Forum Discussion

15 years ago

Caw FAQ's........Links to Tutorials, and Resources. Textures, & Troubleshooting

Caw Tutorials & Information

Hello Everyone http://i39.servimg.com/u/f39/17/38/99/71/wave_s10.gif
This is an information archive listing for all the pertinent information out there concerning Caw. You can help by alerting me of any new information out there you don't see listed, or you can write a tutorial of your own if you see information lacking. Just post with a link to the information, and I'll include it under the appropriate heading.
Thank you for your help. http://i61.tinypic.com/2v9ybth.jpg
Also let me know if there are any broken links, or typos http://i39.servimg.com/u/f39/17/38/99/71/th_smi10.gif

Announcements:

11/2014 - Simlogical forums have closed and moved all downloads to http://www.simlogical.com/
9/2014-Mediafire-There has been a rash of creators who's mediafire accounts have been frozen, and their content deleted due to a fragulant claim of copyright infringement. I don't know the particulars, and feel free to post if you know any, but it's my recomendation you backup your mediafire uploads and provide a mirror download from another file sharing site such as box or google drive

.
Creators Impacted: If you or another creator you know of has been impact and have moved your files, let me know.
Awesims - You can find her CC & Worlds at Sims Cave just Search "Awesims"

Using Downloaded Worlds - FAQ, Tips, and Tricks
Great info for the players of user created worlds.

Direct Link to the Create a World Tool Download:
http://thesims3.com/content/global/downloads/caw/worldtool.exe
Super Caw by _A_ @ Simlogical
png2caw by _A_ @ Simlogical for converting height map png's to 16 bit
S3PE-Simlogical

Caw Troubleshooting, Latest Patch Info, Error Messages.

SOLVED: Cannot open Edit in Game, not a version mismatch issue
Edit in Game Opens Sims 3 Launcher
Need help trying to figure out what the heck is going on? Go here.....
Create A World - CAW not running? CAW running slowly? Updated as needed by Simsample @ MTS
Steam installation, and Caw by LittleMinxUndr @ ts3tutorials

This thread is a compilation of some very useful info about creating a world, at MTS, and also around the web......
Useful Resources, Common Issues, and Much More Check here for links I may have missed. Armiel at MTS keeps this updated.

Other Active Caw Forums

MTS: Create a World Forum
Mod The Sims: Caw WIP
The Sims Creators' Consortium: Caw Section
Create Your World Un mundo para ti This is a Spanish speaking forum, you can use Google Chrome to translate
Pasimfic Wiki a Create-a-World database
Carl and Pam's The Sims 3 Caw Forum
SimsExpressie CAW Resources

Beginners Caw Tutorials & Walk Through

The first two tutorials are from EA, and came out with the Caw tool. The rest of the tutorials are good basic tutorials written by Simmers in the community. This is all I know about right now. As usual, If you know of a good tutorial here, or on another site, post here and I'll add it to the list.

EA's The Sims™ 3 Create a World Tool – Beta Walk Through
EA's Create a World Beta pdf

CAW tutorial - First Contact by Anushka @ Carl and Pam's The Sims 3 Forum
HOW TO CREATE A WORLD - THE SIMS 3 CAW TOOL GUIDE by Krrank......Learning to use CAW, the easy way. Tutorials and Downloads.
Shalua's Create-a-World FAQs @ ts3tutorials
Sims Wiki: Tutorials: Creating Sims 3 Worlds by HystericalParoxysm
Video Tutorial: How to Create a World - Part One By The Sims Supply
Video Tutorial: How to Create a World - Part Two By The Sims Supply
Video Tutorial: How to Create a World - The Basics By The Sims Supply
Creating A World That Doesn't Suck by TVR Designs @ Sims 3 Wiki
Building a world Part 1-6 By Stw 402 @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium
Building a world Part 7-10 By Stw 402 @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium
Building a world Part 11-12 By Stw 402 @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium

Tips & Tricks from Other Cawsters

How to: Find an Object In the World Layers Panel by Rflong7, EA Caw Forum
Create A World Tips to get you started by Richdre @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium
Beta Testing a World..........Tips & Tricks @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium

Height Maps

Procedural Generation of Terrain Discussion and Tipsstarted by aminovas @ EA Caw Forum
PNG Height Map Tutorial with CS4 by Juleslessthanthr33 @ wordpress
Creating Your Own Height Map Sims 3 Wiki @ TSR
How to create a world using Real-World Height data by Napalm_VFR @ EA Caw Forum

Textures, Terrain Painting & Sculpting

How To - Making Sure Your Terrain is Flat by Rflong7 @ EA Caw Forum
Making Transparent Textures by Simsample @ EA Caw Forum
Source Texture Organization Getting all those textures organized, with pictures for easier identification by auntielynds @ TS3CC II
How to extract textures from EA Worlds by auntielynds, EA Caw forum
How to paint your rocks by HturnerP, EA Caw forum
Create A World - Terrain Painting Tips by Simsample @ MTS
Textures: *A full list of CAW Default textures- In photos * by lovingreds, EA Caw Forum
Downloading and Installing Textures for Caw EA Caw forum
The Easy Way to Create Terrain Textures. by Jericosan EA Caw forum
Create a World: Terrain Tools Sims 3 Wiki @ TSR
Making Craters in CAW by Rflong7, EA Caw Forum
Terrain Show! (show off your terrain and tips!) at MTS Great thread with tips and tricks of Terrain Painting, including how to erase them.
Help building a realistic pier @ MTS Different approaches on creating piers, and barges in Caw.
1. How to Build a Boat Pier by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
2. How to Build Underwater Lots & Dock Ports by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
This goes with my How to Build a Boat Pier tutorial. It's the second part to it!

Roads & Bridges

Basics: Road Gradation Tool EA Caw Forum
Possible to replace placed roads with different design, quick and dirty? by Simsample @ MTS....Post #7
Tutorial: Replacing Existing Roads in Caw @TS3CC II
List of Street Names by Rflong, EA Caw Forum
CAW Basic Road Tutorial by Richdre @ The Sims Creators' Consortium
CAW Custom Roads Tutorial by Richdre @ The Sims Creators' Consortium
Basic Bridge Tutorial by Richdre @ The Sims Creators' Consortium
How to create a bridge In CAW by ryanmountford2
Video Tutorial: Create a World, Bridges By The Sims Supply
Video Tutorial: How to make a layer and delete roads in Create a World for Sims 3
Video Tutorial: How to Connect Roads
Tutorial: How to Create a Highway by Jasumi @ EA Caw Forum

Meta Data Objects Tips & Info

The Fog Emitter object gives special effects in game - a list by mikitta47 EA Caw Forum
Fog Emitter Effects Animations Series by SimEve , Creative Works Blogspot
The Easy-Peasy Distant Terrain Tutorial by HeyWhatReub, EA Caw Forum
Aligning Distant Terrain by Kiwi tea @ Pasimfic Wiki
Lists the names of each distant terrain alongside their positions and rotations
CAW Spawner Tips for a Medium Sized World by Richdre @ Bear Mountain Creations
Which Spawners Have What by Regina @ CS3 @ TS3 Tutorial Archive
Using Fog Emitters in Caw@ TS3CC II
CAW Plants Cheat Sheet by HystericalParoxysm @ MTS

Recoloring Rabbitholes, Plants, and other Objects

*Custom Bridges Tutorial (NO Custom content!)* by ThomsonJamie @ EA Caw Forum
Piddlesam Easy Tutorial to Recolouring Rabbitholes by Piddlesam @ TS3CC II
Adding & Extracting Metadata Objects: Recolors, Rabbit Holes, Trees, ect. by auntielynds @ Simlogical

Routing, Routing Paint, & Camera Routing

Find Routing Issues Quickly and Easily by Daniel @ Sims 3 New York Blog
Perfecting Routing, an OC approach to routing paint... by Eyelem @ TS3CC II
Basics on Sim-Routing in Create a World-Tool by armiel @ MTS

Waterfalls, Rivers, Surf, & Caves

How To Build A Cave by 8NiSci8 , EA Caw forum
How to make your waterfall look realistic by Sim Outlaw, EA Caw forum

Exporting, Thumbnails, Installing & Uploading Your World

Routine to Export a World by Junceda EA Caw Forum
How To Create-A-World 24Bit PNG with Paint by cllevett Youtube Video
How To: Make Sure CC Doesn't Piggyback in on Your World Export by auntielynds, TS3CC
Installing your World without Uploading to the Exchange by auntielynds, TS3CC
Changing the WPID File to Give Your World a Different I.D. to re-upload to the Exchange by auntielynds @ Simlogical
Video Tutorial: How to Export Your World - Includes instructions on how to make a 256x256 .png image, how to export, & install/upload your world.
Thumbnails: 24 bit Png Image Creation with Paint.net by auntielynds EA Caw forum
Pre-made 24bit pngs for Caw thumbnails Download

Lots, Lots, & Lots

Residential lot cost by default by mikitta47 EA caw forum
Lot Types in The Sims 3 (Up to University) by ThomsonJamie @ EA Caw Forum
Rabbit Hole Wiki by FaithofKaela @ Rabbit Hole Wiki Blog
* Community Lot Guide & Check List by Geminiagre @ EA Caw Forum
Ways of fighting "Sprawl" or "lot creep" already available. by Damienf519 @ EA Caw Forum
* The Sims Wiki: Lot Assignment Info This tells you exactly what each lot assignment does, By Kiwi Tea
This list can be sorted alphabetically, by type of rabbithole, by size, or by expansion/store set required.
Rabbithole lot sizes by Kiwi tea @ Pasimfic Wiki
Sunken or Raised Lot Fix by Amaholus, EA Caw Forum
Set Front of Lot CBedna01 EA Caw Forum
Tips for perspective and terrain conformation by Roswin @ TS3 Tutorial Archive

Lot Building Tuts

List of Building Tutorials or How do I do That? EA Creative Corner Forum
*How to build an Apartment - In 8 steps* (Deconstruction Method) by lovingreds EA CAW Forum
Working with Late Night Apartments by LoCatus @ TS3CC
House Apartment Building!! by MrCrumplebottom1 EA Caw Forum

Tombs
The Sims 3 Tomb Creation Guide @ Carl's The Sims 3 Guide
The Sims 3 World Adventures – Tomb Building #2 @ Sims Programs
The Sims 3 World Adventures Tomb Creation 101 @ planetthesims.gamespy.com
The Sims 3: World Adventures Building Tombsl @ IGN
Tomb Building: The Processor by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Overview by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Building Basic by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Building Advanced by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Building: Triggers and Activated Behaviours by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Creation 101 by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Making a Resetting Trap in 10 Easy Steps by glen416 EA Caw forum

Johnnywr
15 years ago
Thank goodness for Auntielynds. Just a nod of appreciation for moving so quickly in getting a FAQs out and up on the first page (where it should be).

Why are these forums such a bloody disgrace? What a hassle!

Oh, by the way, good luck with your exams water_cat.
auntielynds
15 years ago
Thanks Johnny.

It seems my idea to have multiple people in charge of the FAQ is not an acceptable idea to EA. Evidentally they would ban us for doing that, which just seems silly to me. I was thinking if we had a group of the more mature Cawsters, that routinely answered questions on this forum, be able to update the FAQ Sticky. That way if someone dropped off the face of the Sims Community, others would be to continue it.

Maybe if we asked EA nicely. :)
auntielynds
15 years ago
Could everyone help me keep this on the front page until one of the moderators, or Guru's accidentally stumbles into our little Caw forum?
Johnnywr
15 years ago
I agree Auntielynds, this should be temporarily stickied.
MlsterGreen
15 years ago
Just a BUMP to keep this going and alive on the front page :P
auntielynds
15 years ago
Thank you Conorsim,
I'm doing my daily bump. I decided to add some of my tuts while I'm bumping, So here is the 24 bit png. tut;

24 bit Png Image Creation with Paint.net
.

First you need a 24bit .png image. If you don't have Paint.net go download it now. It's free and you'll use it all the time, at least I do. I also use Gimp which is also free, but it won't give you a choice of 24 bit.

Now if you don't have an in game pic of your world go into Caw and get one. You can either go into edit in game and take a snap shot or hit shift and print screen.

Open up paint.net and either paste your image if you did the prtscr, or go get your snap shot which will be in;
Documents,
Electronic Arts,
Sims 3
Screenshots

Just drag and drop onto the paint.net screen.

Crop the Image
Use the rectangle tool to make a square over the image. be sure to make it the same height and width. then go up to the top menu bar and click on Image, then click the first "Crop to Selection". Then click on "Resize" right below "Crop to Selection", and under pixel size put in 256.

http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/68c68912.jpg

http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/253b9f10.jpg

http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/20921110.jpg

http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/ede0c910.jpg

So, we're going to crop the image to 256x256 pixels, then "save as"
Click on the "save as type" PNG
Now a little box will come up and you click the 24 bit.
http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/314eea11.jpg

http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/8b69d410.jpg

Put the png image where you can find it, and load Caw.

Tip: Make a folder for your .png images that will not be moved, like in your documents folder. Place your .png images there. If your not completly finished with your project, and the .png gets moved, then the link you've made for yor image will be broken, and the default world image will take it's place.
......................................................................http://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/15/13/17/05/th/defaul11.png

In Caw under World Layers the first line will be the name of your world. Right click on that, and click on Add/Edit Description. Hit the browse button and find your png image. Now add your description.

Make sure you Save at this point before you export.

http://i47.tinypic.com/1zgdbi1.jpg

Tip: Once you've "Exported world" it will be in your Launcher under uploads. If you don't want to upload to the exchange click on "show file" a window will pop up with the Sims3pack. Just double click on that and your world will install. Remember, you can only upload your world to the exchange once. If you upload before it's ready and then delete it from your studio, you still will not be able to upload it again.

I hope this made sense, I kind of rattled on. :lol:

Let me know if you have any problems. :D
water_cat1
15 years ago
nice addition. bump and also with the image cropping -

The rectangle selection tool in paint.net, when selected click on the button that currently says "normal" (on the bottom row before the image part)
select "fixed ratio"
change the ration to 1 : 1
now every time you drag the box it will be a perfect square.

Edit: I just remembered that the other sticky was the road tutorial, anyone have a back up? or attempt to make a new one and maybe it could be placed in here, instead of requiring a new thread.
auntielynds
15 years ago
The yellow camera non-routing also acts as sim non-routing, so no, you do not need to go over the yellow with the blue. :-)
Rawla
Seasoned Newcomer
15 years ago
This is very helpful information. Thank you for transferring it here too. :)
auntielynds
15 years ago
"Adding Layers" is on the first page of this thread, about halfway down the page. Pictures and everything! :D