Creating unique and interesting sims & making sims for breeding...

[HystericalParoxysm]

What do you do to get that perfect sim face? How do you make them look so real, so different? What are your tips to keep your sims from just looking like boring ol' Joe Q. Everysim?

Thanks to user submissions of excellent tips, we already have a great guide to creating unique sim faces on the Sims 2 Wiki. You can view that guide here:

Gameplay Guides: Creating Sims (http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Creating_Sims)

Add your tips and info on creating good sims here. Please remember to check the game guide first so you know that your tip is a new one, not already covered. ;)

[[Noiseless]sound]

i usually just click on the randomize button in CAS and work with it. i sometimes don't want my sims looking all perfect.

[AxelValentine]

I tend to use either the first two faces in bodyshop, the Asian one with really round cheeks, or the elf-face (which I then turn eyebrows, nose, mouth and chin back to one of the first three).

Really, I just messed with all the buttons at first to see which created good-looking effects and which created bad-looking effects. If I learned that making the cheeks thinner with the very first slider under full-face then I made it a point not to do that anymore.

[Derange]

Working off of pictures helps in creating unique faces. Quite a few of my favorite (and best looking) Sims came off of attempts at making self-Sims (Tracy) or celebrities (Travor). I also agree with the guide about giving them some history. Once you get a feel for their personality, it starts to show through in their appearance and dress.

[Wintermute]

I toy around in BodyShop, mixing different types of noses and getting the hang of tweaking the cheeks, until I come up with something I like. I recently made a new Self-Sim, working off several photos of myself facing in different directions, and I think it turned out pretty well w/the exception of the lips. I then worked on a mate for her, using the method of changing the gender, and he turned out nicely. They haven't yet graduated from college, so I don't know what their kids look like yet, but I have a good feeling about this ;).

[Dancer]

sound']i usually just click on the randomize button in CAS and work with it. i sometimes don't want my sims looking all perfect.
I too just use the randomize button. I pick a sim that looks very normal and work with it. I usually make one facial feature more dominant but not too much. I then find a hairstyle that complimants the face and... Viola! With townies or other Maxis made sims I usually give them some make-up that will make them more noticable. Or some unique clothing.

Personally though for making unique sims I like the Plesant twins, Angela and Lilith because you see the best of two different styles. Even though they are Maxis-made.

I don't do the Joe Blow sims! :)

[SugarRush_SC]

I checked out that tutorial before, if anything it makes me make uglier sims lol.
But that's probably just me. [:

I just stick to my old routine now.

I always give them oval faces and a long-ish nose with wide eyes, they sound minging I know but they always end up quite nice [: lol.

[Aerodynamic]

I have a liking for round faces, which often annoys me when making male sims, as round faces are so hard to do on male sims! D:

I use photos only for self sims and celeb sims really, otherwise I either have an intended look in mind, or just work from randomizer as others have said. I tend to make my eyes smaller and rounder than most people do though. I like that sense of realism :)

as for breeding I've noticed that fuller lips usually produce nicer looking children.. that's about it.. O:

[olsen1a]

One thing to think of is if you make very special sims with a lots of tweaking and breed them in the game the result might be scary. Example take the elven face and tweak it to it become more round, have children with a sim with a round face type, your child could get the round face type and the added roundness from the elf.

Have made loads of termed sims like elves or cat people so I know this can be a problem, you can use the plastic surgery then they get adult, or teen with mod, but its no fun with a family with lots of ugly children.

For other sims the randomize button is a nice thing, find something you like and work from where.

[Lollipop_Girl]

Ugly childrem can be fixed with the temporal adjuster with insim.

[oceanborn_SC]

I don't want all my sims to look too beautiful (it be supermodel, fantastic fairy/elf, hunk etc). I mostly want them to just look realistic and sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't. When I was new to the game I often just used templates (mostly the Brandi Broke and Don Lothario template) but now I make most of my sims in bodyshop. There are more options. But when I make them in CAS I almost always do something with the eye shape, cheekbones, chin, lips etc and I'm not using templates all the time (nearly never). Since I think Brandi Broke looks rather boring I would rather use the Cassandra Goth/Kaylynn template now and I've become fond of the Asian looking ones.

[edejan]

Altho' I make a lot of my sims, I tend to download premade sims or celebrity sims since I like really pretty/handsome sims in my game. But I've since discovered that many of them are beautiful because of "masks" and boy do some of them breed fugly children!!! :einstein

[Purplepaws]

When making sims in Bodyshop, I always just hit the "randomizer" button and work with whatever it gives me. By the time I've chosen the skintone, I usually have a good idea of the type of sim I want to make and it makes the face sculpting easier. To make sure they breed well, I try not to use each slider more than once or twice, then age them down to children to test it out. I've found that if they look good as children, their children will look good, as well.

Also, for some genetic mixing, I download custom sims and import them as townies to set the singles scene, and later become spouses and parents. You have to be careful with who you choose to breed, however, or you might end up with some really interesting offspring.

[DiamonteGirl]

Me? I don't even tend to make 'unique' looking sims. All the ladies in my neighbourhood all look the same as Bronwyn in my story and all the guys in my neighbourhood look the same as Isaiah also in my story. I'm not that talented when it comes to making sims...they're either stunning or fugly!

[Aerodynamic]

d'oh, I just submitted a suggestion for a topic like this. note to self: don't wake up early and try to post new topics ):

but I think this thread needs more attention :P HP, would it be acceptable to post links to images of your sims and their offspring as example?

[criobien]

I like to mass-make sims in Body Shop and then just delete them for inspiration. I only make sims in CAS if it's for a legacy since legacy sims have to look good for breeding purposes.

[Aerodynamic]

I like to mass-make sims in Body Shop and then just delete them for inspiration. I only make sims in CAS if it's for a legacy since legacy sims have to look good for breeding purposes.

you mean that since it's harder to make them ugly with less sliders in CAS? *laughs* I always use BS because it takes too long to load things like eye/makeup chooser in CAS. and I get a whopping 2 fps when creating sims :P outdated computer..

[criobien]

I meant there are less options so they look less unique than ones made in BodyShop.

[rebekah_SC]

Also, for some genetic mixing, I download custom sims and import them as townies to set the singles scene, and later become spouses and parents. You have to be careful with who you choose to breed, however, or you might end up with some really interesting offspring.

Agreed! I do the same! :D

[sawcarn]

I use a dice to decide my sims' faces (in CAS). I simply go through all those panels you can change and roll two dices, one in the right hand and one in the left hand. The highest number decides which side I shall move the little panel. If I throw same numbers, nothing is going to be changed. Then I roll one dice to see how many times I have to push the button. -I also do this with aspiration, zodiac sign and turn on's/off's... I'm not really good at explaining (Or spelling) But it creates really unique sims :beer:

[xJOFLx]

I mostly use BodyShop,
because if i find someone i like then go all tweaky from there..
Suprisingly, even changing the hair can make them look totally different!

I'm really bad at trying to make Sims based on people.
I always give up after 15 minutes... Hehe.

One tip from me:
Starting with the eyebrows generally gives you a realistic, gorgegous look.
Just don't make the face too huge.
xD

[Spiderchi]

I have default face replacements in which are all quite simular, so I find it really hard to make unique sims! However, all my sims do turn out ok as the defaults are gorgeous X3 I too use the randomize option and tweak them.

[YamLin]

The only advice I can offer, which I don't think many people here would agree with, is that I don't set out to make attractive Sims. I tend to toggle Sims randomly and adjust them enough that they don't look too 'straight from the box', or I will think of a person I've seen (anybody at all) and try to recreate one or a few of their features, while adjusting them enough to make my own.

I also try to get as far away from the standard 'mannequin' head as I can while trying to get the Sim to look distinctive but not too extreme as both sexes (it's a pain in the fundament when you make a really unique female Sim, check her out as a male and *BAM* he's two thirds chin and has a nose like a mallet).

I don't download skin tones or eyebrows or face masks, so I pretty much rely just on the structure of the faces for my Sims to look different.

[Solstice]

I tend to chose a face from a template, and give him/her a unique look with the sliders and templates. I reccomend custom eyes and skintones.

[linuslover30]

I choose a face template (I try not to use the first one in BS) I take the hair and the eyebrows off so I can get a clear and plain canvas (so to speak) to work on and I go from there.

I love noses so I always try to make them a little different, Maxis eyes by default are rather large so I do try and bring the size down on those a bit, I elongate the face and move the eyes up so I can get a longer face....it depends what mood I am in.

I agree with Derange, I often work from images of real people just to try and change things up a bit....

Hair and eyebrows go on last of course......

[littlesunshine123xx]

I'm awful most of my sims look the same. Unless i use bodyshop i just use the maxis face templates. My sims all look to perfect to be at all real or unique.

[Valerie_SC]

My suggestion?
Randomize from the CAS, Then toy around with the structure and nose/mouth etc.
I find it helpful and it got me to a point with a beautiful realistic-looking sim :D
Delilah Harlin, I love you.

An Addition To breeding: Lets say you have a beautiful lady, face structure perfect, even without make-up she looks perfect. I have a sim like that and I decided to go to the unique way and get her a townie husband since I was sick of making the same faces.. Moving on, He was some-what rich so I accepted him and he wasn't far from ugly. I cheated and got the plastic-surgery and had made him, Perfect but have very thin lips. When it came to getting a baby, she had the perfect skin tone as mom, thin lips [This made her look old, other than her face structure], and since she's a baby you really can't tell about the facial structure. As she grew she got a rectangular/square-ish face. [The parents did NOT have this at all!] You [I]don't want this at all!!! I am thinking some of the guys gene are still behind his face and passed on to his daughter. Now that I think of it, it upsets me, I got her a new guy and the girl is shy and very nice to have around. Just her face disturbs me. Now I will have to use the Insim cheat to get her face perfect. Or I might just keep the unique her. [Cough]

Solsol,
Valerie. :howdy:

[Peppermint_SC]

I use the random button and then I edit some of the facial features. Then I go about halfway or so on one templates. I tweak it a bit. Go a bit on another template. ( try not to use the first one much)

I just use the defualt skintone, eyes, ect. while doing this if I'm trying to create a face of a beautiful sim, since I figure that if the sim's feature look good in those then it'll look better with the custom items.

[asofterworld]

I usually just choose a face in CASand work with it from there.
Most of my sims chins get rounded, their eyebrows up like they're worried,
full lips and large eyes.

I like when they look realllyy pretty. Although if something goes wrong I feel bad.

[KacoshiAjewl]

I tend to use the first face template to start and then start tweking with it mostly I fucus on the chin eyes and cheeks I like to make my sims have more smooth tapering faces with long thin almost cat like eyes. I then always check them as toddlers and the oposite gender, unless I am making one of my charaters then I dont care about breedablity becuse I am to focused on making them look like what is in my head.

[xBTAx]

My suggestion?
Randomize from the CAS, Then toy around with the structure and nose/mouth etc.
I find it helpful and it got me to a point with a beautiful realistic-looking sim :D
Delilah Harlin, I love you.

An Addition To breeding: Lets say you have a beautiful lady, face structure perfect, even without make-up she looks perfect. I have a sim like that and I decided to go to the unique way and get her a townie husband since I was sick of making the same faces.. Moving on, He was some-what rich so I accepted him and he wasn't far from ugly. I cheated and got the plastic-surgery and had made him, Perfect but have very thin lips. When it came to getting a baby, she had the perfect skin tone as mom, thin lips [This made her look old, other than her face structure], and since she's a baby you really can't tell about the facial structure. As she grew she got a rectangular/square-ish face. [The parents did NOT have this at all!] You [I]don't want this at all!!! I am thinking some of the guys gene are still behind his face and passed on to his daughter. Now that I think of it, it upsets me, I got her a new guy and the girl is shy and very nice to have around. Just her face disturbs me. Now I will have to use the Insim cheat to get her face perfect. Or I might just keep the unique her. [Cough]

Solsol,
Valerie. :howdy:

As far as I know, Uni Plastic Surgery and the Makeover Chair don't change genes... That may be your problem. :anime:

[danicast_SC]

I use a CAS default replacement and I started to model my sims faces at Bodyshop to get best results. I like to mix them, using Maxis default families and my new sims to get more interesting results. I am deeply interested in how genetics works and how I can get interesting facial geometry results, so I have a hood just to make genetics experiments. Recently I am getting better results but I believe the grat responsible for that is the CAS default replacement.

[Jadzia7667]

I tend to download premade Sims, then edit 'em. Obviously, I dl Sims that I think are nice looking, but I always, always adjust things a bit. Other than that, I randomize. Many of my female sims have purple eyes, because I love purple - lol.

[nikisazombie]

I don't know... I just play around until I make something I like. I try not to make them too... "beautiful"... just kinda cute and quirky.

[Forrest_Roberts]

Is it possible to change the skin tone of an already made sim without a program like SimPE? I have a sim who I've been playing with and his skin is too dark, I need to change it, is there anyway to do it without creating a new sim?

[Biarritz]

Forrest, you can download Christianlov's Skintone Selector right here : http://sims2graveyard.com/download.html :)

[Forrest_Roberts]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

[OldestManOnMySpace_SC]

I use a dice to decide my sims' faces (in CAS). I simply go through all those panels you can change and roll two dices, one in the right hand and one in the left hand. The highest number decides which side I shall move the little panel. If I throw same numbers, nothing is going to be changed. Then I roll one dice to see how many times I have to push the button. -I also do this with aspiration, zodiac sign and turn on's/off's... I'm not really good at explaining (Or spelling) But it creates really unique sims :beer:
Wow, that's a great method. I think I'll use that for my "poor" sims in my new neighbourhood.

[duderocks]

I just discovered a Body Shop trick for unique sims.

1. Open Body Shop.
2. Click the "Create Sims" option.
3. Click the plus sign beside the first sim.
4. Go to "Faces".
5. Select the "Face" option.
6. Choose an archetype. Any archetype.
7. Notice the sliders below each archetype? Yes? Good.
8. Adjust the sliders to the right, but not all the way to the right (or else you'll fully express the archetype).
9. Repeat the procedure for the brows, eyes, nose, mouth, and jawline.
10. Use the modifier sliders for further tweaking.

It doesn't matter what archetype you choose, as long as you get the result that you want. Example, you can use the Heart face as the base and blend some features from the ugly #18 face. You can blend the Kaylynn nose with the Joe Carr nose. Order doesn't matter either.

EDIT: Here is a picture of a sim made using above method.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t234/samantha45455/Untitled-1-6.jpg

[ani_]

I just discovered a Body Shop trick for unique sims.
1. Open Body Shop.
2. Click the "Create Sims" option.
3. Click the plus sign beside the first sim.

Talk about detailed instructions :D

I'm really bad in creating sims. All the founder's in my current city are downloaded, which I then use as a base and work from that. Some need major modifications becaue the moment you remove makeup, change to default skin and remove full face paint. What used to be a really unique sim, turns out to be extremely plain. Then I just work from that, enhancing the features I think suits them. If I had to make the sim from scratch, most would look the same, this way all of them are different from the start.

[Claire]

I usually use bodyshop. There are more sliders, therefore you can creat more unique simmies! :)

[maeve.2.0]

I sometimes create Sims in BodyShop, but one time I got a very interesting face from CAS. Anyway, what I do is I just take a random Maxis template and tweak it a bit to my liking. Or I'll download a Sim and edit them. You could also try to make a Sim version of someone you know in real life. The result might not look exactly like them, but maybe you'll end up with an interesting face.
I always try to give them one ugly feature, like in real life, and one feature that stands out a bit, be it full lips, a big nose, or thick eyebrows. I've gotten some very nice faces that way.
Although sometimes it's better to throw all the tips out the window and just start randomly going crazy with the sliders. You may not get beauty queens/kings that way but you'll have an unusual face. ;)
Breeding Sims... well, I breed Sims that don't have radically different faces, and I try to make sure that the Sim's face looks good as the opposite gender too, and in all life stages. Other than that it's pretty much luck.