BUILDERS' 101 - For Builders from Novice to Beyond
BUILDERS' 101 "Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots." Frank A. Clark This forum was managed by MerryWiddow and the THe Sims Creators' Consortium team. It is now inactive and all questions can be directed to the Admin Team at THe Sims Creators' Consortium. Welcome to Builders' 101. We will enjoy helping you with all of your questions with regards to every aspect of building from the inception of the idea to the uploading of the lot and Promoting your Asset. This is an opportunity "To Learn Together": You from us and us from you. Please follow the forum rules when making posts. You will find them here. Forum Rules. Please take a moment to read them. Thanks. JOIN US AND LET'S LEARN TOGETHER This is for all Simmers, of all ages and all abilities who want to build or are already building! Do youfeel that you have no idea what to do, where to start? Why did that Lovely House you worked so hard on just slip by unnoticed? Here we are going to learn 'New Ideas' and get 'Tips and Tricks' from each other and share our 'Ideas and Creations'. We will learn from each other and together we will all grow to become better builders. HOW IT WORKS Take pictures of your Work In Progress (WIP) and share it with us on this thread. (See Picture Posting below). Our visitors will look at it and give you constructive tips about his or her ideas on what each thinks you could or should do with your WIP. You will receive comments that may be seen as negative, but please, remember it is only to help you become a better builder. The opposite is also true: You will get a lot of praise for good work and ideas, etc. Post a link to your build here with links to photo’s, stories or video! We can all have a look at what you’ve built and learn from it, or help you to make the lot better. Get somebody else's view on your build. or ask any question about building. If one of us doesn't know the answer, we can find an answer to your question or problem. Any link to wherever you promoted your build. But wait, did you promote your build? More about promoting your build later. Thinking of Taking the Plunge and Becoming a New Builder Or Maybe You've Already Taken the Plunge but are Unsure! Let’s start with what it is you want to do or learn and work from there. Novice,Intermediate, Good, All Levels of Builders: START, POST, LEARN Remember whatever is said is the opinion of the person posting, the decision to use it or not lies solely with you. TIME FOR HOMEWORK Updated: It is now called Learn to Build. You will find it on TS3 Creators' Consortium. Registration is free and it is a fun site for all aspects of TS3. Learn to Build Assignments ELEMENTS OF INTERIOR DESIGN CHALLENGES Elements of Interior Design Challenge Index at TS3 Creators' Consortium II. Creations that deserve a second look CFE Learn to Build Assignments are also available at TS3 Creators' Consortium II. TUTORIALS IN 3RD POST A WALK THROUGH OF YOUR BUILD IS AVAILABLE BY REQUEST : YOUR BUILD MUST HAVE NO CUSTOM CONTENT GLOSSARY OF TERMS MOO = MoveObjects on/off CFE = ConstrainFloorElevation true/false WIP = Work In Progress CAS = Create a Style as used in the interior design aspect IRO = In regards of DLs = Downloads REC = Recommendation more will be added as they come up. PROUD SUPPORTER SIGGY Proud Supporters Siggy can be used at any time if you want to show that you support this Thread. Copy and paste this code into Signature under My Preferences. Just remove the asterisks. http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/evenstar15/proud.jpg Have fun! MerryWiddow
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
TUTORIAL :: Adding basements to existing houses with foundation :: No demolishing necessary!
STEP 1: Spartan wants a basement, this looks like a good spot! Unfortunately the house is already built and furnished, but that can be easily fixed. No need to demolish whole parts of the house and swear and cry! STEP 2: This job may be a bit tricky because it's going through foundation, but there's enough room here, and it's close to the garage, kitchen and back door. Let's go for it! STEP 3: You need to delete 5 squares in the foundation as a minimum, and this is where it's going. BUT: In some instances you will need 6 squares, eg. if you are building at the edge of the house. I'll show you why later. If you're unsure, do 6 squares. EDIT: Big dogs need 2 square landings to be able to use basement stairs - you might want to take that into consideration and add yet another square. (thanks hmsdrco2001) STEP 4: Using the basement tool on ground level, draw it in ready for the stairs. I've again shown where the foundation will be deleted in relation to the basement. The white outline shows where the mid-landing will be. STEP 5: Activate the CFE "constrainfloorelevation false" cheat. You do this with ctrl+shift+c which brings up the dialogue box shown at the top left. Type it in, and press enter. Move the immediate furniture out of the way. I also moved the door to the garage, and activated the "moveobjects on" cheat to minimise how much furniture I will need to move. STEP 6: Using the sledgehammer tool, now delete the 5 squares shown in red. STEP 7: The floor will "pop" up - don't freak out! You want this to happen - it turns the foundation into wall height, which is what you need for the stairs to go through the foundation. It looks a fright, but stay calm. NOTE: As I have an attached garage, there are a few parts that may look slightly different to yours. Don't worry. STEP 8: Go down to basement level and place your stairs. It is CRITICAL you choose the stair type you want at this stage, because you will have to re-do the whole process if you haven't chosen the correct one. They can be re-coloured at any time though. STEP 9: Return to ground height. I've drawn in a wall here as I had an attached garage, but you may not have to because you will probably have foundation showing instead. Skip this if necessary. RED CIRCLE - remember earlier I told you about needing 6 squares if building on the edge of the house? This shows you why. You can actually place floor tiles over most of the staircase on the floor above, but it is best to leave at least 3 spaces free as the sim's head will look like it goes through the floor as they walk down the stairs. As it is within my foundation, it won't affect me, but if you built on the edge of your house, you will have needed that extra square. STEP 10: Go to foundation level, select the level tool and draw over the raised section of the floor, making sure to start on an edge area that is the correct floor height. Extend it beyond the immediate raised area, so you don't miss anything. STEP 11: It should look like this. Now place your top stairs and the floor tile for the mid landing. STEP 12: Now to fix the sunken areas lighting glitch. If you don't care about it - skip to step 19. Notice the foundation areas have the brick pattern, but the piece I drew in to compensate for my attached garage is the usual grey wall colour? You need all walls to be done in the grey due to the lighting glitch. STEP 13: So, delete the 5 foundation squares NEXT to the new stairs. Again it will pop up and look a fright. NOTE: You may have to move some furniture next to these squares - I had to move the bathroom counters for it to allow me to delete those squares. Counters seem to be affected, but you can see the Sim is fine. Move only what's necessary. STEP 14: On ground level, using the wall tool, now draw in the wall next to the stairs. STEP 15: Again, level out the area with the level tool. STEP 16: Nice and level now, with the wall at foundation height. STEP 17: Using the foundation tool, redraw the foundation in the hole - notice that instead of the brick foundation pattern on the edges, you have the grey wall colour. This means you won't get the horrible blue night-time lighting glitch. All sunken areas that get used as interiors should be done this way, otherwise your lighting/colouring will always be off. STEP 18: Draw in your floor tiling - but you can see one tile on the end that needs doing too - it still has the brick pattern on the edges. Repeat the previous steps for any foundation that shows brick pattern instead of grey wall. Step 19: Turn off the CFE cheat with "constrainfloorelevation true" now, and replace all your doors and furniture and paint the walls. You can enlarge the basement at any time now, just don't delete those steps! STEP 20: Now test all the stairs and doors - with my version I have the cheat "MoveObjects on" enabled as well so I can place that door to the garage right next to the stairs. That's it - I hope I helped you, and feel free to ask any questions if anything is unclear! ONE LAST THING: If you have used CFE ABOVE the foundation level of your house, you will need to go to those upper levels and level them out as they will have been affected by the CFE process below them. It's likely they will have popped up to "normal" wall height. This will include any friezes you've used.Tutorial: How to share your patterns & How to get your patterns into your game.
You can get to both your exports and downloads folder by going to my documents.. electronic arts.. The Sims 3 and there they both should be. Tutorial: How to share your pattern on the exchange Step 1. In create a pattern once you are finished and ready to upload go to the menu button and click Export. Step 2. A window will pop up and you have to name your pattern, choose it’s category from the drop down menu and add a description. Step 3. Once your happy with all the information you’ve given just click the tick. Step 4. Start your game so the entry window opens and click on Uploads. Your pattern should be there, just click the white box next to it and then click the upload at the bottom of the screen. Step 5. Once uploaded you will see an icon that looks like a page with the top right edge turned over and a swooping green arrow under it. This means it’s been successful and your pattern is now on the exchange. If it has not worked you will see a red stop sign icon. I have often had this problem myself, I usually find that if I go back into CAP and save the pattern again using the same name it will work on the second attempt. Tutorial: how to get a pattern you’ve created into your own game. Step 1. Follow the actions above for exporting up to step 3, when you have finished that step your pattern file will be in the exports folder. Step 2. Now start your game, click on uploads, select one file and click “show file” at the bottom of the page. This will open your exports folder. Step 3 . Click select all from the edit menu and press Ctrl C which will copy the items, or use the right hand click menu. Step 4. Now open my documents.. electronic arts.. the Sims 3.. and downloads and once there press Ctrl V to paste your selected files. Step 5. Now go back to your game loading screen and click on downloads, all files should be there now. Step 6. Select the content you want and click on the Install button at the bottom of the screen. Step 7. Your installer will now pop up and if you have chosen quite a few files it will warn you it might take a while and ask if you want to continue.. I have had no problems from multiple installs so I always click yes. You can do them one by one if you prefer. Now when you use the create a style tool on any object from build and buy modes you can select your pattern and it will be ready in the CAS screen if you want to colour your clothes with your style. An Alternative way is to locate the Electronic Arts folder in "my documents", open this and then open The Sims 3. Here you have both the Exports folder and the Downloads folder. You can open the Exports folder and copy the files then go backwards to the sims 3 folder, open downloads, paste in the files, exit and start your game. the files will be ready and waiting to be installed. I hope this has helped you. Please bear in mind this is only how I do things, it may not be the right way or the best way but it’s my way. Thank you for taking the time to read this. My Page, come and say Hi! if you would like to see my thousands of patterns please click here.. My Studio My Easy View Pattern showcase, see all in on one page! Tutorial: How to create your own stickers for CAP http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/235932.page
List of tutorials or how do I do that?
Hi I am going to restart the tutorials list, it was really helpful to me in the past and continues to be, but a lot of them need updating. If you have new links, find old links that aren't in the list or realise one of them simply doesn't work, please let me know and I will edit them. If Fieryfemale is still around, original op, and want to take this back, please just let me know.
Tutorial: Creating a Playhouse
So in one of my most recent houses I came up with this playhouse and someone suggested that I create a tutorial for it, so for anyone who’s seen it and wanted to know how I did it I shall explain it here. What the end result is, since it's very compact it comes in handy when you have limited area for playgrounds or could looks really nice in a park. Start by creating a 2x1 box leaving four spaces empty and placing a 2 wall line like so: Now in between the walls place a swing set, for the swings it doesn’t matter which ones you use. I usually use the ones from generations cause their my favorite. Create a wall of 2 and place the slide using move objects on to get it to place right, again it doesn’t matter which one you use. I just really love the playground equipment that came with Gen. Now above the swing set layout the flooring and decide on how you’d like the play house to look. Next add in your walls and add in a ladder (you’ll need IP or the patch.) remember you’ll need flooring on the square you’ll be placing the ladder. Then add in your doors, windows, and wallpaper. You can also began to decorate and furnish the inside. It can be done however, you’d like since it is your building. Lastly add on the roof, again this can be done however you like but this is the combination I like best. Now all that’s left is to let your child sims lose. They can play on the playground as well as climb the ladder to play inside the house. Hope this was helpful and if you need any help I don’t mind answering questions.
Making a mall. Dos and Donts
Hi folks. I wanted to make a big mall for my sims. But I can't think of what I can place inside to make it both look and feel like a mall without just being total chaos. I will make some stores just "fake" stores, either look like forever closed, or just like, you to to browse but nothing more. I think I will have one or two of those food court things from Seasons inside. And maybe one of those consignment cashiers. My main Q's are 1. If I put down a rabbithole-rug for the movie theatre, will this jumble up some of the other things on the lot (being a rabbit hole), or will it work like normal / have no effect on like, a cashier etc. 2. If I put down a performance stage, where they can have performers etc, will this affect anything else? Like, make the lot a venue so some things will not work?Deliciously Indulgent Bakery Store Venue Review and Tutorial
Hey guys, I finally had some time to finish this up before I leave for the weekend, so hope you guys enjoy! Link: http://aznsensei.blogspot.com/2014/04/deliciously-indulgent-bakery-store.html http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qdAGMyelY-M/Uz98xadVKbI/AAAAAAAANAw/aea5kJgFFrs/s1600/Review+Photo.jpg Baker's Bazaar Collection Tutorial Link: http://aznsensei.blogspot.com/2014/04/bakers-bazaar-collection-tutorial.html http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ApOmSJpYXqU/U0Ig9XK_JYI/AAAAAAAANEk/pJmMZqMg_j4/s1600/Tutorial+Logo.png Regards, AznSensei
