already

[tiggerypum]

bjdavila, I have never heard of that error before. Please go to the simpe website and make sure you've installed all the stuff you might need - I know there's something about direct x and framework....

[Lillerzini]

The first dress I used was just a regular TS2 dress, the second was an apron from Open for Business and the third was from Nightlife. I have all of the expansions.

Thank you for the help! I'll go try out the other one.

[hxcAMBERhxc]

Very articulate. I've only played around with milkshape a couple times in passing, and SimPE ... well... normally that would be unforgivingly beyond my understanding... Good Job! Kudos! Although... *shuffles her feet* ... I'm pretty sure I've followed everything step by step... but when I check everything out in Body Shop for the last time everything is all wacked out and stretched all over the place <(T,T)>... Except for the head naturally since it wasn't part of my madness. <(O,o)> I've tried starting from scratch again... But maybe I'm missing something *re-reads tutorial* I'll just try try again <(X_X)> ... maybe you know how to fix the problem... Or maybe I'm a wackjob <(^,^)>

[tiggerypum]

I am not sure where you might have run into problems, you're using milkshape I take it... is part of the mesh laying on the floor? If so, the XYZ wasn't checkmarked when you exported your mesh. And you only collapsed the vertices right, you did not delete them or add any? I hope your next time through works better. If it doesn't the part to repeat is the 2nd message, I'm going to assume you actually got all the right pieces in the first part. (you are making sure not to get the LOD versions, right?)

[hxcAMBERhxc]

<(V,V)> XYZ..... XZY.... it really all looks the same to me... Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention more though... That was indeed the problem. Which also explains why in your window the model was lying flat and standing in mine <(^,^)> so we've effectivly killed two problems with one big blunder. Now maybe I can be on my way to making Hinata Hyuga <(O,O)> hah ... Never hurts to dream. Thanks so much again.

*Edit* haha I actually even typed XZY twice up there... sheesh... :jaw:

[Sifzensinril]

I can't find the export button. What can I do?

[tiggerypum]

Step 30? Did you click on the Geometric DATA Container in the top windows? The bottom of the screen should show the plugin view, which is slightly obscured by the popup in my screenshot. If your GDMC is highlighted and you don't see that blue box at that bottom of the screen, look for a tab at the very bottom labeled 'plugin' and click it. Let me know what you had to do to resolve this, so I can update the tutorial with more details as needed.
Thanks!

[j_bbrown]

Excellent Post, this guide is very helpful. It seems now I am spending more time in mesh, than in the game itself.

One Question, how may people find it hard to work with the XYZ order than a XZY, or is it just me?

[hxcAMBERhxc]

Yes it is a little harder to rotate the model around in XYZ haha but as I found out... if you use XZY is moves everything out of place.... and off the Body Shop screen haha I guess Maxis likes it better as XYZ lol damn complicated people <(^,^)>

[hxcAMBERhxc]

Maybe its just my way of doing things... but in step 7 where you use the Rescourse Finder option I found it easier to just open the Sims03. - 06.package files from their folder (Default: C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\Sims3D) then you can select Geometric Data Container.... Geometric Node... Shape... and Resource Node on the left-hand side (one for each of the coresponding files) and find the files that way... I dunno haha maybe I'm wrong but it didn't take nearly as long (and my computer SUCKS) I also just sorted them out by name and it made it that much easier to find what I was looking for.... Just a suggestion <(^,^)>

[tiggerypum]

That was the original only way for folks to find the files. I did not suggest it in the tutorial because people will move on to editing meshes from expansions, and after a while they no longer remember which mesh is from which expansion, and each expansion has their new meshes in a new folder. This method will find it no matter where it is.

[fananydanny]

allthough this tutorial is very helpful, it doesnt supplie me with any imformation on how to stretch, im stuck due to the fact that when i for eg... i try to stretch the chest using "tools / stretch/squish" in milkshape, the moment the chest moves the texture in the 4th window ( 3d view) turns black, so i go to the UV map tutorial, and try to adjust the UV map, but it makes no difference, so i save anyway's and go threw the process of simpe and sims 2 mesh tool, and when i open my new mesh in body shop, the mesh is black and covered with black wavey lines, this is my 17th attemped at going threw the tutorials, and i am following all of them to the letter, ,,,,,,, is there a tutorial for actually changing the mesh eg stretching it, i am new at this so if you recognise this issue could you please inform me on how to rectify it, thanx :)

[tiggerypum]

This tutorial doesn't tell you to 'stretch/squish' (is that really a milkshape command) anything. I believe you found your answers for *how to use milkshape* in the other mini-tutorial on site. There is so much involved in editing meshes, we cannot cover every last thing someone wants to do in a single tutorial.

[hxcAMBERhxc]

allthough this tutorial is very helpful, it doesnt supplie me with any imformation on how to stretch, im stuck due to the fact that when i for eg... i try to stretch the chest using "tools / stretch/squish" in milkshape, the moment the chest moves the texture in the 4th window ( 3d view) turns black, so i go to the UV map tutorial, and try to adjust the UV map, but it makes no difference, so i save anyway's and go threw the process of simpe and sims 2 mesh tool, and when i open my new mesh in body shop, the mesh is black and covered with black wavey lines, this is my 17th attemped at going threw the tutorials, and i am following all of them to the letter, ,,,,,,, is there a tutorial for actually changing the mesh eg stretching it, i am new at this so if you recognise this issue could you please inform me on how to rectify it, thanx :)

<(O,o)>? Hmm... although I don't really have the answer your looking for... I just thought I'd reassure you that it can be done. I'm not sure where it's messing itself up but I decided to make the chest area larger on one of my outfits and everything went swimmingly... I didnt even have to change to texture or anything... the only time I've had it go black seemed to be when the size of the texture was changed... maybe I'm completely wrong... who knows... but it got bigger and my Body Shop sim went black... Undo=All Better.... *shrug* but if you didnt do anything to the texture originally and its MilkShape thats causing it then ... well... Im as lost as you are haha But anyway... back to my point... wait... what was it again? <(-_-)>........ Oh yea... haha don't give up cause it can work... yea... *waves and runs away almost hitting a wall* <(_ _)> ~ZZzzzzz

[j_bbrown]

I just find it easy in the XZY, but it adds a few more steps to the process.

[fantacyflowery]

The SimPE site does not work!

[tiggerypum]

Yes, it appears they are having problems with their provider. You'll have to try again in another couple days, we have no control over that other site, nor do we have permission to distribute their software. Sorry.

[sarah9cat]

Sorry, TiggeryPum, but though I really, really want to make my own clothing, for now it is too complicating. My head is spinning. No offence, thanks for the help, though. It's not your fault. Just too difficult for me...

[HaNZei]

aargh. i tried but i failed...
:sadpanda:

but thanks from this tutorial anyway! :wave:

srry my bad english. i study it..

[eeb]

Ok I'm trying to do this tutorial but i think simpe hates me and won't let me open the file named afbodydresslongloose_tslocator_gmdc it said something about not being able to find a file or something like that. it won't let me double click on it. i tried to open it by pressing the enter button, that's when i got that message. So what am I doing wrong? Please help :(

[tiggerypum]

Well, it's not really a file, but it is data from one of your sims game files.
You can do step 7, and it shows you the list?

There is another way to do this, by going to the files individually. You can try using the steps in PART 3 of Neptune Suzy's Tutorial (then come back to this one)
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=142305

[kissable_me]

I am stuck at step 10.

1. I clicked the "Find" tab
2. I typed in "Sims04.package"
3. I clicked "Start"

But nothing appeared at the bottom where it says "Results". How could this be?

[kissable_me]

Nevermind, i found my problem, but now i'm stuck on step 27.

[mercedes0585]

ok say if you want to do your on mesh how do you do that help help me?

[tiggerypum]

Kissable_me - I'm at a bit of a loss as to any other way to explain step 27. In step 21 you inserted your modified shape and modified cres into the package. Then you use the somewhat odd package command to put copies of them into the right place in the 3IDR, replacing the original references with the refs to your new mesh.

Now in step 27 the view has moved back to the top of the screen, where you started. Someplace in that long list of recolor parts (you might need to scroll) you will find a Shape and a Resource Node. (those are your modifed shape and cres that you put in there - so that you could do that package thing and put them where they belonged) You need to right click on each of them and select 'delete' from the list for each of them. When you're done, you need to use the command from the file menu - SAVE.

Mercedes - to 'do your own mesh' you learn more commands in the 3D editor and you *modify* a Maxis mesh. You must always start with some mesh from the game. A simple modification was shown because this is a *tutorial* and as you can see there's more than enough steps to cover just to get people to this point. This tutorial method only allows for relatively simple modifications to a Maxis mesh, for more extreme changes, you will need to learn a lot more and use Unimesh (there's a matching beginning tutorial for Unimesh, and a manual that covers the rest)

[dramaqn939]

First of all this is the easiest to understand of all the tutorials I have looked at so Thanks :)

Secondly, I am kind of stuck on step 30 and 31. I clicked on the GMDC and I looked down into the plugin veiw and I don't see anything that can be used to change the setting to XYZ or to export. I even tried redownloading the newest version of SimPE to see if that was the problem. Also, where can you find the Maya Object Exporter? I have searched and I can't find it.

[tiggerypum]

So, you went and loaded in your MESH file, the one in your downloads folder.

And you've clicked on the gdmc, (not the gmnd) and you have the plugin view up (it should appear on the bottom half of the screen). At one point I had trouble finding the plugin view tab, it was tending to be off the bottom edge of my screen. Play with the settings, scroll your screen or try the menus to make sure you can find the plugin view tab?

The plugin view should look like the area below that pop up, there should be a large blueish box (that would display your gdmc's mesh if you clicked preview) and all those other options. The plugin view also has tabs, be sure it's on the first tab (content)

Once you click the export button you will see various export options on the pull down in that popup menu, that's where you select to export as obj. See those highlighted parts are labeled 1, 2, 3, 4. As you can't find #1 and #2, you're not finding the rest.

[dramaqn939]

Yes it is my mesh file. I just double checked.

I checked and I made sure that I clicked gdmc too. I can see the plugin veiw tab and I have checked through all of the tabs and all I see is pretty much just blank space. I have it on the content tab and still the only thing that shows up is the blocklist and filename.

[bunniluver]

I've tried 3 times and I still can't get past step 27. It's driving me crazy. I can't seem to find out what I did wrong. I did look in the save projects (I think thats right) area and it shows up fine, I don't know if this means anyhting or what.

[tiggerypum]

Hmm, dramaqn -- that sounds like a simpe issue, and I'm afraid I don't know how to help resolve it. You could check if the forums are up at simpe's site yet. I'd say post a screenshot here, just so we can see what you see, but I don't know if it's anything we can help with.

bunniluver, are you getting the file for step #20 from your SAVED SIMS folder? If you get it from projects, that whole part is not going to work right.

[bunniluver]

Yep, I am.

[Oddballskat]

i cant even get step one down!

[bunniluver]

Okay, I fixed my previous problem, but now I'm on step #30 and I can't find the export option in simpe.

[tiggerypum]

Okay, you need to first of all, highlight the gdmc. If that's highlighted and you don't see anything on the lower half of your screen - or you see something other than what's partially covered up in the screenie for #30 - you must find the PLUGIN view. If something else is down there, try closing it. Look for the 'plugin' tab. Look for 'plugin' in the menus and click it. Perhaps you closed the plugin viewer instead of letting it close itself and now it's not popping up automatically. It's automatic most of the time.

[bunniluver]

This is what I see when I click on it. Maybe the error is the problem?

I looked and I am in the Plugin wiew, but then again it is a new "modern" look, or as the message said when I started it up. So because of this some of the views arn't quite the same.

[Ullman12]

i still don't get it, could someone help me?

[tiggerypum]

Can't help based on your poste Ullman, because we can't look over your shoulder and see what your computer is doing. You must post *exactly* what you have managed to do, exactly what is confusing, exactly what step, any error messages (exactly) and so on. Then maybe then we can guess what you might need to help get you going again. And if it's just that you don't 'get it' by reading it, that doesn't matter, you just need to get all the tools you need, follow the installation directions for them all, and then start with the first step.

[xSimGirl13x]

How do you open SimPE
:sorry: im just new at this.
Thanks! :wavegbye:

[tiggerypum]

I don't know how to answer that, it's a program you have to install on your computer and then run it.

[ullneverknow]

I need help! ok i dont have this MTS2 Mesh tool
where can i get it

[HystericalParoxysm]

ullneverknow, there's a link to where to get it in the first post in this thread, ya silly goose. ;)

[tiggerypum]

Uhm bunnilover - go back to the simpe site and get *all* the stuff that is needed, you should not be getting errors, if you are, you're missing something vital, and I cannot begin to diagose it, getting simpe working is not my specialty.

[ullneverknow]

Ok, Thankz! :)

[Big Evil 527]

When i import to simpe for some reason it just won't show in bodyshop or the game up and i followed the tutorial exactly

[HystericalParoxysm]

Big_Evil_527, I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'it just won't show up'. Is the clothing recolour linked to your mesh file not showing up at all? You should have verified that it's working fine linked up to your mesh in step 28... If your changes are not appearing when you take a look at your mesh, make sure you're actually right-clicking and replacing the GMDC in the package, committing, and saving; don't use the Import button. I've had a similar result when I forget and Import instead of Replace.

[Big Evil 527]

yes when i uploaded the new exported mesh in step 47-49 in simpe then saved the mesh closed simpe opened bodyshop and the recolor looked exactly the same also happend in the game also when i checked step 27 it was working fine

[tiggerypum]

Well, step 27 (with the mesh not changed) it's not definite that everything was done correctly.

So let's go over the places where there could be a mistake made.

1) they edit the file in the projects folder instead of the *saved sims* folder

2) they are working on a copy of their mesh that's not in the downloads folder.

3) there is some error in how they're replacing their mesh

4) they are looking to see the changed mesh using saved project instead of 'create a new project' in bodyshop - or they see the thumbnail is unchanged and don't click on it to examine the mesh on the sim; thumbnails are only generated once, they will not change with updates. (don't worry, everyone else will see things looking fine if you share your sim - or just make a fresh recolor)

When you open your mesh file in simpe and click on the gdmc - can you then hit the preview button (in the plugin) and see your changed mesh? If so, then #3 is not the issue.

[spmjcom]

Um when i go to export my mesh it doesn't have the option. it says error!

[HystericalParoxysm]

spmjcom, you need to get this for that DirectX error.

[spmjcom]

thanks soo much

[burnout181]

i followed all the steps and everything was going fine until the last step where you have to go back to bodyshop and view your saved mesh. i saved it in milkshape and everything and then i closed it and went into simPE and did everything and saved it, but then when i went to bodyshop the dress was unchanged but it still had the * up the top of the dress. so what did i do wrong? please help

[tiggerypum]

Well, first, open your mesh file with simpe. Click on the gdmc. In the plugin area, click on preview and the use your mouse to rotate the mesh you'll see in the blue box. Do you see your new mesh?

If you do not see the changed mesh, you need to try to bring your mesh in again, try right clicking and REPLACE (not import)

If you go to the view the mesh and it's STILL not changed, then you need to go repeat the part with meshtool, because your new gdmc isn't your changed file. (Part IV) on. Make sure you're reading in the NEW obj file that you saved after editing, not the original.

[burnout181]

ok, i opened the mesh file, but what is the gdmc? i only have 4, one is named : geometric node: myfirstmeshtutorialdress-afbodydresslongloose_tslocator_gmnd
number 2 is named: geometric data container: afbodydresslongloose_tslocator_gmdc
number 3 is named: resource node: myfirstmeshtutorialdress-afbodydresslongloose_tslocator_cres
and numebr 4 is named: shape: myfirstmeshtutorialdress-afbodydresslongloose_untagged0_shpe
so which one do i press on, i pressed on the geometric data container one, is that right? when i did i pressed preview and it didnt show any changes to the mesh as you said, but then how do i bring the mesh in again? what do i press for it to say replace?

[HystericalParoxysm]

burnout, it says "Geometric Data Container (GMDC)" in the resource tree, so yes, a Geometric Data Container is a GMDC. Reread step 52. It tells you how to replace it.

Please go back and reread everything really, really carefully and follow exactly what it says to do. You may want to actually start over and do it over again from the beginning to make sure you're getting everything... And please stop posting and then deleting... you can edit your post if you need to change something.

[spmjcom]

new problem. I made my mesh and i have made it pretty nicely. it work and i can see it on body shop but... the hair isn't on the head. :(

[sianny12]

omg i dont even no how 2 download to program 2 make meshes can sum1 tell me were i can get it?

[tiggerypum]

burnout181 - oops, seems I am dsylexic on GMDC sometimes (although the screenshots always show the right thing) I'll go fix and 'gdmc's in the tutorial right now. It says GMDC part of the time in my text and GDMC part of the time, although I also wrote out the text 'Geometric Data Container' almost all the time.

spmjcom, wow hair! It looks like during your edit you accidently moved the hair. But on another count, I found that when I took my single test hair from Meshtool into the game, it displayed oddly. I had someone say they *had* successfully edited hair with Meshtool in the past, and I've had too many things pulling me in various directions for me to do full research. I've been doing hair with Unimesh.

sianny12 Uhm, omg, first please type in full english on the site. Secondly, the tutorial starts with info about where to get things, so I'm at a loss for how to answer you.

[tay_jay04]

Thank you so much, i read through some of the replies after trying this late last night and having it not work and after reading through them i found some of the problems i had questions to answered and i successfully completed the tutorial tonight. Thanks again!

[manouche09]

Hello tiggerypum, I'm a french girl, so I don't understand very good your tutorial :( ... Do you know a french site where there are tutorials ? Thanks !

ps: Now I'm going to see the others tutorials on this site... Perhaps they'll be less difficult (and complete) :D ! Kiss

[manouche09]

Hello tiggerypum, I'm a french girl, so I don't understand very good your tutorial :( ... Do you know a french site where there are tutorials ? Thanks !

ps: Now I'm going to see the others tutorials on this site... Perhaps they'll be less difficult (and complete) :D ! Kiss

[rasmy]

Hi tiggerypum, your tutorial is great ^^ but (that's why i'm here ^^;) I have some problem with

Part IV – Attaching Your New Mesh to the Temp Skin > 22) Go to the 3D ID Referencing File (3IDR).

I'll try to modify glasses and I have 21 files for 3D ID and not 1, so I dunno which files I must choose ?

EDIT :
I replace my shape and resource node in the 3IDR files where there are my old shape and resource node so I replaced in xxxx801, xxx1001, xxx4001
I followed the rest of tutorial...
In the end when I check my new glasses, I can only see my glasses lenses T__T.
I think I must modify my glasses lenses as I modified my glasses mesh.. but I dunno if that's why I can't see my glasses in bodyshop...

[tiggerypum]

Two things. Remember that meshtool is ONLY for moving vertices. If you do want to make totally new shapes, learn how to use unimesh.

Secondly, this tutorial thread is not the place for this question, it's way way beyond the scope of this tutorial. You will find information about modding accessories (and hair, they also have multiple 3dirs) in the infocenter articles about them. The articles are not tutorials, but there's as much info as I could gather/write for the moment in them.

If you've looked there and still have some confusion, start a new thread in the bodyshop meshing area. But I think you will find your answer.

[rasmy]

Thanks for your answer tiggerypum, I totally forgot this "ONLY for moving vertices"about meshtool... :anime:
*have a hope to finish my glasses...*^^

[Beliria]

Okay I've done up to this step (great tutorial by the way, thanks :) )

Part V
31) Choose the Maya Object Exporter (.obj) and name your file something like Body1

I dont have this save choice in SimPE, have downloaded a lot of packages, so not sure if i've missed one or part of one somewhere.

[tiggerypum]

It comes with the base simpe package. I just verified that it's in my recently downloaded simpe .58. And I haven't added anything to my simpe, it's a base version.

You need to have clicked on the gmdc, so that the plugin view shows up (it's below the popup) with a big bluish box and the 'export' option. Then it's the 4 steps as marked. Make sure it's set to xyz, click on export, on the lower part, select the OBJ file exporter, then type in a filename (like body1)

[Beliria]

Thanks for your quick reply.. I would slap myself silly for not following you instructions properly, part from my brain seems addled already. Just followed them 'properly' this time, thanks :), might do the next stage tomorrow... part 32+ that is. :beer:

[tiggerypum]

No beating yourself up allowed here. It's complicated. Darned complicated.

[RockinRobin890]

You think your confused? I'm confused. I download eveything and try to make my own but eh ..it doesent work..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RockinRobin890]

Dear God!!!

[poifectly_poiple]

On #48 when I tried to get the mesh tool to read the .obj file, it gave me a pop-up that said 'no uv map' or something to that effect. I used Wings with the vertice mapper, and I heard from somewhere that wings .obj files don't work with the mesh tool, and that people using wings should first create a uv map with uv mapper, and so I did. But when I checked the mesh after I finished the tutorial, the mesh didn't change. What did I do wrong?

[tiggerypum]

Well, if you got that 'no uvmap' error, then your obj file wasn't read in. I am puzzled, how could a 3D program not be preserving the uvmap, that's a pretty vital part of an object.

I don't know Wings. I've only been told by some whatever I did relay, quite apparently they did it get it work. Perhaps contact them directly and ask what they did about the uvmapping issue?

[poifectly_poiple]

Wait, I'm confused, you were told by some whatever? What does that mean? Who do I contact? (sorry I took so long to reply)

[tiggerypum]

Here is the thread where you got the Wings Vertex Mapper from.
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=57446
I don't know anything about Wings or the settings, but the people who posted there might. The person who wrote the tool it appears has not logged in for a long time, but dragonarts has been logging in and says she used it successfully. So she's the person to ask with a PM about the correct settings for Wings to make it work.

[sydtay3]

thanks alot i am making ton of clothes now

[poifectly_poiple]

Thanks, I contacted her and now I see what I did wrong!

[coolmare500]

I have used this tutorial many times without trouble... but then this one time, I did not do anything different... but got this:http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/pieinabottle/478110e5.jpg

A nice, big, happy sim EXPLOSION!!! :anime:
Do you have any idea why?

p.s. It was on XYZ, non XZY

[tiggerypum]

WOW! That's fantastic! Sorry but I haven't seen such a nicely exploded mesh since, well, since I blew up the fat mode on mine last week. :)

Exploded meshes like that are usually the result of deleting or adding a vertice, or doing some other command (that I'm not aware of) that changes the vertex order.

I haven't seen this specifically before with meshtool, but I have a suspicion why - I expect that's afbodyslip which is a multi-part mesh. To top it off, Maxis created it in a non-standard way. I would have to see if I can get the time to do some simple testing, but that mesh has many parts. It _is_ editable using Unimesh, although if I were to use that mesh even in unimesh, I'd import it, move a single vertex, and then export it and test before doing any real editing. Now why no one has reported it not working before now, I don't know. I'll try to verify it and if I get the same sort of results, I'll be sure to put a warning in the beginning of the tutorial.

[coolmare500]

Thanks, i think i'll stick to simpler meshes... :)

[Tanyia]

Thank you very much! This is, IMO, a perfect tutorial. Clear, and concise, with very illuminating pictures. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this!

[lovendots]

every time i try to download simpe it say i need the net.1.1 or sumtin. where do i get that?

help!!!!

edit by Tiggerypum:

-- DO NOT DOUBLE POST, be patient.

Secondly, the answer is on the SimPE site. Read everything there and download all the things you need.

[Bcorrea0423]

:| OK Im new at this. Im following evrything said on the tutorial. The thing is that in Part I – Create a Temporary Texture for Testing my dress wont save under saved sims but under projects. Im felling that this is the reason i cant load the second part using meshtool.(Part VI – Putting Your New Shape Into Your Mesh Package)Under number 49.
(49) Click on ‘Load Sims 2 Mesh’ and then find the original gmdc file you had saved, long ago at the beginning. You might need to change the filetype from ‘simpe’ to ‘5gd’ so you can load it. It will have a long funky name, like AC4F8687-1356E054-1C0532FA-FF300D1E.5gd. It will be the only 5gd file you have in your working folder.) When i get to the (load sims 2 Mesh) an icon comes out telling me that ( Run Time Error (7), out of memory!)
can you tell me what i did wrong.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Bcorrea0423, carefully reread the part about creating a temporary texture... when you create a new project in Body Shop, it'll first create stuff under Projects/MeshTutorialTemp (textures and a temporary .package file) but when you Import to Game, it'll create a file in SavedSims called something like "7f61a2a4_MeshTutorialTemp.package" You cannot use the .package file in the Projects/MeshTutorialTemp folder - you must use the one created in SavedSims.

The error you're having sounds like, well, exactly what it's telling you. Out of memory. Try shutting down the other stuff you have running at the time - only have Meshtool running when you try that, so you can be sure it's not a memory issue. If you're trying to run Body Shop, Photoshop, SimPE, your browser, etc., all at once, your computer might be struggling to keep up. ;)

[Bcorrea0423]

Thanks i really appreciate it. I'll try that and see what up. :D

[Bcorrea0423]

HI, HystericalParoxysm. Well I tried what you said for the Meshtool and its still saying the same thig. I had only the Meshtool program on and it still told me that its out of memory.Please help!

[HystericalParoxysm]

Hrm. Most of the meshing I do personally nowadays is done using Unimesh, as I do a lot with adding shapes and such, which Meshtool can't do. So I haven't run into that error myself... I searched the Meshtool thread and while someone else had the same error, it was never really answered, so my research is coming up a bit empty.

You say it's coming up when you get to the Load Sims 2 Mesh part? Try going back and re-exporting the GMDC from your mesh file and using that. I'm wondering if it didn't somehow export incorrectly and is just giving "out of memory" as an, "ack, I dunno what to do with this funky file" error.

If that doesn't work, well... In meshing, if you're having an inexplicable problem, oftentimes it's best to go back and start over. Unfortunately with this stuff it's not really easy to pick through the bits and pieces and discover exactly what one did wrong and learn from your mistakes like that... Starting over may be a pain, but it often is the quickest way to get something working again. It's what I (and many other experienced meshers) tend to do when things go wonky. Doesn't fix all problems, but it often helps.

[dreaming angelz]

thanks so much, i never would of thought i could make my own mesh :)

[crzyfreekanimeluver]

ok i need help im stuck on #30 because on the gmdc when i click it a mesage pops up and it means that gmdc little thingy where you make sure its on XYZ wont come up so i went to check and i need a thingy (i dont know what it is) to have the settings pop up on the gmdc ilke to export it and all that fancy stuff

[HystericalParoxysm]

You need a thingy for the thingy? Well, that's descriptive... :giggler:

Seriously though, when you have error messages and popups, you need to screenshot them and post pictures, or record the exact text of the error message. I don't generally know what a "thingy" is, and my crystal ball's a little foggy today. ;)

However, I'm going to make a wild guess and say that since it's on step 30 with the GMDC, it's probably giving you a DirectX error - you need the managed DirectX extensions to work with GMDCs - it's listed on SimPE's site when you go to download it, under "Needed software to run SimPE."

[crzyfreekanimeluver]

ok i know im not good at describing "THINGS" but your guess was right?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :jest: :duck:

[HystericalParoxysm]

Mmm. I love my crystal ball. :giggler:

[crzyfreekanimeluver]

sorry :( if this is going to get on your nerves BUT (i get confused easly so blame my mind) i cant find the thing to downlode for the simpe also im knew at this soooo... im extreemly confusled

[HystericalParoxysm]

Go to the SimPE site. Go to "Download." Look under "Needed software to run SimPE." It'll have the managed DirectX 9 as well as .NET (which you have to have to run SimPE in the first place, so that one you already have).

[crzyfreekanimeluver]

ok is the simpe site on the begining of the touritual if it isnt then type in the site for me :D (im sorry if your agravated because i ask too many ?'s :( )

[tiggerypum]

Uhm, well, we expect people to uhm, TRY THINGS and like... you know, figure it out. How can you be asking if the link is the one for SimPE? If you clicked it, the answer would be obvious.

If you're not willing to do stuff like that, to TRY things and find out - this tutorial is NOT for you - because we're going to expect you to read and keep trying things and THEN ask questions if you can't figure it out.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Um, yes, it's the site linked at the beginning of the tutorial. Follow that link up there at the top of this tutorial.

[crzyfreekanimeluver]

:blink: i did try the links thats how i got the simpe this was my first time asking a ? and i just get lost easly ok :wtf: i have brain damage it's not my fault (a little part is) and im sorry im PMSing

[crzyfreekanimeluver]

:( it's still not working and i did all the steps right and the stupid mesage thing keeps poping up i fell like exploding :alarm: :!: if i have to see that pop up one more time and i might break the coputer :| and i also got the direct x i still dosent work :(

[tiggerypum]

If it's an error message for SimPE, I suggest you ask for help at the SimPE forum and take a screenshot (or copy down EXACTLY what it says)

[Terminal]

Is this also what i would do if i wanted to edit a mesh, like for eg. Changing the shoes on certain pants or is this just the way to do it for the particula thing (removing the thing on the dress)

[HystericalParoxysm]

Terminal, Meshtool will only allow you to make small changes to meshes - moving the danglything in, making larger breasts, smaller waist, etc. - however, you cannot make major changes to a mesh like adding/removing parts or even moving vertices very far. For major changes, you need to use the Unimesh plugin - we have a tutorial that introduces you to its use also available here.

[Terminal]

Awesome, cheers for that and the awesome quick reply.

[wazza966]

Is there a way how to make ya own mesh with softwhere on ya computs allreddy cause my dad wont let me get simpe or milkshape thete alfa well they can reck ya computa please tell me i can allreddy just remake stuff but cant mesh PLESE HELP ME OUT! :!:

[tiggerypum]

Nope, these are the tools you need, no matter what you need simpe -- and then milkshape or xsi modtool (free, but large to install).

[twistedsunshine]

thanks tigerrypum! :anime: got it at the first time! the posts is really helpful!

[MMisindahouse]

:( Beginner Clothing Mesh Tutorial – Using MeshTool and Obj Format


This is a total rewrite of the MeshTool tutorial first created by WDS BriAnna over a year ago. Too many things have changed in SimPE. Thank you BriAnna and Windkeeper for helping get so many of us started! And thank you Snowstorm for the tips on how to gather the mesh pieces.
.....
Next it's time to edit your mesh. Go to the next message for the rest of this tutorial.

I did not understand most of this. :( I'll still have a go though. If I get stuck can I ask you for help?
:p

[MMisindahouse]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I have a gr8 group i wanna upload but my sims2 won't let me! What should i do?!

I was just wonderin how do u get pictures under ur name? plz tell me! :new: i'm new! i don't know how to work this thing! :( plz help me!

:alarm: emergency here! can sum1 plz reply!?????!!!!!!!!!! :!: :( plz help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! plz reply!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--- edited for excessive smilies and unrelated quoting.
Please be more patient and do not spam with smilies either.
Either thing can result in a warning from staff....
[Tiggerypum]

[tiggerypum]

MMisindahouse,

1) This is not a chat room, people aren't going to respond immediately, especially when you don't even ask concise questions for the most part. Posting again is called 'bumping' and is considered rude board behavior. I was cleaning up your first post at the time you came back and bumped again.

2) You quoted the entire tutorial (which I just edited down). This thread here if you read... is exactly for asking questions about the tutorial - and _nothing else_. Quoting back the entire tutorial and asking if we'd answer questions is not a question. The tutorial is specific about that too... you will need to ask specific questions - you will need to try to follow the tutorial step by step (understanding of this very complex stuff comes through time and experience) and ask questions _when you actually get stuck_... and you'll need to explain exactly what step you were on, what you did, what happened next, etc.

Btw, if you haven't done basic clothing recoloring, I suggest you do that first, as the tutorials say.

3) For other sorts of help, you need to find the other areas of the site to find the answers to your questions....

If you had looked at your account preferences, you would have also found stuff about your AVATAR, which is the graphic.

If you need game help, there's an area about that too, which includes info about downloading. There's also 'creator guidelines' with info about how to get your packages ready for uploading if you want to share something you made here http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=338

BUT if you have any questions not related to this tutorials' steps, you need to go at least to the main bodyshop or skinning areas and start a new thread and ask your question. If you're not sure you're posting in the right place, say so, and it's more likely a staff will move it for you or explain instead of just deleting it.

[becky_axel]

im stuck on part one no. 8, everytime i type in the name of my package and press start simpe looks for just a couple of seconds and then nothing comes up, i've checked back on all the steps and i've done it all, is it because i have a different version of simpe?

[tiggerypum]

Well first, you should use the most recent SimPE, it always has fixes/improvements.

But I suspect you did not type in the correct name for the package. Note that we didn't type in the color description part, we only typed in 'afbodydresslongloose' in the example. It's a search, you can type in only part of the name (you will get more results) but that should help you.

Let me know if that helps. Also, double check your SimPE preferences and make sure everything there points to appropriate directories, if the name wasn't the issue.

[Moni_ka]

I did new mesh, but...There is a lot of mistakes. I don't want black spots on my mesh. How can i correct them?
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/4439/555re.png

[tiggerypum]

Looks like a 'normals' issue. Try using demon's gmdc tools - there's a normals tool with it that smooths them. You'll need to try it on the arms and legs too - see the seams on them. Select the areas where the seams are visible and see if it can smooth it out. You should be able to SEE them in milkshape at this point.

You must have done your editing with 'autosmooth' on. :(

[Moni_ka]

Looks like a 'normals' issue. Try using demon's gmdc tools - there's a normals tool with it that smooths them. You'll need to try it on the arms and legs too - see the seams on them. Select the areas where the seams are visible and see if it can smooth it out. You should be able to SEE them in milkshape at this point.

You must have done your editing with 'autosmooth' on. :(
Thanks you very much. ..Every day I try to smooth, but...Okey, thanks :) .respect

[tiggerypum]

Moni_ka do not use smooth, do not use smooth! That's what gave you the seams showing. Demon's tools are *different*, you can use them to try and fix the damage that was done by using Milkshape's smoothing function.

[Moni_ka]

tiggerypum thanks.

I have new problem. I created mesh, but in bodyshop i saw horrible view. Why?
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1997/15il.png
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/78/21pv.png

[tiggerypum]

Moni ka

Which base mesh did you use for the project?
Did you delete or add any points to the mesh? (this is puzzling because I thought you showed me a working mesh before - yes, actually you did)

I assume you are using milkshape to do the edits?

I suggest you go back to your previous working version with the shadows, and try again to use the demon normals tool to smooth over those shadows and the arm/leg seams (you did save with version numbers going up I hope).

If you didn't save so you can go back -- you'll have to start over. If you do, have autosmooth turned off and do not ever use the milkshape smooth command, because that will mess up your normals and give you the seams and the shadows effect.

[lolovolley]

First off I'd like to say this tutorial is great, and you've done a wonderfull job compiling it. Now, here's my question. When I do step 8 I get this pop-up; Message:
File or assembly name Microsoft.DirectX, or one of its dependencies, was not found.

SimPE Version:
Default (0.58.1.29278).

Exception Stack:
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: File or assembly name Microsoft.DirectX, or one of its dependencies, was not found.
File name: "Microsoft.DirectX"
at SimPe.Plugin.fGeometryDataContainer..ctor()
at SimPe.Plugin.GeometryDataContainer.get_TabPage()
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.BuildChildTabControl(AbstractRcolBlock rb)
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.SelectRcolItem(Object sender, EventArgs e)

=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = C:\Program Files\SimPE\
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
Calling assembly : ambertation.3D.mdx.binding, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null.
===

LOG: Publisher policy file is not found.
LOG: Host configuration file not found.
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\config\machine.config.
LOG: Post-policy reference: Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Program Files/SimPE/Microsoft.DirectX.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Program Files/SimPE/Microsoft.DirectX/Microsoft.DirectX.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Program Files/SimPE/Microsoft.DirectX.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Program Files/SimPE/Microsoft.DirectX/Microsoft.DirectX.EXE.

Source:
simpe.gmdc.exporter.base

Execution Stack:
at SimPe.Plugin.fGeometryDataContainer..ctor()
at SimPe.Plugin.GeometryDataContainer.get_TabPage()
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.BuildChildTabControl(AbstractRcolBlock rb)
at SimPe.Plugin.RcolForm.SelectRcolItem(Object sender, EventArgs e)

Have I done something wrong or is there another issue I need to adress? Any help would be greatly appreciated

[HystericalParoxysm]

You need the managed DirectX extensions, found on the SimPE site, listed under "required to run SimPE" when you go to download it.

[lolovolley]

Wow. Talk about fast. Thanks, I'll go there now.

[lolovolley]

I am sorry to keep asking questions (I really appreciate the very detailed tutorial, I am learning things rapidly here) But I did come to another block. I got to point 42 where it says to right click and change projection to bottom. When I hit bottom my model disappears. I drag the mouse all around to try and find the model, but it is gone. When I put the projection back to any other angle it reappears. Do I have something set wrong? I would be forever greatful whenever you get the chance to help! Thank you!

[tiggerypum]

You should be able to right click on the window again, where the missing model is, and pick something like 'frame all' or 'frame selected' on that menu, it will center the mesh for you in the viewport.

[lolovolley]

Would me not using the bottom projection cause the dress to look funky in the bodyshop? I read the post before mine and her's looks similar to mine in the sense that it looks jagged and all over the place. I can see the dress laying down on the platform in the body shop, and it looks like the arms are huge hoses coming from the dress on the floor and up to the head. Like it exploded LOL. I wish I knew how to save the image to show you. The head of the mannequin is still in the same spot it always is and the dress is laying down facing up. There is little hagged pieces of the dress at certain angles and the arms of the mannequin appears long and coming from the dress on the bottom and all over the place. I really do apologize if I am bugging you and if there is an obvious answer I should have seen. I really am extremely appreciative of all of your help. Thank you again for taking your time to help me (and put together this tutorial, major kudos to you!)

[TiktaktowP]

Can you als do the hairs,clothes with blender?

[LegacyEcho]

this is a great tutorial,I made a good mesh on the first try however when i took a look at the the recolor,however i can always make a new one.but still great tutorial but still for people who cant get it right its not as hard as it seems,i read each step,then did it.and when i was finished the mesh came out nice

[tiggerypum]

lolovolley - Mesh is Laying Down in Bodyshop - from the infocenter: http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131397

TiktaktowP - directions as they are regarding using Blender and Meshtool are in this article in the infocenter - http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?p=1058634 I suggest you do a simple experiment by moving one vertex and make sure it works for you before doing any major edits.

[Sapphire Rose]

Hi I just wanted to say thank you for this Tutorial. I downloaded one very similar from another website but yours was more in depth and easier to follow. I have both printed off and was able to compare them. Yours is the one I will keep. I have seen alot of people asking for a printable version. I just clicked up at the top on tool threads and clicked show printable version and printed it. I don't know if this might help others or not.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS GREAT TUTORIAL

[Rsim]

I am so glad when I finally got my first mesh into bodyshop. Then I got the XZY XYZ thing and fixed it; I actually fixed it! However, my head is a little detached. What did I do wrong? I wrote a tutorial also. It mixes the NeptuneSuzy tutorial with the Galen Cooper video tutorials. It shows how to make a dress mesh. It's not long either. I think I will post it. I know its's very user newbie friendly. It's only twenty steps long.

[tiggerypum]

In the infocenter there's instructions for that also, about pulling the vertices slightly up on the neck if that happens. That had seemed to be a rounding error in Milkshape but I thought it was fixed - my mesh I did for this tutorial did not do that. That's all you should need to do, is select that top row and move them up just a tiny bit.

[amandapandaahm]

I haven't even read this yet, and I want to thank you for just taking your time to type this whole thing up. I admire your selflessness.

[wolf_g]

Thanks...it really helped a lot, but how do you find the names for other outfits? Like you knew afdresslongloose...how'd you find that?

[HystericalParoxysm]

wolf_g, you find the name in the property set for all modifications of Maxis meshes... It'll display in the resource list like this one did... Or you can click the Property Set, look in plugin view, and it'll be listed on the "name" line if you want to copy it to paste into the resource finder - make sure you just get the mesh name, the first part before the underscore.

[blueeyesangel18]

i cannot find the export button in simpe either. it's really confused me. The bottom of the screen shows the plugin view, there is just no export button at all and my GDMC is highlighted. Can you please help me. :blink:

[tiggerypum]

blueeyesangel, please post a screenshot of your screen - because 'export' is a built in function of simpe and should be visible. You can use 'printscreen' and then PASTE into a paint program, and save it as a jpg. Then you should be able to upload it here (with manage attachments) or to some free photo place like photobucket.

[nokel]

hi... for some reason my computer says that sim PE is not a win32 application o.o" could you help me please?

[HystericalParoxysm]

nokel, you should ask that over on the SimPE forums - while we can answer stuff like errors related directly to this tutorial, that's a problem with installing SimPE, and isn't really about this tutorial, just SimPE itself.

[nokel]

k thanx anyway

[Citysim]

tiggerypum, thank you so much for your easy-to-follow-tutorial, I did exactly everything you said, I got up to the Editing Your Mesh part after checking my result in bodyshop to see if the imported outfit still shows up to my newly created Mesh file, it did and I continued and followed the rest of your tutorial, however I did not quite know where I went wrong.

http://img312.imageshack.us/img312/7217/bad12fj.jpg

Did I miss anything, obviously here the results tell it all, why did it end up looking like this?

PS I was using the latest version of MilkShape 3D, and also used the exacty same dress mesh that was in the turtorial.

[ZOIVII3IE]

I've been searching forever and I swear there is no export button in the plugin view! I'd take a screen shot but my printscreen button isn't working. I know a few people have already commented about this but I was wondering if you figured out why?

Now when I try to open SimPe it says "application has generated an exception that could not be handled. Process id=0xf24 blah blah blah etc" GAHHHH *shoot self*

[Citysim]

:rofl: I can modify meshes now!

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8411/donenow16dc.jpg

A dunno why my first try exploded, must of not understood the 3D program probably and selected and moved something without relieasing it.

I can say meshing is not "DIFFICULT" at all as what tiggerypum says in the first post, as soon as you get comfortable with Milkshape 3D, I didn't expect to learn all this in one day, but I have, I had modified some other maxis meshes to more of an extend than this simple screenshot modification.

24 hours I was scared to even touch Milkshape. Milkshape is just like a paint program (except you "paint" with vertices by moving them around) and if you consider yourself good with Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro then you be good with this

Anyone can do this! Its very important to get fimilar with the 3D problem your are using, the rest its just extracting, importing, and extracting mostly with SimPe, and after about 3 trys you don't even need this turtorial anymore.

:Pint:

And ZOIVII3IE just have another go, it gets easiier everytime, I had no more meshes exploding anymore.

Thank you so much tiggerypum I would of never of learnt this without your turtorial, all the other turtorials I could never understand.

[blueeyesangel18]

ok so here is my screenshot of simpe. I am in plugin view but i just cant seem to see the export button anywhere.

[tiggerypum]

Blueeyesangel - the first thing I'm noticing is that the names aren't displaying the same - my simpe shows the names next to 'geometric data container' up in the top right window. Can you please make sure you have the newest version of simpe, and that you install all the associated files (there's directx and I don't remember if there's anything else) from the simpe site.

Citysim - I'm glad you got the modification working!! We did work to make this tutorial as 'easy' as possible, but with 54 steps, meshes that explode, and there's even more if you want to go further and add new parts or such with unimesh -- we get more than our share of complaints from people. It is confusing at times, and complicated, and missing a step sometimes breaks things in interesting ways. I've found that it's better to warn people that it might take a LONG time, and that things might not work right -- than to have them maybe think this is 'easy' because there's a beginner tutorial and that they might think that they can zip through and do their first mesh in an hour with tools they're not familiar with.

So even though you don't think so - Citysim - that is a big accomplishment! Remember that with meshtool you can only _move_ vertices. Have fun with your next projects! :baloons:

[Citysim]

Sorry I got a little carried away, but yeah, I haven't even attempted to use this UniMesh yet or even read your turtiorial yet, at the moment I'm just thrilled to be able to play around with the maxis meshes, I understand the limitations, but with this turtorial I noticed I can now easily make fat or slim sims, make dresses shorter, etc but I know I can't add new parts or anything like that yet.

I found your steps 1-34 the trickiest, and thought the hardest is yet to come, like why am I extracting out all those files for then putting back in etc, and that was even all before I fired up milkshape to even actually get started.

The 2nd time round, I started understanding what steps 1-34 meant, which is important of course than just following the turtorial even though you don't know what your doing.

The reason I probably find meshing easy is because I have used a 3D program in the past modifying other games, and surprising found Milkshape the easiest yet.

But I'm sure to have fun with my next projects, as about time I start uploading and sharing some good stuff here.
:up:

[blueeyesangel18]

Thanks Tigerrypum for your help i downloaded the newest version of simpe and the direct x package and also some framework thing which is available from the simpe site under the heading: required to run simpe. And look i can now see an export button so i will continue the tutorial and let you know how i get on. :rofl:

[blueeyesangel18]

:lol: Thanks again for this tutorial Tigerrypum. i finally edited the mesh by using your tutorial. :beer:

[Bronxsta15]

I can't see the pics in your tutorial. There are little red x's where the pics are supose to pop up

[atomic_hamsters]

Great tutorial! It worked perfectly for me! :anime: :D

[gamer001]

thank you

[DokiePlayer]

I'm having trouble with step 9 ,Simpe says he can't find microsoft directx on my computer what do I have to do ?and I can't find the folder afbodylongdresslongloose .Please need help !!!

[HystericalParoxysm]

DokiePlayer, you need the Managed DirectX Extensions downloaded and installed, linked from SimPE's site under "required to run SimPE". And afbodydresslongloose is not a folder, nor even a file. Reread the part using the resource finder and make sure Body Shop is closed when you search.

[lil-kisses_xx]

I am a little confused. Do u really need SimPE..or can you do it without it? Is there another tutorial, to help me undertsand it better. I love this tutorial but my first language is french so i am getting a bit confused.

[tiggerypum]

lil-kisses there's quite a few steps that require simpe. We cannot make it any simpler, even though I do understand that english is not your first language. You need to get all the stuff as listed, and then do your best to follow step by step - and follow the screenshots to help you, many of the steps have screenshots to try and make it easier.

[lil-kisses_xx]

How much memery is used to download all these...programs?
I will try to use the screenshots.

[HystericalParoxysm]

I don't know the exact file sizes, but I'd imagine the sum of them wouldn't exceed 10 mb installed - pretty small. The memory they use when running, well, that depends. SimPE can be a bit of a memory hog, but if you can run the game, you can certainly run and do all of this no problem.

[lil-kisses_xx]

o ok thank you..cause ya see my pc is old and slow:( so i ahve trouble with it running well. So as long as it doesn't take up much.

[lil-kisses_xx]

I AM stuck on step 30..i don't have the MAYA Export thing at the bottom..why is that?
i can get far but i can find the expor button nuthing shows up. i am totally stuck and it stinks.

[meedle]

Thanks Tig!

I had never even thought about meshing before, and after reading your tutorial, I made my own mesh! Thanks SO much!! :sheep: :bunny: :) :anime: :jest: :google: :duck: :P


GREAT TUTORIAL!!!

[tiggerypum]

lil-kisses

Some further up this same page had the same problem - they went back to the simpe site and downloaded all the stuff that it says is required, and it worked for them.

meedle, I'm glad it worked for you!

[~Aelin~]

Please help!
While creating Mesh I got error mentioning Microsoft DirecеtX. What shall I do?

[HystericalParoxysm]

Aelin, that's already been answered several times in this thread. Look up about 10 posts. ;)

[figueroa90]

What If I Add Vertices To The Mesh
????

[tiggerypum]

figueroa, why are you asking this? That question is answered in the first paragraphs of this tutorial, including a pointer to what to use if that's what you want to do.

Don't follow the directions and your mesh will explode.

[~Aelin~]

HystericalParoxysm
thank you very much

[lil-kisses_xx]

i have all the components. I have the Directx and it says i don;t. at first i thought i might have to redownload it but the microsoft site says i dont need to. i am really stuck:(

[HystericalParoxysm]

It's not DirectX you need, but the Managed DirectX extensions - linked from the SimPE site.

[lil-kisses_xx]

..i thought i got those..thats the one i downloaded

[tabber15]

can any one help me try and download the thing for making ur own hair and stuff from meshing? anyone help me please and thank you

[LyricLee]

no we cant, try the official BBS

[HystericalParoxysm]

tabber, um, first of all, you can't start with hair meshing. You have to start with bodies, more likely with unimesh rather than meshtool, which we also have a tutorial on. Second of all, once you've become experienced (and I do mean -experienced-) with bodies, then you would read the hair meshing tutorial, which tells you what you need for that.

[lil-kisses_xx]

i just wanted to say thank-you to tig, and hysterucal paroxysm for all their help..i am now trying more advanced meshing which has me actually fully altering the whole mesh...

THANKS!:):):)

[lil-kisses_xx]

oops i spelt something wrong...i am a sloppy typer:P
sorry!
**hysterical paroxysm

[arrtisste36]

I couldn't find anything in the entire help section that helped me at all! After I edit with Milkshape and everything, I can't get it to appear in the bodyshop! Any reasons why this could be happening?

[dorkiesimslover]

im having sometroble here <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/dorkiesimslover/PE.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a> umm i cliked

30) Click on the Geometric Data Container (GMDC), make sure the settings are set to XYZ, and click the Export button. but when i try to change the settings it blank down there and there no export button...man i need help

[dorkiesimslover]

opps
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/dorkiesimslover/PE.jpg

[tiggerypum]

Dorkie, I can't read that, but it doesn't look like PLUGIN view to me. I can't even tell if you're clicking on the gmdc or the gmnd.

Did you get ALL the things from the SIMPE site necessary (there's a net thing and direct x thing).

And also look at Step 22 - there's instructions there for if the plugin tab isn't showing, I don't know WHY you'd have had it before and not now, but maybe that's the issue.

arrtisste36 So I assume you did go in and you did see your mesh at step 28? We just had someone accidentally replace their gmnd instead of gmdc (which would break things)... Can you check if you still have all 4 mesh parts in your mesh? CRES, SHPE, GMND and GMDC? If so, please replace your GMDC with the original GMDC - and let's see if your mesh shows up in bodyshop then.

If it does, then I'd just try the entire MILKSHAP edit (step 29 on) process over again.. If it doesn't then I suggest starting over with rebuilding the mesh file, step 1 all the way to step 28. (then you can probably just import the new simpe body you saved)

[SparkleSim]

Hey, Tiggy..um..I was wondering if there's a way to get away with having more vertices than original? i know you have to retain the number of vertices that the mesh came with, but Sometime I would like to add thing to meshes. Is there an easy way to add things without having to keep inventory of vertices? Is there anything that tells you how many are currently existing?

[HystericalParoxysm]

If you want to add or remove vertices, you'll need to use the Unimesh plugins, SparkleSim, not Meshtool. It's not only the -number- of vertices that are important with Meshtool, but their bone assignments, orientation, and order. It really only allows very small changes. If you want to do more interesting things, Unimesh is the way to go. ;)

[Octaviastrangetown]

Hi, that was a good tutorial. Now i have mastered changing the shapes of cloths, how do i change the colours and motif of my sim's cloths? Is there a tutorial for this? If not could you please give me some pointers?
thankyou.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Octaviastrangetown, what you're asking seems to be how to retexture/recolour clothing. That's usually something one does before attempting meshing... I suggest you go take a look at Faylen's clothing recolouring tutorials in the Body Shop Skinning area for that. ;)

[Ronja]

I have a problem with texture. I don't insert the object mapping. Where it is put?

Screenshot:

http://digilander.libero.it/Ronjaa/FotoVarie/texturerror.jpg

[tiggerypum]

Ronja, this is a meshtool project? not unimesh??

Either way, it's not the dress from the tutorial. So please post details about which mesh you used, and which steps you took (and if it is meshtool or unimesh) in a new thread. And what 3d editor are you using to edit the mesh?

[Ronja]

I have followed this Tutorial, with meshtool, but I have used another dress, I could not?
I used 3ds max and wings 3d

[tiggerypum]

Ronja - unfortunately not all 'obj' files are built the identically internally.

I don't know about 3ds Max's object format, I know Wings 3D requires Hellborn’s Vertice Mapper (as mentioned in the beginning). But it looks like whatever you're using sort of worked okay regarding that, because if the vertex order changes (one of the things that can happen) the result is usually an exploded mesh.

Does this mesh have more than one group? You didn't tell me which mesh you were trying to edit. (when you export there is 'body' and is there another one to choose?) This tool was the earliest way to edit meshes, and as far as I know did not handle changing meshes with multiple groups well, although I could be wrong. It also seems to have problems with the newer meshes from Nightlife and above.

The best test of your editing methods is to take a dress we know works (the long dress) and simply pull one vertex out from the dress to make a spike. Then we will know if the issue is the dress you chose to edit or something with the combination of tools that needs to be figured out.

[Ronja]

Yes, my mesh have a two group, It's impossible? I have modificated the original mesh, and added the other group

[CtfG]

tiggerpum wrote: And if you found this tutorial helpful...

Extremely helpful! Thanks a lot! :)

[tiggerypum]

Ronja,
This is a really basic tutorial about pulling some vertices and changing a very simple mesh.
It looks like your editing has worked to some extent, because otherwise we'd see a big exploded mesh, and it looks kinda good.
But I don't know how to simply 'add' groups to a mesh, that's a fairly advanced topic, because the group needs a texture attached to it and I'm not sure what other references there are to it in a mesh file.
Please go to the bodyshop-meshing area and start a new thread and post your question about this mesh and as much information as you can give us about what procedures you used (because you clearly did much more than just following this tutorial) and hopefully someone on the forum will have some experience with the combination of programs you are using. Unfortunately, I don't.

[janina]

Question:
I'm stuck :/ It's about adding the modified cres and shape. When I add them, they are just shown up as --- User Defined --- that's all. And the pop up window does show them as --- User Defined --- too :/ Dunno what's wrong! I did not use the .xml ended files? Should I make use of them? I only made use of the old Simpe and tut of Brianna a year ago and everything was so different and I did not use .xml files.
Strange thing is, when I add the .xml file, the files are correctly displayed in sSimpe. I'm confused!

[komasutra]

Tiggerypum:
I made it to step 29without any problems ( which for me says a lot!)
now where I am running into problems is where you say click on the geometric data container (GMDC) and click export. when I click on the GMDC I do not have an option for exporting here is a picture of what I have. SIm pe is the newest version.
I closed Sim pe and reopened and things are working well sorry for the mispost :jest:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1065461/generic.jpg

[tiggerypum]

Janina, ha, you caught me with something I didn't know the answer to. I started with Brianna's tutorial myself, but only last fall. I just fired up my simpe - and the default setting when it wants to add an 'extracted file' points to the xml file -- so that is what you're supposed to use. I assume it's changes in SimPE over the years. The old simpe didn't even show us the names of the package parts in the window.

[tiggerypum]

komasutra, someone else reported that some time back, and we solved that problem.

Ah yes, answer same actually as the other problem that was just posted in another mesh editing thread - go to the SimPE site and download the stuff from the 'Required' section and install it - it's on the SimPE download page, right near the beginning.

[Imi G]

:D that was hard thnx tho :beer:

[janina]

Hmm, that means, using the .xml ended files also in an earlier step (I mean after havin extracted the cres, shape etc and then add them in the new template?). Then I have I done a lot wrong this time *arg* Strange, I'm so into the old tutorial and Simpe (I trhink it was version 0.33 *g*).
Well always use the .xml files???

[tiggerypum]

Janina, I hope you are using the newest simpe? I hope, it's got changes/fixes for meshes. Anyway, just use whatever default the program offers, as long as you can find your file on the list, use the file extension that it suggests. I honestly have not looked at the specific extensions but always trusted simpe was asking for the things that it wanted.

[janina]

Sure, I'm using the newest Simpe (0.58). So, it's kinda confusing *g* with the endings of the files :/

[Ingeborgsk]

I need help with step number 29.
In simpe this is happening!
http://i7.tinypic.com/24o234p.jpg
Ps. I can`t speak English!

[Ingeborgsk]

I found it out!

[Citysim]

Tiggerplum, Milkshape 3D expired on me, so I now downloaded Wings 3D, and wondering can Wings 3D do just as much as Milkshape 3D, or does it have limitations?

Shame because Milkshape was so easy to use, yet finding Wings 3D so complicated.

[Citysim]

Ok now Wings 3D is easy to use, different, but its ok, wondering now I suppose it no good for your Unimesh tutorial as if you can't add parts with Wings.

[Smartchick96P]

(this is the second part of the body mesh editing tutorial by Tiggerypum)

Part V – Editing Your Mesh (finally!)

29) Open your mesh file with SimPE.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300977

30) Click on the Geometric Data Container (GMDC), make sure the settings are set to XYZ, and click the Export button.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=300978

31) Choose the Maya Object Exporter (.obj) and name your file something like Body1
.....


I don't have the sims PE so I lost you at that step. Can you teach me how to do it?And I have no idea how to get the string off the back so can you teach me that too? :faceslap: Thanx.

[tiggerypum]

CitySim,
Go look in the infocenter, there are special instructions for how to use Wings with MeshTool (and there is a beginning Meshtool tutorial on site). It is far more limited in what you can do - you can only move vertices (and not past major joints, like knees or elbows)

Smartchick,
If you did the first part of the tutorial, you must have installed SimPE. Try looking in the programs menu for it, or on your desktop for an icon. Info about where to find and install SimPE is in the first part of the tutorial.

[Citysim]

I'm getting used to Wings 3D now, and I can see why you don't recommend it, things I could do in 5-10 minutes with Milkshape takes me well over an hour with Wings.

I haven't even got to your more advanced tutorial yet with Unimesh, I had fun just modifiying existing ones, i'm now more than ready to move on, but I'm think I better considering purchasing Milkshape otherwise I won't get far...

[tiggerypum]

My reason for not recommending Wings is solely that it doesn't support enough to do real body mesh modifications with it. While making simple mods is fun in and of itself, eventually people usually want to get far more creative, and that requires more than OBJ format for boned meshes.

[Electric Glee]

First off, thank you so much for the tutorial. Suddenly, meshing makes a bit of sense to me. :)

But I do have a question about exporting in either XYZ or XZY. I had the problem with the skin lying down in Body Shop and, thanks to your additional FAQ on that, was able to have everything functional by exporting the gmdc file in XZY. That said, will I have to export every future gmdc file in XZY to keep that problem from occuring or was what happened to my skin merely a fluke?

[tiggerypum]

When you first did your export I think you missed a setting (or when you imported). In the future just make sure you always use the settings however it's written in the tutorial and it should work fine.

[simsdude13]

This was my first try at meshing and i used Blender. I read the steps very carefully but on my first try when i tried to open the edited file in bodyshop, the mannequin got all deformed, the hands flew back and stretched out, the dress turned backwards and fell down into the floor, and the head remained in the same spot. I tried the tutorial again but the same problem occured. Could you please help me, sorry i couldn't provide a picture.

[tiggerypum]

dress on the floor means that you didn't have the correct xyz settings when you exported the obj file. I am assuming that you DID use the special code for blender when you did it, as outlined in the infocenter, because it sounds like your mesh went in sorta okay.

[simsdude13]

The dress was not on the floor, i visited that thread and that was not what happend the bottom half of the skirt was IN the floor, it kinda sank into it.

[tiggerypum]

Well, I don't know blender. If the blender instructions as outlined in the bodyshop meshing thread in the infocenter aren't enough, I'm not sure what to suggest. You could try a simple test of repeating the obj export, doing a simple and obvious edit in blender (like grab one vertice and pull it way out) and then reimport (remember) and see if you can get it to work. At one time one of the members of the site did have it working, but as meshtool edits are very limited, there was not a lot of use of it.

[Mage]

I'm still confused about this:
When we first make our new MESH file we run fix integrity and the name of the GMDC changes to include "tigaf...". Then when we replace the GMDC with the new .simpe file it has the original name again, and that works. In object making you have to change it back to the "tig..." name.
Is there an explaination for this or should I just not worry about it?

[HystericalParoxysm]

Mage, you can copy the mesh name from the plugin view of the GMDC before replacing, replace the mesh, and then paste the name back in and commit. Or you can just let it replace with whatever name it wants and not worry about it. Body Shop meshes are not referenced by name, so the name in there doesn't matter. I tend to copy, replace, paste myself, just so everything looks nice and neat and perfect, but it's not essential.

Object meshing and Body Shop meshing, while similar in some ways, are a whole different bucket of worms.

[Bleachfreak]

I am a bit scared you can say to do this! I there not another way?

Bleachfreak @_@

[tiggerypum]

Bleachfreak this area is for making your own new meshes (shapes) for the game. If you do not have permission to install new software on the computer you're using which is not yours (referring to your other post, you posted this twice) then maybe meshing is not for you. It requires special software. It is also very time consuming.

[Neji Hyuuga]

I dont know where 2 find my original gmdc file in step 47

[tiggerypum]

In your folder that you made for this project.... Part II, Step 9, specifically is when you originally found it and saved it to your hard drive.

[Neji Hyuuga]

In your folder that you made for this project.... Part II, Step 9, specifically is when you originally found it and saved it to your hard drive.
Ty that helped but now i have another problem....i follow the tutorial word for word but then after i save and quit the mesh doesent appear in body shop do i hvae to open the game first?or what....plz help!

[tiggerypum]

Try checking the things listed here: http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131405

[a2duke]

thats great i read the whole thing 3 or 4 times and used this to work on my new body mesh and yes it worked great job thanks for the help i would be clueless with out it now i am going onto hair meshing thanks.:)

[Jucus]

YESSSS!!! I MADE IT!!!!! :D:D Thank you!!!

[play girl]

omg!!! look at what happened :(
i attached the pic

[tiggerypum]

playgirl - congrats! Your first dramatically bad mesh! :) Happens to most of us at some point.

It looks to me like 'Mesh: is Laying Down in Bodyshop' http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?t=131397

Probably your best bet, as you're just learning, is to start over again and watch the way the xyz is set before you export the OBJ file. (also what 3d editor are you using, milkshape, or something else?)

You can also try following the directions in the link I just gave and see if that fixes your mesh.

[play girl]

thanks tig it's fixed now :)

[marenbobarren]

where the Miche and Delphy’s Sims2MeshTool came from

please help me....i have EVERYTHING else down....

[tiggerypum]

marenbobarren
?? there's a link in the beginning of this tutorial... leads to a thread. The first message has the download of meshtool at the end of it, just like many things on this site.

play girl
congrats on your first working mesh!

[marenbobarren]

i still cant find it....would you mind terribly reposting the link here????

[HystericalParoxysm]

marenbobarren, look at the first post on this tutorial... at the beginning... right under "To follow this tutorial you will need:"

Meshing requires open eyes, clean glasses, and your brain set to the on position. Give it another look. ;)

[goldeneowyn]

I made it to step 49 this time, but I can't find my GMDC file in the TutorialDress folder. All I see are my modifiedcres and modifiedshape files. When I open it on the desktop, all the files are there, and the GMDC is in 5gn format. What am I doing wrong? Do I have to start all over again...? (oh, and by the way, everytime I look at this tutorial I wonder why some people (aka you) are such geniuses...:))

[tiggerypum]

I believe the gn is the geometric data _node_. You should have another one with a funny name similar but with 5gd as the ending. But you should maybe be using the xml? I honestly don't know offhand, because seriously, the program offers you the right thing.

Sounds like you're not letting the program find things with the default settings? It should really offer it to you automatically. Look at the settings at the bottom of the open window and let it list all files.

[goldeneowyn]

Yay! I found it, and the mesh worked! Praise be to Tiggerypum!

[play girl]

oh no i got another prob :( the shape and resource node aren't showing up :faceslap:

[tiggerypum]

playgirl, because you skipped the step before that? where you were supposed to add the modified shape and cres to your package. I don't see them on the list big list in the left window. That's why they don't appear.

[play girl]

i don't get it i did... i put the modified shape and cres in the project folder.. i'm kinda lost now :blink: :(

[tiggerypum]

Yes, putting the modified shape and cres into your project folder is step #19.

Step 20 is opening your bodyshop package.

Step 21 (which you missed) is right clicking and selecting 'ADD' and then reading in your modified shape, and doing ADD again for your modified cres

Then comes Step 22 and 23 which is what you pictured.

[play girl]

Yes, putting the modified shape and cres into your project folder is step #19.

Step 20 is opening your bodyshop package.

Step 21 (which you missed) is right clicking and selecting 'ADD' and then reading in your modified shape, and doing ADD again for your modified cres

Then comes Step 22 and 23 which is what you pictured.
thanks Tig...sorry for being a pain lol...i got another problem everything went great..,the mesh showed up on the manequin but not in the thumnail shows up lying down take a look..
is it the texture if i texture it will it be fixed? :( :blink:

[tiggerypum]

!! Hmm, I've not seen that. Thumbnails are generated the _first time_ you look at that particular recolor. So if you had a laying down sim at some point during the edit, that probably would explain it. Deleting your thumbnails (or better, just make another recolor) should give you a working thumbnail. If you make a new recolor, you can then just delete the old one.

[play girl]

!! Hmm, I've not seen that. Thumbnails are generated the _first time_ you look at that particular recolor. So if you had a laying down sim at some point during the edit, that probably would explain it. Deleting your thumbnails (or better, just make another recolor) should give you a working thumbnail. If you make a new recolor, you can then just delete the old one.
the recolor worked :D thanks :up:
uhmmm..... the mesh doesn't have a bumpmap file, i had seen a tutorial about adding a bumpmaps to meshes i think but i can't find it can you help me? or link me to it?

[play girl]

thanks Tig for all your help i textured it all i need is to get a bumpmap for it :)

[elisina]

Thank you very much! You're my idol!