Part E. Learn What Mesh your Texture is going to look best on

Sometimes it's just a "try it" process when adding a new texture to a mesh and sometimes you can look at how the texture looks on the original mesh (or the creator's recolor of it) and use a pattern very similar.

For example: Maxis City Side Modern Sofa and Loveseat

Let's look at the original mesh textures: In SimPe choose File/Open

C:Program Files/EA Games/The Sims2/TSData/Res/Sims3D/Objects9 (you can view all Maxis object texures in Objects1 - 9...they are alphabetical according to mesh name - 0Lifo (the first one) contains the largest graphic)

1. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-blackleather0 (Black Leather Texture)

2. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-cordoroy0 (Cordoroy Texture)

3. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-floral0 (Floral Texture - not available in SimPe Workshop)

4. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-gator0 (Gator Texture)

4a. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-gator-bumpmap0 (Bumpmap)

5. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-leather0 (Original Leather Texture)

6. sofamodernsteelframe-fabric-stripe0 (Stripe Texture)

*Notice that none of these textures have large prints on them! That's because of the way the sofa/loveseat is meshed!

Here's a picture of it in Milkshape - any texure you put on the bottom (under the cushions) will be stretched. See the Front view in Milkshape, along the bottom there are not a lot of vertexes/faces (the triangle shapes) as there are for the rest of the sofa so any texture you put here will be more stretched than the rest of the object.

and the UV map is really useless to try the recolor on (a lot of Maxis UV maps are like this)

If you choose Black Leather (or the original Leather Texture) you can use any color/texture you want but remember it's supposed to look like leather which means it will be a bit shiney.

Here's a recolor I did using the Black Leather png.

Not too bad with a little more texture added but notice the bottom is more stretched than the rest of the texture.

If you choose Cordoroy you can probably get away with a tiny striped fabric, small floral, or one that is more plushy textured.

Here's a recolor I did using the Cordoroy png.

I did find a little work around for the bottom texture (see how it doesn't look so stretched on this sofa) I'll tell you about that later in this tutorial!

You cannot choose the Floral Texture in Object Workshop but you can use a floral texture similar to it.

Here's the one I did using the Lifo Floral Texture

I tried the work around for the bottom of this one also - better but not great!!

If you choose the Gator Texture along with the bumpmap texture you have many options because you do have a bumpmap that you can edit to get different effects.

Here's the one I did - Brown Snakeskin with the bumpmap

And here's one I did using the same graphic (texture) on the original Leather Sofa without a bumpmap.

It's hard to see here but the only noticeable difference I saw was the one with no bumpmap was lighter in color and was only a little less detailed. The bumpmapped one also was a little more shiney.

If you choose the Stripe Texture you can use any color/texture but don't use a large stripe or pattern because it will stretch in places where it just won't look good!

Here's the one I did.

notice that the bottom is stretched even after using the work-around! This print is too large to use on this sofa so it would look better with a smaller print!

OK, for the work-around:

This is the template I made for the sofa (it was made from the original leather sofa (gold color)

Now look at the photo below, see the area where the arrows are? That's the bottom of the sofa...yes, that tiny little space is the whole bottom...and you wonder why it would have to be stretched! BAD MESH

In order for that part not to look so stretched out you're going to have to make the texture/print you put there much smaller...at least 50% (but probably even more) Another thing you have to consider is that it's going to reverse any texture/print you put here in the middle.

For example: Look at the bottom of the sofa below. See how the print reverses in the middle.

There's a lot of Maxis meshes that do this and I'm sure there's probably a work-around for that too, but I haven't really taken the time to explore that possibility.

That's not to say Maxis doesn't make good meshes because they do look good in-game...they just aren't that recolor friendly!!

Anyway, here's the area you need to fill with a smaller texture/pattern.

And you get a better result

Like this (not GREAT, but better!!)

I hope this has given you a little better insight as to what texture/print is going to look best on a mesh.

Remember, a rule of thumb: If the texture/print you're using is close (in size and design) to what you see on the creators mesh or any other recolors, it should look about the same for your recolor!!

Any questions, please fill free to post.

~Dee~

p.s. If anyone wants the template I did for this sofa/loveseat, or any of my recolors just ask and I will upload!