"Nindl;c-16241983" wrote:
@Rflong7
Thank you for that info! However, the issue doesn't seem to be connected to layers as it happens also when I don't use layers.
I discovered that the lightning issue only arises with bottoms that have bump (normal) maps. As you can see in the picture I posted at the beginning, it works with one skirt whereas with the other skirt it looks buggy. The skirt where it works doesn't have a bump (normal) map, the other one does.
So an imported top without normal maps works with bottoms both with and without normal maps.
But an imported top with normal maps only works with a bottom without normal maps but not with a bottom with normal maps.
https://i.imgur.com/8wXnmq8.png
Here, the first row shows the files of a skirt that works, the second row the files of a skirt that doesn't work.
So it seems the root of the problem are those normal maps and that they somehow conflict. I wish there was a way to just delete or disable all of them. :/
Isn't that basically what we all said? We said some tops will not work with some bottoms. We don't know why, a top without bump mapping will not work well with a bottom with bump mapping. I know the NormalMatTexture will override everything you do unless you change it, but I don't know if it changes the default outfit and would replace it as a default, I don't clone from SimPE, I just do as Rflong does and use transparency and layers stuff to make my new outfits from Maxis meshes.
The article says you have to replace the bumpmapping with the writer's bumpmapping. Maybe try that but make sure to follow those instructions without skipping any steps. Remove what you did install and try again, that is the only advise I can do. As for me, I have a long way to grow before I start cloning and using SimPE. I have found layers and transparancy (even in MS Paint) can do a lot I thought wasn't possible and I learned the hard way that sheen is on all Maxis tops. The NormalMat Texture is the key but ask over on MTS if it would be o.k. to copy over it, unless you want to wind up with default replacements. The writer over the article you supplied is supplying default replacement files for download so maybe follow those instructions carefully. I'm not savvy enough to tell you if her textures work or not.
ETA: Many archived sites offer meshes (without textures) and ready to download, for you to recolor or texture etc. Just because something looks like a sweater doesn't have to remain one when you use an outfit to cut and paste over and change it to something else, like a coat. Good luck, and keep researching it will help you and I appreciate the article, too, it will help me learn more I need to know later.
