CC suggestions?

Well, considering the game is 10 years old, it's a bit like finding a needle in the haystack if you're searching for current, high quality CC via google or something. Most of it lives on Tumblr. Here's a few helpful blogs to browse:

This one is pretty much inactive, but was active for a long, long time and has a lot of good CC to look through:
https://sssvitlans.tumblr.com/

These are all active:
https://pis3update.tumblr.com/

https://nemiga-s3cc-finds.tumblr.com/

https://smfinds.tumblr.com/

As for something more specific, I adore Santos Fashion:
https://santosfashionsims.tumblr.com

As for getting a more HQ feel, you can use this:
http://modthesims.info/d/600416/extrareal-graphics-shader.html

A custom skin, of course, isn't going to magically make clothes, hair, or anything else in the game have better texture quality. But there are plenty CC clothes, hair, and everything else that will use high res textures than EA. Also, you can use a moderate HQ Mod to make the game crisper looking. I say a moderate one, because you will guaranteed get Error 12'd using a high end HQ Mod during normal gameplay. If you'd like I can send you the HQ GraphicsRule that I use. I use it all the time, so I'll post some pics so you can get the feel for how it makes the game look.

Kurasoberina's Primer Skin in Ultra HD is a favorite of many simmers as go-to CC skin. But if you'd like, I use a skintone for my female sims that I think is awesome. It isn't available to download anymore, but if you want it I can send it to you. (It is only available for female sims, though). Here are some pics to show the skin and my HQ Mod (under a spoiler, just in case I can't stop posting pics :lol: ):

Lots of links for clothing in this thread - http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=572134

Current new hairstyles - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/browse/category/sims3-hair/
Hair can be tricky as you don't really know what it looks like till your sim is sprouting it from it's head so I like to use this - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qBa59yKIUPuzGJS8KJ7s7IHLxaOZkNChK_pK4PLUI3o/edit#gid=0 - then I find a redo by others. This is a good one too - http://r2mcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/female%20hair#/page/1 - has some styles that are "fixed" (especially for guys).

Nice eyebrows are essential. There are some good ones here - https://kurasoberina.tumblr.com/post/159837823959/old-misc-makeup-dump
(not sure if the links still work)

Makeup - my favorite is - https://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/Gosik/downloads/browse/category/sims3-makeup/
Eyeliner, eyeshadow all helps. You can also find freckles and beauty marks by the same person. Very nice and subtle.

Although I've never used them, sliders are another way to give your sim different, non-pudding looks. Google is your friend.

My preference is for realism so my suggestions might not be of use to you. I do use OneEuromutt's Default replacement hair retextures for base and EP hairs but, because I rarely use EA hair, can't say how much difference they make.
https://oneeuromutt.tumblr.com/post/117193493186/sims-3-base-game-hair-retexture-replacement-no-hq

As for getting a more HQ feel, you can use this:
http://modthesims.info/d/600416/extrareal-graphics-shader.html

@Emily4331 Wow! :open_mouth: That looks amazing! :star:

Question though: Would I need to download the reshade thing or is that all included in the file you choose to add to your game?

"KatyFernlily;c-17066074" wrote:
Lots of links for clothing in this thread - http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=572134

Current new hairstyles - https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/browse/category/sims3-hair/
Hair can be tricky as you don't really know what it looks like till your sim is sprouting it from it's head so I like to use this - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qBa59yKIUPuzGJS8KJ7s7IHLxaOZkNChK_pK4PLUI3o/edit#gid=0 - then I find a redo by others. This is a good one too - http://r2mcreations.blogspot.com/search/label/female%20hair#/page/1 - has some styles that are "fixed" (especially for guys).

Nice eyebrows are essential. There are some good ones here - https://kurasoberina.tumblr.com/post/159837823959/old-misc-makeup-dump
(not sure if the links still work)

Makeup - my favorite is - https://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/Gosik/downloads/browse/category/sims3-makeup/
Eyeliner, eyeshadow all helps. You can also find freckles and beauty marks by the same person. Very nice and subtle.

Although I've never used them, sliders are another way to give your sim different, non-pudding looks. Google is your friend.

I've used sliders. Unfortunately with the way the sliders in Sims 3 work, adding sliders ends up being a bit of a gamble. You'll get a sim looking great in CAS with custom sliders but then as soon as they're performing an in-game task, the animation is memeworthy (i.e. the human body does not work like that..no..wut...are..you doing...no....stahp).

"Mikezumi;c-17066114" wrote:
My preference is for realism so my suggestions might not be of use to you. I do use OneEuromutt's Default replacement hair retextures for base and EP hairs but, because I rarely use EA hair, can't say how much difference they make.
https://oneeuromutt.tumblr.com/post/117193493186/sims-3-base-game-hair-retexture-replacement-no-hq

For me, it's more of an overall aesthetic. When I'm playing Sims 3, the way sims and the environment are animated, I definitely prefer to have a more realistic look. Whereas when I'm playing Sims 4, the animations and environment complement the slightly cartoonish (I'd actually describe it as more anime/comic book-esque tbh) skins, hair and clothing.
I'd honestly say that Sims 3 feels like it was graphically indecisive when it comes to EA default. Some EA default clothing items look more detailed and appealing than others, some parts of the sims have more detail than others, the hair texture looks like it's trying to be realistic but the styles make no sense. Like they couldn't decide what kind of style they were going for. Whereas with Sims 4, the EA default style, while not realistic, is at least artistically cohesive throughout the game.
(in my head I'm picturing this scenario:
Sims 3
EA: Okay, we're giving each of you a body part to design. You people over there in that general direction, make us some hairstyles. And the rest of you in the back corner, make some clothing items.
Random person in corner: But I'm the janitor.
EA: Eh, you'll figure it out.
Graphic Artists: *each designs parts based on personal style and preference*
EA: Now we put it all together.
Graphic Artists: Something seems a little off about this.
EA: It's fine. We spent the rest of the budget on gameplay.

Sims 4
Graphic Artist #1: So I made these sets of clothing and checked with Cathy and Dexter over there working on pants and underwear to make sure we're all on the same page and using a similar set of base textures for denim, silk, cotton, etc.
EA: Good, good. Make sure to check what each style with the base sim design we've got set up just to make sure they all look okay together, touch up if needed.
Graphic Artist # 2: I made a few hair styles I added a bit of personal touch to these 3, what do you think?
EA: Those 3 look really nice, but I think we need to tone this down here it doesn't really match the default skin. And Brenda, for the last time, this makeup looks ridiculous on our base male, please do it over and use the textures we told you to!
Game Tester: So I was playing with this new feature and my sims started doing this really annoying thing whe-
EA: *interrupts* Not now Chad, we're making art over here. Take it to programming.
Programmer: Bug?
Game Tester: Yea. It's really-
Programmer: Fill out a form an put it in the bug bin. *points to giant stack of papers*)

@emorrill You do not need ReShade, no. :smile: Just follow the installation instructions provided.

my type of thread!

My favorite clothing:
https://chisamidream.wixsite.com/homegrown/women
This one is neat.Its set up like a store, you don't really buy them, you just download them.

https://notilikeyourfacesims.tumblr.com/

http://renansims3cc.blogspot.com/search/label/femalesims

I have over 60+ sites bookmarked, if you need anything in particular I'll look through them but these are some of my favs.

"Emily4331;c-17065956" wrote:

A custom skin, of course, isn't going to magically make clothes, hair, or anything else in the game have better texture quality. But there are plenty CC clothes, hair, and everything else that will use high res textures than EA. Also, you can use a moderate HQ Mod to make the game crisper looking. I say a moderate one, because you will guaranteed get Error 12'd using a high end HQ Mod during normal gameplay. If you'd like I can send you the HQ GraphicsRule that I use. I use it all the time, so I'll post some pics so you can get the feel for how it makes the game look.

Definitely would like to try out that HQ GraphicsRule if you can send me a link. Out of curiosity, why won't the game function with a high end HQ mod, is it just a matter of too much data? Like I said, I'm more familiar with Sims 4 and since the aesthetic in Sims 4 doesn't bother me, I don't really bother with HQ or hyper-realistic CC for it, just a ton of gameplay mods and some maxis-match stuff, so this is my first time really looking into these kind of mods for a game.

@TyrianPrince It's not a matter of the game not functioning with it, just that it will eventually crash or be unable to save because the game has expended its usable memory (4 GBs, if I recall) maintaining the HQ graphics. The game is made to only utilize up to 4 GBs of memory, so it doesn't matter how much your computer has.

Here's the one I typically use: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftarye63dj1brip/GraphicsRules.sgr?dl=0

Now that won't guaranteed not cause any issues due to max memory usage, so I'd highly recommend keeping a backup of the game's original GraphicsRule somewhere you'll remember. I keep a folder for each one on my desktop and switch in and out if I find I need to revert back to the normal one for regular gameplay.

To use it, just copy and paste the new GraphicsRule into the game's folder wherever you installed it. For example, Local Disk (C:)>Program Files>Origin>The Sims 3>Game>Bin

The Bin is where you paste. :smile: