Tutorial

Tutorials

How and Where to download items for your Sims2 game:

Click here to read

Skinning for Sims2:

I get asked a lot " How do you make skins for Sims2?" Well, seeing that I'm not very good at writing instructions, I thought I would list here the tools you need and where you can find them. Also, where I got all my tutorials and help on creating my skins.

First let me say "Never give up!, Practice makes perfect or nearly perfect anyway." When I first tried my hand at it, I got very frustrated drawing with the mouse. I was used to the size of a pencil, charcoal, or brush, etc.... not a computer mouse. Yup, I gave up, but I'm persistent. Look how far I got. Everyone has their own technique, you'll find yours I just know it.

Getting Started:

All I use for Sims2 skinning:

Sims2 BodyShop

A Photo or Paint Editing Program - I use Adobe PhotoShop 7

I either use Bodyshop or the Sims2 game CAS mode to take a screen shot of the skins.

Where to get a PaintShop Program:

The following sites have FREE Paint programs available to download, that some people use for skinning:

Gimp

Pixia

The following sites offer a 30 day trial for their programs:

Adobe PhotoShop

PaintShopPro

Tutorials:

I started skinning when The Sims1 first came out, so there wasn't a lot of tutorials around like now.

I got all my help from:

TSR - (The Sims Resource)

The TSR skinning forum is a great knowledge base for anyone wanting to learn how to skin. At the site you will find it by clicking onto the Sims2 tab at the top far left side of the screen and then clicking the "Talk" tab, just under that tab click "skins forum". Just read all the tutorial threads and posts and you'll be on your way. Everyone shares their talent and creativity there.

At the site, Thomas also has a great tutorial for beginners, under the "Content" tab, next to the "Talk" tab.

Here they have a multitude of programs and help, too.

You will also find a g'zillion talented well written tutorials on Sims Fan-sites, and you may find some of those sites on my Links page.

My GIFT to you to help you get started:

I can't leave this tutorial without giving you something to work with. So here it is, a folder of nude-normal medium skintones of both genders, for adult, elder, teen and child. TS2U young adult skintone is the same as the adults.

I use these as a pattern for shadowing and highlighting, where to put fabric folds, creases and belts, adding nail or toe polish, and lots of other uses. Just paste an appropriate gender skintone under your work layers as your skinning.

Click the image to download

Tips:

	I save each different skin I finish in photoshop format, in a project folder I created. So whenever I want to re-color it or use it again, all the layers are right there open. I don't have to create all new for the same skin. Saves a lot of time and repetitive work.
	Shoes, I hate making them. What I do is copy them off the bottom and paste them in a different layer, one layer for every color or style I need for that project.
	I use my magic wand tool on the white part of the Alpha layer to get an outline to paste in a colored or floral texture.

You can do it. Now get started! And don't forget to send me a pic of one of your creations, I'd love to see how your doing.

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