I'm trying to paint from reference and I am having trouble making my Sims pose and capturing the image - any tips?

I posted this in the "Things you Didn't Know" thread way back in 2017 when we didn't have portable easels. The part I've highlighted though is still relevant today and can help with painting exactly where and what you want to paint, or even taking photographs. I hope it helps! :)Karababy52 wrote: One of the most frustrating things for my painter Sims is how limiting the area is for their creations when using the paint by reference option. We don't have a portable easel except perhaps if there is a mod, but I don't/can't use any. So, when I read this tip in a post on the Writer's Lounge, it was like a hallelujah moment for me. This tip works for taking photographs too! Thank you so much AkramA , I hope you don't mind I reposted it here! "AkramA;15684270" wrote:I have another one regarding photography to but this is with still-live painting. You can paint anywhere without having to move the easel anywhere or move the object next to the easel. You can just use the Ctrl 5 through 9 to save the position of the camera which you want the picture to be taken and then once you paint you can press the button 5 through 9 that correlates to the one you save and the camera will move there without you moving. This is great especially if you're going to paint the neighborhood. I like painting the waterfall in granite falls.Happy Simming! <3EDIT: Uh, I didn't notice this was necro'ed from 2016. Opps! Well, it's still info Simmers might appreciate I guess even if this thread gets closed. *shrugs*

We need a pose option like in all the other games. But reference painting is still way to grainy for me. I just ignore it most of the time. I don't like grainy paintings unless they are actually aged.

I like to set up a microphone near the easel and have the Sim being painted talk on the microphone.

HelloThis link may help for painting by reference. It doesn't include information about posing other sims but it may help you when using the feature to paint other items.http://getsimplyruthless.blogspot.com/2015/05/create-your-own-custom-paintings-in.html

If you turn off free-will/ autonomy that should help with getting the subject sim to sit still etc.

Painting from Reference - need tips

simstr0ng
9 years ago
@StilleWater - good points - I agree Sims 4 needs some new features to make painting from reference feasible.
dirty_milos
New Spectator
6 years ago
If I include a painting from reference into my build and upload it into the Gallery, will the users who download my build be able to have my painting from reference in their game?
justme22
6 years ago
"dirty_milos;c-16926574" wrote:
If I include a painting from reference into my build and upload it into the Gallery, will the users who download my build be able to have my painting from reference in their game?

I've heard there's a glitch where Paint by Reference artworks are marking the lots as having CC -- I think the developers were looking into it so can't say for sure.
Laceyrose
6 years ago
If you have the " Get Famous " pack... you can have your sim's ' pose '.. this works pretty good .. but does not help with the grainy look for the painting. Also having them ' pose ' when taking a picture with the camera is pretty good also.
dirty_milos
New Spectator
6 years ago
"stilljustme2;c-16926576" wrote:
I've heard there's a glitch where Paint by Reference artworks are marking the lots as having CC -- I think the developers were looking into it so can't say for sure.

I know that having photos in the lot would mark it as having CC, at least it was like that before.

I have uploaded a lot with a painting from reference to the Gallery, and it is not marked as having CC, but I don't know if others can see that painting when they download the lot.
belpita
6 years ago
"StilleWater;c-14988435" wrote:
I wanted my sim to paint his family, wife and three kids...no pose button so when I got one where I wanted and went to the other the first was walking away. and so on. I set up different chairs and told them to sit and wife to stand behind...so she turned her back, while I tried to fix the kids all walked away. I also find wonderful things around town, but you cannot take pictures for future paintings and you cannot carry an easel with you. There are few things from TS3 that I wish would be in this game, I like the difference but these are, in my book, necessary features of an artist. I f a musician cant carry the string instruments how could he get tips?

But you can carry both easel and guitar/violin in your Sim's inventory. Just drag it there or have the Sim put it there themselves.
KarinadeVillier
6 years ago
My favorite thing to paint from reference is the nature scenes (with Seasons). I'd have my sim stand on a balcony and paint a Sunrise or Sunset in the snow. One of my favorite cities for nature paintings would be Barnacle Bay. My sim would travel Barnacle Bay with her easel and then when I see something pretty, I'll let her stop and paint that. This makes really pretty paintings :)
xmerer
6 years ago
A Sim meditating can be a cool pose, especially with a serene background. And they tend to stay in that pose long enough to get the shot.

You need to give yourself lots of space, though. I tried doing a portrait in what I thought was a pretty wide hallway, but the edge of the easel kept blocking me from seeing my Sim's subject.
xmerer
6 years ago
@KarinaD That sounds really pretty! Seasons has added a lot to the aesthetics of the game. :)
CommishLawWonder
New Spectator
5 years ago
While I was browsing around the Gallery on the XBox One version, I discovered some paintings of movie posters such as Speed, Braveheart, Jaws, etc. Credit to #Babewire & #PhoenixRaven for posting these amazing film poster paintings. I gotta say, I'm impressed that they actually got my favourite movie from '94 from reference.