Converting texture from ts3 to ts2

[antka]

Hello!
I'm trying to convert these shoes and, of course, I have a problem   I managed to convert the mesh(yay me!), but I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to textures. I was following this excellent tutorial by Serenity_Fall, but they use Photoshop, while I use Gimp. I have only REALLY basic knowledge of Gimp, and I can't figure out the layers and channels thing. What I'm asking for is to either convert the textures from Pixicat's shoes or to provide me with some kind of tutorial for dummies how to convert the textures in GIMP. I would prefer the latter option, so I would'nt need to ask for help in future. Thank you for reading!

[Theraven]

If you want to use Gimp, Carenrose has a nice tutorial here: http://moonlightdragon.freeforums.org/tutorial-changing-the-color-of-clothes-w-o-losing-shading-t374.html - the tools are slightly different from Photoshop, but the methods are mostly the same.

I mostly use TSR workshop to extract and make textures for 3t2 meshes. You can extract the different texture parts, as well as a finished texture. As a bonus you can also use all the TS3 patterns and the color wheel, and see the finished result before exporting. If there are overlays like stencils and such, these can be removed or even added. That's one option, at least. It works best if the mesh parts are in the same areas as in the original mesh, and if they're the same size.

[IaKoa]

I have never done a conversion, so I can't help you with that part, but I do know how to use GIMP. It looks like you need the alpha and to color your texture. Both you can get with your extracted texture.
For the alpha: left-click on your extracted texture in the layer window and choose "add layer mask". (might be different, my program is Dutch.) You will get a new window with 7 options: choose the 3rd, "layer's alpha channel" and click add. You will get a second picture next to your texture in black-white in the layer window. (This is a seperate alpha for your layer) Select this layer (there will be a white line around it once selected) and het ctrl+x. (cut) It will disappear. Ctrl+v (paste) will add it as a new "floating" layer. Click new layer and it will be added as a propper layer. Tada, you got your alpha.
To recolor your texture, you just have to change the mode of your layer. Put a layer with the color you want your texture to be underneath your texture and change the mode of your texture to overlay.
I hope this is understandable, if not I will add pictures.

[antka]

Theraven, thank you for your answer. The tutorial you linked to will definitely be helpful, I collect all the Gimp tutorials I can find and try to learn something new I extracted the textures via s3pe, but the Gimp(photoshop) part was confusing to me.
IaKoa - I should've written to you in the first place, I forgot you are the Gimp wizard(ress?) ) Your instructions are clear to me, but when I tried doing the overlay thing and imported the texture into bodyshop I got this blue and white shoes result, which wasn't what I was aiming at I will try again in the evening when I'm more focused and let you know if i need more assistance.  Thanks for your help so far!

[IaKoa]

Theraven, thank you for your answer. The tutorial you linked to will definitely be helpful, I collect all the Gimp tutorials I can find and try to learn something new I extracted the textures via s3pe, but the Gimp(photoshop) part was confusing to me.
IaKoa - I should've written to you in the first place, I forgot you are the Gimp wizard(ress?) ) Your instructions are clear to me, but when I tried doing the overlay thing and imported the texture into bodyshop I got this blue and white shoes result, which wasn't what I was aiming at I will try again in the evening when I'm more focused and let you know if i need more assistance.  Thanks for your help so far!

Ah, great to hear the it worked. Did changed the settings while exporting? Textures can show up blue/purple if you don't save your bmp in the right way. Here is explained how to save them the right way.

[antka]

Thanks for the link, IaKoa, it worked like a charm However, I still don't get the alpha part  I did what you said and the result was a completely black image. Isn't alpha supposed to have white 'cutouts'  or am I confusing the terms? I managed to do the 'cutouts' manually, but surely there must be some other way? I'm sorry if I sound completely stupid, I'm  just starting to learn how to do things. Oh, and by the way, this is how the shoes turned out:



I still need to adjust the mesh a little bit, but I'm quite happy with the results Thanks again for your help and patience with me!

[Theraven]

For the alpha, everything that is white is visible, and everything that is black is not visible (Anything that isn't an alpha-part will be skintone-colored). Greytones can also be used for partial transparency.

You can only edit the texture with the alpha, so if you want to remove or edit meshed parts like a 3D bow or 3D sleeves you have to make a new mesh, unless the mesh is an alpha mesh, which basically means the alpha parts have a front and back, and can be edited to look shorter or longer, or to have transparent parts that don't have skin behind.

[antka]

Ah, so my thinking was correct. Thanks making this clear for me. I figured out the alphas, I still have to figure out the layers part, probably will have to go through few tutorials and I will finally get it. Anyway, when I was trying to convert another pair of shoes I came across this:



It looks like I need to adjust the UV map to match the feet texture, but I'm not really sure how to do it. Does anyone have any idea?

[kimika]

You could have a look at how a barefeet mesh is mapped and try to match your map to it in the feet area
(I have no idea how sims 3 feet are mapped but in sims 2 they are mapped from the sides - if that makes any sense)

____
edit: I just googled for sims 3 maps and I think I know what your problem is: sims 3 feet are mapped from above - I found one image here (scroll down a bit) while sims 2 feet are mapped sideways. I guess you know that but in case you want to refresh your memory quickly have a look at the feet here in the 2009 October theme thread. (That was just the first illustrating picture I came across)
So to make your mesh compatible with the maxis mapping you would need do remap it or replace the feet inside the shoe with maxis ones. I don't know the mesh so I can't say which would be easier...

(And those kitten shoes are just too cute *_*)

[antka]

Kimika, thank you for your interest in this topic! With my present skills I think I will have to leave the sandals as they are. I don't feel comfortable with mapping, and I tried 'fitting' maxis feet into the shoe, but because these are platforms, it deformed the whole leg. I will release both shoes with some outfit soon, and will try to fix the mapping of the platforms when my skills improve(hopefully soon ) Thank you again, you helped a lot!

[Theraven]

If you just cut the toes off a naked mesh, and paste it into the part where the crossing straps go, you can make it seem like the feet are whole. That way you won't have to bother with remapping, and no one will see that you've just cut and pasted it. Just remember to make sure the bone assignments are the same, so you don't get toes that bend where they shouldn't. Fitting just the toes is much easier than fitting the entire foot.

[antka]

Theraven, you're a genius Thank you so much for your idea! Here's how the shoes look after the toes transplantation:

Not too bad, I hope

[kimika]

Looks great, antka! since the straps cover the ankle perfectly, texture there is not even needed to make it look good
I would love to use both shoes in my game!

[antka]

Thank you, kimika I've made two outfits with both shoes(here), which I'll release when I'm done with recolors and previews. And, hopefully, I'll contribute to this year's GoS Advent with some pants