How to rename existing skins to go with my custom mesh.
There are other tutorials out there but I will make an attempt at it too.
If you already understand how a sim is made then jump down to the middle of the page where I get right to the point. Otherwise you will need to know what the game uses to make up a Sim. There are three different file types used for a Sim, and the file extensions are shown in this table:
.skn |
This
is a mesh, a wire frame that makes the shape of a Sim. An example is:
xskin-b702maXLG_SSLP-kbp01-PELVIS-BODY.skn |
.cmx |
This file determines what skin goes with what mesh and can combine accessory meshes like hat or glasses. An example is: b702maXLG_SSLP.cmx |
.bmp
|
This is the skin that covers the wire mesh. It is this file that if copied and renamed can work with my custom
mesh. An example is: b702maXLGlgt_Kelvin03.bmp |
Lets begin with the mesh and corresponding mesh .cmx file:
xskin-b002mafat_01-PELVIS-BODY.skn
B002MAFat_01.cmx
I have highlighted the main parts of the .cmx file and described them as follows:
| B |
The "B" means it is a body. CMX files can start with other letters for different purposes. |
| 002 |
Maxis
000 Series with 02 for a short sleeve and long pants for a male. |
| MA |
Male Adult |
| Fat |
Body size |
| _01 |
Following the underscore is the mesh name. 01 is Maxis default name for their mesh. |
The original “The Sims” have what I call basic meshes for the male Sims. If you were to use Maxis SimShow, you would be familiar with these basic meshes and notice the numbering scheme of the cmx files. This example cmx file would be of course the short sleeve and long pants for the Maxis male fat body.
Although my custom meshes use different identifications, I continue to use Maxis basic numbering idea to keep things simple. Here is a break up of my example cmx file:
B702MAXLG_SSLP.cmx
I have highlighted the main parts of the .cmx file and described them as such:
| B |
Again this means it is a body. |
| 702 |
My 700 Series with 02 for a short sleeve and long pants for a male. |
| MA |
Male Adult |
| XLG |
Body size |
| _SSLP |
Following the underscore is my name for the mesh and it is a little more descriptive. |
It is now time to discuss the skin, lets look at a .bmp skin file from SimShow:
B002MAFitlgt_casual.bmp
and what each part means:
| B |
Again this means it is body. These .bmp files can start with other letters for different purposes. |
| 002 |
Maxis 000 Series with 02 for a short sleeve and long pants for a male. |
| MA |
Male Adult |
| Fit |
Body size |
| lgt |
Sim skin color. |
| _casual |
Maxis description of the skin. |
| Notice the parts are basically the same as in a cmx file with the addition of the skin color and a more descriptive name. |
Renaming Existing Skins:
We now have enough information to rename an existing .bmp skin file for a different mesh. I want to use the Maxis casual fit light skin on my XLG short sleeve mesh (702). I would copy the Maxis skin file and then paste it into the game data skins folder. I would right click on the file and rename the file changing the first digit of the number and the mesh size like this:
(B002MAFITlgt_casual.bmp) to (B702MAXLGlgt_casual.bmp)
corresponding to my 700 XLG .cmx file for the short sleeve and long pants mesh. The results would look like what is shown to the right. |
 |
My meshes _01 through _04 are designed so that you can use this method for renaming of any skin that is intended for these basic outfits. If you would like a different skin color you would copy and rename a medium or dark skin file to match that type of mesh. Below is a matrix of all of the meshes / cmx files that I have created so far.
As I mentioned the first letter in the .cmx file dosn't always start with "B". Starting with Hot Date, in addtion to the "B" the "F" (Formal), "L" (Lingerie), and "S' (Swimwear) were added. These letters identify four activity conditions. You can copy and rename these skins too. My _50 mesh works with the speedos / swimwear or other close fitting attire.
If you were wondering the head mesh .cmx files start with the letter “C” and of course you can rename head skins in a similar fashion.
Please note that with the exception of heads, the Chubby Sims .cmx & .bmp files that I provide for download are not compatable with SimShow to view without modifications, which is another tutorial.
Keep in mind that meshes 01 through 04 and 50 are designed so that you can rename your existing skins. |
|
Spunky’s Body Mesh Matrix |
| Mesh Type |
Series / Body Size |
600
Skinny |
600
Fit |
600
Fat |
700
XLG |
800
XXL |
| Number |
Description |
Letter designation for cmx file |
| _00 |
Nude |
B, L, S |
B, L, S |
B, L, S |
B, L, S |
B, L, S |
| _01 |
Short Sleeve Short Pant (SSSP) |
|
|
|
B |
B |
| _02 |
Short Sleeve Long Pant (SSLP) |
|
|
|
B |
B |
| _03 |
Long Sleeve Long Pant (LSLP) |
|
|
Bd |
B |
Bd |
| _04 |
Suit Coat |
Bd |
|
Bd |
B, F |
Bd, F |
| _11 |
Lederhosen (*shorts) |
|
Bg* |
Bg |
Bg |
Bg |
| _12 |
Kilt |
Bp, F |
|
Bp, F |
Bp, F |
Bp, F |
| _50 |
Briefs/Speedo |
L, S |
L, S |
L, S |
L, S |
L, S |
| _51 |
Boxers |
|
|
L, S |
L, S |
L, S |
| _52 |
Boxers with T-shirt |
|
|
|
L, S |
|
| _53 |
Athletic Union Suit |
|
|
|
L, S |
|
| _54 |
Bathing suit/Briefs II |
|
|
|
|
L, S |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Available mesh designation for normal use: Body
or buyable use: Formal, Lingerie, and Swimwear.
Associated removable hats: g German Hat, d Derby Hat, and p Pith Helmet.
Note: this lower case letter is not part of the name and is only used to describe cmx files that have the hat accessory.
As you can see, I still have a few more meshes to make in order to have all of the basic meshes available. Also if some meshes are indicated as available but you haven't seen them for download, it is because I'm still working on archiving them in a zip file.
In the next table you will find my head and hat meshes.
Spunky’s Head/Hat Mesh |
| Mesh Number |
Description |
| |
|
| xskin-c511ma_germ-HEAD-HAT-kbp01.skn |
German Hat for C002 head & tilted back |
| xskin-c600ma_Laurel-kbp03-HEAD-HEAD.skn |
Head for Stanley Laurel |
| xskin-c704ma_derby-HEAD-HAT1.skn |
Derby hat for Stan Laurel |
| xskin-c712ma_pith-HEAD-HAT-kbp1.skn |
Pith Helmet |
| xskin-c800ma_XXLbaldKBP01-HEAD-HEAD.skn |
Chubby bald fat head. |
| xskin-c804ma_derby-HEAD-kbpHAT2.skn |
Derby hat tilted back for Oliver Hardy |
| |
|
I have renamed some of Maxis skins ( head.bmp files ) to go with my 800 chubby bald fat head with pretty good results and you will see them on some of my other pages, but would not recommend using the Laurel head on any other skins.
This concludes my tutorial. I hope that it works well for you and you will be able to use that favorite skin on your new chubby neighbor.
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