Recoloring Single Frame Wall Hangings First and foremost, you will most certainly need SimPE for this tutorial, it can be found here: http:sims.ambertation.de/. You will need to follow the instructions carefully when you install. You also need DSS utilities and Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0. These links can be found on the same page as the SimPE download. Once you've installed all of these items, reinstall the newest CEP from Numenor. Sometimes, if you don't do this (I've had this problem many times...) PhotoStudio within SimPE will be grayed out, unselectable. Should this ever happen, reinstall the CEP or simply move it from the downloads folder to the desktop, and then back into the folder. I choose to reinstall it as I can never find where I put the first one. Disclaimer : I am not a SimPE pro. I have more trouble with the silly program, so please...do not ask me why you're having trouble with SimPE. There are SimPE forums located in that link I posted above, direct your questions directly to the big cheeses. Now then, shall we begin?! Step 1. Open SimPe. It may take a bit to load, heck...it may take quite a while to load, but be patient, it will load. Look in the Menu Bar and select "Tools", then "Object Creation", and finally "PhotoStudio". (If your PhotoStudio is grayed out, you either did not install all the items needed, or you need to move your CEP back and forth one time or reinstall it.) Page - 1 -
A small black box will appear in the middle of the SimPE window, it is loading all the Maxis-Made wall hangings within your game. Wait patiently for it to load properly. Once loaded, you will see an image like this one pop up. This is your PhotoStudio. In box 1, you'll need to check that so that your preview image shows and in box 2, you can check that if you'd like. I like to check it so that it does not flip my image. You can check it or leave it alone. Up towards the top of the PhotoStudio popup, there is a small blank square with the 'open' button beside it. Click that button. You'll need to have an image prepared for this step, I'm going to choose my dog, Chica Bonita because she needs her spot at fame, too. Once your image is selected, click 'open' to load the image into PhotoStudio. In the 'Picture Base' is all the wall hangings you have in your game, Maxis-Made. Scroll through the images until you see one that resembles the shape of your image. I chose this bowl of fruit first. Now, when you look at the preview of Chica, it's widened and unproportional. (This is why you check the preview button.) So, I'll keep looking for one that better resembles Chica's mug shape. Page - 2 -
At last, I've found one. The Grilled Cheese. It doesn't disort her pretty face any, and seems to be just what I need to display her in game. In box one, you'll see a link that says 'create'. You'll need to click that to create your wall hanging. Once clicked, another pop-up appears and it asks you to name your creation, and save it somewhere. I choose to name it 'ChicaBonita'. You'll need to give it a descriptive name in case you want to go back and delete it later. I also, choose to save mine directly into my downloads folder, that way I won't have to move it around or search for it later. Hit 'save' when you're satisfied. Page - 3 -
Once you hit 'save' all your SimPE pop-ups will disappear, and you're left with this. This is basically a jumbo size of what you've just created. Arrow 1 is what is highlighted when you first hit 'save'. What you want to do though, is click on the very top selection, where arrow 2 is pointing. It changes your view, and opens a new window at the bottom where your image was just a moment ago. It looks something like this... Page - 4 -
This is where you'll be able to truly preview your creation to be sure it fits the framing and looks proportional and suits your fancy. Clicking 'preview' is as close to ingame as you can get without going ingame. When clicked, the preview may take a bit to load, but it should look something like this... Page - 5 -
Now, I always check my stuff in game just to be sure. Sure, it looks okay here...but, I like to double check my work before saying 'I'm done'. So, before we go ingame, I want to save Chica one more time. Go to 'file' and then 'save'. Now, we also want to check our downloads folder to make sure our file is there. If you saved the image somewhere else originally, now is the time to move it to the downloads folder. You should have something like this that I've highlighted, only your's will obviously be named something else...or is it?! Once you can see your items there, it's time to go in game and see how we've done. Page - 6 -
It's also best to make note of what image you are recoloring, it certainly makes a difference in the time it takes you to find the image later in game. I used the Grilled Cheese picture, rememer? So let's click on it and see what happens. Look, there's Chica! In the middle!...okay, so we've done well up until now. Let's go ahead and put her on the wall and see how she really looks. Aww, she looks great. That worked out nicely. She is not distorted or anything. She's great. So, there you have it. A few easy steps and you've made a wall hanging! Remember, this only works for Single Framed Wall Hangings, I am a beginner at this myself, and do not know how to recolor multiframe hangings as of right now. It seems like a lot now, but I promise you...you'll have it down pat in no time and making all sorts of wall hangings for your sims to enjoy! Page - 7 -