PICTURE POSTINGThe best size for posting pictures on the thread is 640px wide by 480px high.
Change the size right in your post. Just right after the .jpg key in "width=640" "height=480" before the final tag. There are many programs and websites that can be used to change the size of the picture to be posted.
Magician1: for example uses ‘Irfanview’ (See link below) to resize. "I open the picture in question in Irfanview and then click on ‘Images’ ‘Resize/Resample’ then I type in the Horizontal value: 640. In the Vertical Value : 480 and click 'OK'. Save the Picture. Then I go to the following Website :
Photobucket and load my picture there and once done, I copy the 'Image Code' and paste it in the body of my post on the thread."
MerryWiddow: "I use
TinyPic.com. You can upload your screenshots directly from your Screenshots folder. Then at the tinypic site you can change the size to a width of 640px and a height of 480px. After you upload it, the site gives you the links needed. Use the one that says it's for forums. Just copy from the tinypic site and paste it in the thread body"
You can also take the picture from the picture sharing site of your choice and change the size right as you upload it. Just choose the forum size of 640 x 480 pixels.
CHANGING THE COVER PICTUREWell there are a couple of methods to change the cover picture of your lot. This is the one both Magician1 and MerryWiddow use. It is by simmer Zinda799. It is very easy to use and safe.
You will find it on page 2, 3rd post down on Zinda799's forum. Here is the link.
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/15/100449.page. Please leave her a thank you.
To prepare a picture for this wonderful program you will need to create a square 512 x 512 .png file. How do I do that you ask?
There is a good free program called
Irfanview that you can use to edit your photographs. A tutorial available call
Ten Things You Can Do With Irfanview will help you to understand this versatile program. Magician1 uses this program and MerryWiddow uses Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Another Program you can use, Paint.NET: http://www.dotpdn.com/downloads/pdn.html512x512 Cover Pic Tutorial using Irfanview by XOX1
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/157391.page#1861975
How to Change your Cover Picture on MAC by Kquinn:http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/182189.page#2171740
LEARNING CFELesson One Adding a Garage to a Foundation, Sunken Living Room and Raised Bedroom Tri-Level House.
Lesson Two L-shaped Stairs, U-shaped Stairs and Building on Stilts.
Let us Learn togetherDOWNLOADABLE CC: At this Link:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/5550/121128.page#2030643
Please note that roof beams show up under fencing as black squares...and don't actually show up until they are used as a fence... then they float 1 story above whatever level you put them on
WHAT DOWN LOADERS ARE LOOKING FOR:Magic_Dancer wrote:
Because most Downloaders look for a Specific lot at the time they need it.
What makes them pick one lot over another is the cover picture.
And whichever lot is closest to the front. Don't want to go looking through 58 pages of lots. So, High recs bring a lot to the top and Featured lots.
The_Blue_Maiden wrote:
What he/she said, first impressions are important. Most times I just glance at the first page and see if anything catches my eye.
What usually does is either sweet looking country houses or super modern ones. I don't usually go for the big mansions, a. because they take forever to load when you download them, and b. they're not practical! Why would you need an eleventy bedroom house? You can have eight sims at a time, plus a guest bedroom if ya need it.
87Oranges wrote:
Hi magician1-
First of all, thank you for taking the time to organize a thread dedicated to helping people expand their building potential. Even though I'm just reading through it for the first time, I will definitely use some of the old assignments as templates for lots I create. Nice job.
Now as for what I look for when I download... This may very well be just me, but I pay particularly close attention to the level of detail and how much character a building has. Are there a lot of interesting pattern and color choices, or did the creator just pull something from build mode without making some adjustments in create a style (when applicable)? Is the building a glorified box, or are there interesting angles and niches? How about landscaping? I don't really prefer one style (like modern, suburban, etc.) because I try to match the sims with where they live - this means lots of variety for my neighborhoods. If it's a community lot, I like to find something that won't stick out in the area of town I place it in. And although I like a polished, finished look, I also try to see if there is just a little bit of room for me to make expansions or changes if I would decide to keep the lot for a few generations. I personally enjoy making small changes as my sims age so that the buildings they live in/visit don't seem to stay static but instead develop with them, kind of like real life.
Ok, apologies if that's more info than you needed. I'm going to bookmark your thread - I'm looking forward to seeing what you all create next.
judithmgalloway wrote:
These are some of the things that are important to me when downloading houses etc...
1. Cover Pic - a good cover pic will catch my eye, but it's not going to make me download the creation on its own.
2. Form over function - the design may be radical, ingenious or the house/lot may be breathtaking, but how playable will it actually be? Has the builder made something that looks fantastic, but plays like a lame dog? Can I judge this from the pictures and/or floorplans?
3. Lot description - amusing descriptions always encourage me, but what I really want to know is what I will be getting if I download, not just rooms/spaces, but any perks or tricks (are there fish? harvestable plants? interesting gadgets?).
4. Custom/Premium Content - personally, I'm unlikely to download anything that contains Premium Items from the store (yes, I know if I haven't got it, the game will substitute - but I still tend to avoid those lots/houses). Likewise, if there is any other CC (EA or other), I want to know about it before I download it. Put the fact that you've used your own custom patterns/CC/whatever in the description, please! Then I can decide whether I want it or not, and I don't spend my time cussing some unknown creator when I'm trying to get rid of "X" patterns or CC.
5. Lot size - huge lots/mansions, no thanks. Strange-shaped lots that mean I have to bulldoze the Spa/Bistro/Library, no thanks (though CAW will make this less irritating).
Basically, I'm looking for lots/buildings that look nice/interesting (they don't have to be the most amazing masterpiece ever), don't jar with their surroundings (please don't terrain paint right up to the very edge of your lot unless you're going to give me a fence or some other break between your lot and the terrain beyond it), show some originality, but most important of all, play well!
But those are just my thoughts, and I'm sure plenty of people will disagree! :D
snuttdi wrote:
Magician1
Thanks for posting this thread as I am a frequent downloader of lots.
I would suggest more starter homes that still have some uniqueness and personality to them. There seems to be alot of large homes in comparison to small homes which are also needed.
Mansions...although beautiful for the rich, doesn't always meet the needs of the lower to middle income families.
I do look for functionality( does the home come with study or hobby needs outside of bookcases (i.e. chess table, telescope, gym equipment, guitar, garden, etc).
I would love to have Sunset Valley house a number of homes from all income brackets. I like personality or atmosphere more than just beauty. I ask myself does the home look inviting, friendly, homey, comfortable, is it functional, is there a garden? I look for things of this sort.
I would like to see homes/apartments that have more of an inner city look to them. I think dirt/grime/chipped bricks/ and graffiti has it's place amongst some cities.
I will be checking out the Creative Corner to learn how to start building myself and to hopefully be able to contribute to the community.
I'm not sure if what I posted helps, but, these are my thoughts.
Oh, what about more brownstone homes? I'm no architect and I am not sure if that's the right terminology but I hope you get my meaning.
I would like to make Sunset Valley or Riverview to look more like realistic cities.
Thanks for your interest in what downloaders are looking for.
Another note, I agree with a couple of other posters... I try not to download Premium content because although I might like the home I see posted...it may be part of the Premium content that drew me in and if I don't have it...it kinda spoils it for me.
Here's another thought...garages are often times used for more than just parking cars...i.e. workshops!
Grounding the homes/plants/ and such look more realistic than just having them placed. I tend to ground quite a bit of them when I do add them to the game with some dirt, worn out grass, weeds, something...just to make it more realistic.
Well, I got long winded...sorry. Hope this helps!
tolkien1001 wrote:I like old styled houses with a nice garden. Rivers with bridges make a nice touch.
Victorian,winter themed, asian and wooden houses.
