Over on Twitter, @TheSims stated that we should post suggestions for improvement to gallery images here. I am coming at the issue from the perspective of a builder. There are several problems with the existing system: Gallery shots are taken from fixed perspectives that may wind up being too close or too far away, depending upon the size and shape of the structure. The angle of the shots does not work for some type of builds, hiding elements, like roofing, that balance the structure. Neighborhood objects such as trees, rocks, or even other buildings often wind up obscuring some or all of the images. Interior shots are so zoomed out that very few details can be ascertained and anything you have done that may be special or subtle cannot be seen.There may well be more complaints; feel free to add your own! Possible Systems for Improvement for Lots: When saving the lot, prompt the user to take one or more screen shots for use in the gallery. Allow them to go into TAB camera mode in order to get the zoom and angle they desire. Send these shots directly to the library file as part of the saving process. When saving the lot, use something similar to the in game sim photography system (I am referring to when the sims use a camera to take pictures in GTW) to enable the user to take one or more screen shots for use in the gallery. Send these shots directly to the library file as part of the saving process. This method would be less desirable than the first, as the player might not have as much flexibility to get the shots at the angle/zoom they'd like. It would still be better than the current system though! Change the lot saving process to match the sim saving process in CAS, where the player can cycle through different preset camera angles of the build and select the one they find most favorable. This would be the least desirable option, as unless great care is given to the different preset angles, some of the current problems might still exist (zoomed too far out, objects obscuring the build, etc.). However, at least it would provide some options and player choice, where there currently is none. Use the camera presets file (located in VideoCameraStates) to determine positions/angles to take shots and overwrite default shots with those shots (see pg. 2 for details). This would be a fairly flexible system - up to 5 shots of the creator's choice, very non-intrusive, and perhaps more easily implemented than some of the others.Additional Considerations If possible, let the creator take a maximum of 8 pictures (8 is the current maximum); prompt them for the number of pictures they want to take within that limit. If possible, allow the creator to select a time of day for each image (make use of the functionality already present in build mode to set the time of day). Add a "skip" function that is available throughout the process; if the creator clicks "skip," the game generates the default gallery shots that it ordinarily would. This functionality is necessary because many creators save to their library as part of a testing process or to save while it's a work in progress, and they do not care about gallery images at that point. Consider also adding a game option that would toggle the creator driven imaging system off. When the system is introduced, you'd probably want it off by default so as not to confuse people who are used to the current process. Patch notes could alert interested creators that the option now exists, and they would find it very quickly. :) If option 3 is selected, enable the game to select the "front" of the lot based on which door has been selected as the "front" door. This will aid in the many cases where people build on sizes like a 30x20 and select the 30 width as their front side, but the game has designated the 20 width as the front (currently only those who have Get Together can use lots where the 30 width is the front). Allow builder to hide world objects that may get in the way of the picture(s), i.e. neighborhood trees, lampposts, etc. Take pictures at highest graphics settings automatically (background toggle for photos only) Enable applying filters to screen shots (using system from GTW photography) Enable brightness adjustment Let user choose wall cutaway level.Suggestions for Improvement for Rooms: Ability to zoom in Allow for more than one image, so that more detail can be shown in large rooms.Suggestions for Improvement for Sims/Households: Add 3D rotation for headshots in order to allow a focus on distinguishing features. Add the ability to choose the sim's expression (or cycle through available expressions, including a neutral expression, i.e. face at rest). Add the ability to choose the sim's pose (or cycle through them). Add more Maxis poses to select from Add ability to show (at least) one outfit per category, with a choice of poses for each. For "family portraits" provide a choice of group poses/arrangements, and if possible the ability to choose the position and outfit of each sim. Add a variety of selectable backgrounds (like in the photo studio object). Options to create a full length view of a sim Ability to zoom in to take close-ups/headshotsMore? Please feel free to discuss other ideas and options, and I will add them to the list. Suggestions for rooms and sims are also welcome.

There are already ways to change angle, lighting and take photos in game, so I think the gallery could be quite easily improved with option one. All of the parts seem to be there, they just need to be connected together!

@BryonyRae Thanks for doing this :)I think it would be great to be prompted to take several screenshots, maybe 4-6, as part of the upload process and choose which one is the main Gallery image. The others could be the additional images.

Yes I fully agree with this. For me it has always been an issue when it comes to the environment lighting too.As things were before the Tray Importer, you had to be quite careful which lot you picked for your build if you wantedthe colors of the build to show up nicely on the picture. The sun goes up and down in the same direction no matterwhich lot you pick and the light from the sun changes both the texture and the colors quite drastically.Not sure if anything can be done when it comes to this. But it was easily corrected with the help of the Tray Importer.

I agree, the option to take the pictures when we press "save" would be the best option. I like what you did, not allowing people to change the pictures outside the game, but I would like you to give us an alternative system.

I think that what we need is:1. A menu that lets us chose the angle of our floor plan shots. Sometimes they're shot from the front of the building, sometimes the back, sometimes one side or the other...Picking a lot is like rolling the dice almost, and it's especially frustrating and limiting for builders like me who prefer to build on larger lots, due to the very small number of large lots in the game. I mean, if I built something on a 50x50 lot that takes full advantage of the size, I only have maybe 1 or 2 possible places to shift it to get a better angle (I'm talking base game here). That's not right.2. The ability to zoom in or out and hide world deco in the foreground. I never had too much trouble with world deco obscuring my shots before (lucky me) but sometimes I do feel like the floor plan shots could be a bit closer in, especially on larger lots.3. I'd like to echo the OP and others in saying that we need a way to take interior, "walls-up" photos to add to our gallery uploads. Enabling TAB camera mode in build mode would be a good way to do it. And it's not just because sometimes the finer details of a build can get lost in the mix with the automatic cutaway view either. Just look at my Imposing Palace build. The top two floors have the exterior walls completely missing because of the half walls I used to border the balconies and external walkway. That means that there is no way for someone to know what the library walls look like at all--all the viewer sees is floor, decor, and bookshelves. Not exactly flattering.Addendum: 4. The ability to chose which side of the lot is the "front." Building on corner lots allows you to pick and choose where the front of the house is when you build...but not when you save. This lot is a good example of that phenomenon. The actual front of my building is on the left-hand side of the "front view" photo, and the rest of the shots show the floor plan from the back (which causes the pool to obscure part of the first floor of the "Heck" apartment). Right now, to get a better picture, I'd have to move this build to a new lot and cross my fingers that all of the angles are decent just to make sure that the right part of the building is shown as the front. So, yep, there's definitely a need for a "front picker" option.Mods are used to augment or add features to the game that would be fun or useful, but aren't there. Make the in-game gallery screenshot function more...well, functional...and users won't need to use a mod to get better pics of their creations.

Forum Discussion

BryonyRae

Hero (Retired)

10 years ago

How to Improve Gallery Pictures

Over on Twitter, @TheSims stated that we should post suggestions for improvement to gallery images here. I am coming at the issue from the perspective of a builder. There are several problems with the existing system:

Gallery shots are taken from fixed perspectives that may wind up being too close or too far away, depending upon the size and shape of the structure.

The angle of the shots does not work for some type of builds, hiding elements, like roofing, that balance the structure.

Neighborhood objects such as trees, rocks, or even other buildings often wind up obscuring some or all of the images.

Interior shots are so zoomed out that very few details can be ascertained and anything you have done that may be special or subtle cannot be seen.

There may well be more complaints; feel free to add your own!

Possible Systems for Improvement for Lots:

When saving the lot, prompt the user to take one or more screen shots for use in the gallery. Allow them to go into TAB camera mode in order to get the zoom and angle they desire. Send these shots directly to the library file as part of the saving process.

When saving the lot, use something similar to the in game sim photography system (I am referring to when the sims use a camera to take pictures in GTW) to enable the user to take one or more screen shots for use in the gallery. Send these shots directly to the library file as part of the saving process. This method would be less desirable than the first, as the player might not have as much flexibility to get the shots at the angle/zoom they'd like. It would still be better than the current system though!

Change the lot saving process to match the sim saving process in CAS, where the player can cycle through different preset camera angles of the build and select the one they find most favorable. This would be the least desirable option, as unless great care is given to the different preset angles, some of the current problems might still exist (zoomed too far out, objects obscuring the build, etc.). However, at least it would provide some options and player choice, where there currently is none.

Use the camera presets file (located in VideoCameraStates) to determine positions/angles to take shots and overwrite default shots with those shots (see pg. 2 for details). This would be a fairly flexible system - up to 5 shots of the creator's choice, very non-intrusive, and perhaps more easily implemented than some of the others.

Additional Considerations

If possible, let the creator take a maximum of 8 pictures (8 is the current maximum); prompt them for the number of pictures they want to take within that limit.
If possible, allow the creator to select a time of day for each image (make use of the functionality already present in build mode to set the time of day).
Add a "skip" function that is available throughout the process; if the creator clicks "skip," the game generates the default gallery shots that it ordinarily would. This functionality is necessary because many creators save to their library as part of a testing process or to save while it's a work in progress, and they do not care about gallery images at that point.
Consider also adding a game option that would toggle the creator driven imaging system off. When the system is introduced, you'd probably want it off by default so as not to confuse people who are used to the current process. Patch notes could alert interested creators that the option now exists, and they would find it very quickly. :)
If option 3 is selected, enable the game to select the "front" of the lot based on which door has been selected as the "front" door. This will aid in the many cases where people build on sizes like a 30x20 and select the 30 width as their front side, but the game has designated the 20 width as the front (currently only those who have Get Together can use lots where the 30 width is the front).
Allow builder to hide world objects that may get in the way of the picture(s), i.e. neighborhood trees, lampposts, etc.
Take pictures at highest graphics settings automatically (background toggle for photos only)
Enable applying filters to screen shots (using system from GTW photography)
Enable brightness adjustment
Let user choose wall cutaway level.

Suggestions for Improvement for Rooms:

Ability to zoom in
Allow for more than one image, so that more detail can be shown in large rooms.

Suggestions for Improvement for Sims/Households:

Add 3D rotation for headshots in order to allow a focus on distinguishing features.
Add the ability to choose the sim's expression (or cycle through available expressions, including a neutral expression, i.e. face at rest).
Add the ability to choose the sim's pose (or cycle through them).
Add more Maxis poses to select from
Add ability to show (at least) one outfit per category, with a choice of poses for each.
For "family portraits" provide a choice of group poses/arrangements, and if possible the ability to choose the position and outfit of each sim.
Add a variety of selectable backgrounds (like in the photo studio object).
Options to create a full length view of a sim
Ability to zoom in to take close-ups/headshots

More? Please feel free to discuss other ideas and options, and I will add them to the list. Suggestions for rooms and sims are also welcome.

141 Replies

BENH8484
Seasoned Scout
10 years ago
There are already ways to change angle, lighting and take photos in game, so I think the gallery could be quite easily improved with option one. All of the parts seem to be there, they just need to be connected together!
Bluebellflora
Hero+
10 years ago
@BryonyRae

Thanks for doing this :)

I think it would be great to be prompted to take several screenshots, maybe 4-6, as part of the upload process and choose which one is the main Gallery image. The others could be the additional images.
PurpleKachina
10 years ago
Yes I fully agree with this. For me it has always been an issue when it comes to the environment lighting too.
As things were before the Tray Importer, you had to be quite careful which lot you picked for your build if you wanted
the colors of the build to show up nicely on the picture. The sun goes up and down in the same direction no matter
which lot you pick and the light from the sun changes both the texture and the colors quite drastically.

Not sure if anything can be done when it comes to this. But it was easily corrected with the help of the Tray Importer.
pekesims
Hero (Retired)
10 years ago
I agree, the option to take the pictures when we press "save" would be the best option. I like what you did, not allowing people to change the pictures outside the game, but I would like you to give us an alternative system.
SimsLovinLycan
10 years ago
I think that what we need is:

1. A menu that lets us chose the angle of our floor plan shots. Sometimes they're shot from the front of the building, sometimes the back, sometimes one side or the other...Picking a lot is like rolling the dice almost, and it's especially frustrating and limiting for builders like me who prefer to build on larger lots, due to the very small number of large lots in the game. I mean, if I built something on a 50x50 lot that takes full advantage of the size, I only have maybe 1 or 2 possible places to shift it to get a better angle (I'm talking base game here). That's not right.

2. The ability to zoom in or out and hide world deco in the foreground. I never had too much trouble with world deco obscuring my shots before (lucky me) but sometimes I do feel like the floor plan shots could be a bit closer in, especially on larger lots.

3. I'd like to echo the OP and others in saying that we need a way to take interior, "walls-up" photos to add to our gallery uploads. Enabling TAB camera mode in build mode would be a good way to do it. And it's not just because sometimes the finer details of a build can get lost in the mix with the automatic cutaway view either. Just look at my Imposing Palace build. The top two floors have the exterior walls completely missing because of the half walls I used to border the balconies and external walkway. That means that there is no way for someone to know what the library walls look like at all--all the viewer sees is floor, decor, and bookshelves. Not exactly flattering.

Addendum: 4. The ability to chose which side of the lot is the "front." Building on corner lots allows you to pick and choose where the front of the house is when you build...but not when you save. This lot is a good example of that phenomenon. The actual front of my building is on the left-hand side of the "front view" photo, and the rest of the shots show the floor plan from the back (which causes the pool to obscure part of the first floor of the "Heck" apartment). Right now, to get a better picture, I'd have to move this build to a new lot and cross my fingers that all of the angles are decent just to make sure that the right part of the building is shown as the front. So, yep, there's definitely a need for a "front picker" option.

Mods are used to augment or add features to the game that would be fun or useful, but aren't there. Make the in-game gallery screenshot function more...well, functional...and users won't need to use a mod to get better pics of their creations.
ehaught58
Seasoned Ace
10 years ago
I like @BryonyRae suggestions. I think the first suggestion is the best way to go. Great job, Bry, and thanks for starting this post.
EmmaVane
Seasoned Ace
10 years ago
Agree with the OPs option 1 for builds/rooms with the addition of choosing time of day for lighting preference per picture so that...

You can show the kitchen and breakfast nook in morning sunlight.
You can show the pool and patio in the hot afternoon sunshine.
You can show the dining room lit with a warm evening glow.
You can show the whole lot both during the day, and lit up at night.
Maybe have picture allowances per floor for layout pics, then an additional allowance for free-cam images depending on the lot size?
Rooms could have an extra image (1 layout, 1 for show).

For sims:

I'd like the option of 3D rotation for headshots, so you can get an angle that shows that sim's distinguishing features to the fullest whether that is a ginormous, bulbous nose that can only be appreciated from the side, or fabulous cheekbones that show up best in slight profile.
Maybe an option to choose their expression?
Body shots I would like to show (at least) one outfit per category to show off the sim's style and figure, with a choice of poses for each.
For "family portraits" I'd like a choice of group poses/arrangements including some sitting on chairs/barstools/sofas/cross-legged on floor, and the ability to choose who takes what position and which outfit they wear.
For all the pictures I'd like a variety of backgrounds... Nothing fancy, just a choice of colours for floor and wall (like the brick wall and plank floor on the photo studio).

That's all I can think of for now.
luthienrising
Hero+
10 years ago
I love these ideas - I've been frustrated at how my best builds are seen only head-on, where they are uninteresting; all the "action" to them is from another side or as you move around them. I do want to ask, though - this extra-photo-taking would have to happen when we save to Library, wouldn't it? In which case, I'd like to have a quick "skip" option because I'm usually saving to Library only to keep it there, with no intention of sharing to the Gallery.
Mirrrie
New Rookie
10 years ago
Honestly, I find the custom tumbnails horrible. Yes they look nice but the normal ones actually had a function. Sorry I don't think this works.
PurpleKachina
10 years ago
"Pegasus143;14679565" wrote:
I agree with the above posts. A camera feature should be able to take pictures of the floor plan and the outside of the build. Another feature that I feel would be appreciated would be allowing the builder to show pictures of 1-2 rooms in addition to the other screenshots. This would really allow those who are downloading from the Gallery to see the uniqueness of the build without having to go to an outside link to really see what the inside looks like.

Exactly. I have heard some ridiculous arguments about creators only showing the best parts of their homes.
But really, at least for me, it is more about showing "this is what you can expect to find here" rather than
"oh this is the best part". I always give full tours on the forums, but many players are not using the forums.

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