In thisIssuemuse’’s

Story(honestly)

Peacy

On CAP

Picture

PerfectRecap

Snippets

And

Much

Much

more

Issue 10

2 July 2011

Scorpio is still flashing in and out, and has discovered the quote button........

Food is a perennial favour ite ... tur tle cake being the latest, Smoky is waiting to lick the mixing bowl

Cera went to the beach and took some lovely photos, making everyone who lives inland or not in California jealous

Crys got pressys from hubby...... now she not only looks beautiful she smells divine too.

Yanti got taken out for dinner by hubby.... all this makes you think, husbands may have uses after all.

Jaylf finally got ea to let her spend money at the store AND download her purchases.

Avis are still changing faster than the speed of light.... new addiction is diagnosed as the Pose Player

KateS drank too many Mai Tais and then couldn't think how to hide her hangover. Under the blankets works for me.

BF is working FAR TOO HARD. You realise BF you are making the rest of us look lazy? She still managed to get to 3000 posts though.

Must be summer, lots of barbeques going on. Ah the smell of burning meat! Isn't this where the men pretend to be in charge of the cooking? (meanwhile the lady of the house has made the salads, mar inaded the steak, done the shopping for the extras and baked the potatoes?)

Kateknight is breeding the weird children from Midwich Cuckoos. Should we be worr ied? Vampire babies?

KateSterling was seen with a baby stuffed behind the steering wheel. That too young to try and teach them to drive Kate.

New challenge has star ted 'Say Cheese' to feed the pose player addiction. Great entr ies so far !

Stu is back from his retreat, hopefully all relaxed now.

Fancy building a house for the Byrds? Gargantua is challenging you ......

Peacy is still building his world. So far ten months and one week. Six days is the norm for a Godlike creature Peacy.

And of course the new photo challenge, Say Cheese got 39 photos entered.

Picture Perfect Week 32 - Day Care

We are going to school, well play group anyway. Your client this time is opening a nursery(playgroup or day school) for under fives. She

has a large area to turn into an entertaining and functional space for littlies. She would like your ideas for interiors and colours.

Haze went bright and jazzy, he of course went on to build the whole lot!

Flobo created a softer look

Lightside went for a more sophisticated, expensive look

Scorpio ‘Flash’ entered this one, pastel colours again.

Stacy entered for the first time, lovely entry.

Yanti also entered this, love that desk!

Now what did the judges say?

Haze

Cera - Very cool! So fun and spacious! I love all the generations items! Bright and spacious, great layout! I love the fence over the roof!

Tweek - Great colors and plenty to do. Where do those steps go? I like it!

Stacy

Cera - 1st, I'm so happy you joined in on Picture Perfect! You've done a wonderful job! Wonderful colors, great layout! Lots of fun things to do, wonderfully done! I look forward to seeing more entries from you!

Tweek - I like how you used a house for your daycare. The playground looks great!

Yanti

Cera - I love the yellow and blue! Lots to do and learn about in there, and fun flowers all over the floor!!

Tweek - I like the colors and the furniture layout is great.

Scorp

Cera - I love the colors and they layout! The area for nap time is perfect and there's lots of stuff to do!

Tweek - The puzzle piece floor is great for a daycare. I really like the colors

KateK

Cera - I love the garden area! I can imagine it being the perfect place for collecting bugs! Wonderful layout! I love the little details like the cheery bathrooms and the office.

Tweek - Great indoor and outdoor play areas. I really like the garden.

Light

Cera - Beautiful space! I love the sleeping areas for the different personalities as well as the ottomans on the floor in the learning space. Love, love love the blackboard!

Tweek - I like the art classroom. I like those toddler beds. The colors are great.

So who won?

Our winners for week 32 are:

Generations EP category:

Honorable Mention - Stacy

Winner - Kate

Custom Content:

Winner - Light

Stacy

Kate

Lightside

Beautiful entries - Well Done All!!

JadedCat is posting again after what has felt like an age. She is a well known builder, and has been building Sims3 lots for a long time. Recently she put up for our delectation something quite different, spurred perhaps by Generations. Beautiful wedding chapels which is promised to be a

series.......... have a look.

Arabian Wedding Chapel

http://www.4shared.com/file/8xssECW9/Arabian_Wedding_Chapel.html

Beautiful interiors, and note the gorgeous cc used throughout. Jaded has never been afraid of cc.

She has always had a deft hand with landscaping as this shot of the Golden Wedding chapel shows.

http://www.4shared.com/file/HyiUmOr5/Golden_Dragon_

Delicious cc, this one is from the Arabian Chapel.

JadedCat is also known as JadedPanther This is her tsr page

http://www.thesimsresource.com/members/jadepanther198303

CAP is a powerful tool allowing players to create their own patterns. Like Bodyshop from TS2 this

gives a player endless options for personalising their Sims life whether it’s a customised home,

clothing or the town itself. This article is a follow-up from “The Basics of CAP” article in the previous

issue. Here I will discuss how to make a pattern of 1, 2, 3 and 4 palettes (or layers you can call them)

and how to export and save them for future tweaking..............

In the previous article I described the basic workings of Create a Pattern (aka CAP). Hopefully you are

all familiar with the tool now but if not check out TSSI issue 9 in the spotlight section of our website.

Here is will describe how to make a pattern using the stickers and textures already given to us by EA.

So let’s start off with a solid background for layer 1. Just follow the steps in the previous article. I am

going to colour mine white (HEX code of FFFFFF).

Now that that step is done we need to select our next layer. This allows for a 2 palette (or layer)

pattern. I believe it is necessary to separate different elements of a pattern in order for them to be

freely coloured. You may want to create a pattern not designed to be coloured as it is a picture of a

figure or sticker for instance. I will not cover that here but it is the same process just every element

can be in a single layer.

Once you have selected your layer 2 its time to choose a

sticker from the range supplied to us. I have selected a

sticker from the decorative section.

From here we first need to decide on the way in which we

will colour the sticker. There are 2 ways; sticker and stencil

mode. Sticker mode keeps and detail or shading in tack

which is handy for many of the stickers like the freezer

bunny. Stencil mode can be thought of like complete fill,

you lose all detail the sticker mode kept but is becomes a

solid fill and the colouring is more controlled as there is

only one colour that will change in game compared to 3 or

four in some of the stickers.

I am going to change the colouring mode to

stencil and colour it charcoal (HEX 222222).

Now we need to choose the size of our sticker.

This can be done 2 ways. Like in document

programs you can drag the corners to adjust.

This isn’t very accurate and I don’t tend to use it.

The other method is not input values into the

box that pops up once the sticker is placed on

the work area (i.e. the box around the icon is

showing). From here you can change the size

and location of the sticker. Knowing that the

work area is 256x256 pixels is an important point

to keep in mind when sizing and placing stickers.

As seen here the sticker has a

dimension of 58x58 pixels. Now stay

with me here, I am going to start

talking math. If we know the work

area is 256x256 pixels that would

mean if we want a sticker to be ¼ of

the work area then we must size it

to 128x128 pixels. If we want it 1/8

of the work area then it would be

64x64 pixels, 1/16 would be 32x32

pixels. Let’s resize to 64x64 pixels.

These are important sizes as it aids in using the x and y values to place the sticker more accurately to

create geometric patterns and to ensure evenly spaced stickers. When talking out using the x and y

values they reference the middle of the sticker to position it. For instance the centre of the work area

would be x=128 and y=128 pixels.

You can see the sticker is in the middle of the work

area. To work out the position of a sticker it is easy

so long as you know the dimensions. If you want it in

the corner and your sticker is 64x64 pixels then the x

y coordinates would be:

Now see why I chose to keep the sticker sizes are

fractions of the total dimensions of the work area? It

makes it a lot easier to use the x and y coordinates.

So let’s place our sticker in the top right corner. This

will give us the x and y value of 32.

As you can see it is now in the top left hand corner. The

point at which the lines of the gird cross at the top left is

point 0, 0. Bottom right is 256, 256. Now let’s put 3 more

stickers in to for a column of 4 stickers.

To clone a sticker, select it and then press [crtl] and the [C]

keys together to copy your sticker. Now making sure you

are in the same layer press [crtl] and [V] keys at once to

paste the sticker on the work area. To make sure you align

them right as a column the x coordinate value remains at

32. For the y value you add the size of the sticker to the first

stickers y position. In this case it was 32. Adding 64 we get

96. Once in place paste another sticker in place and keeping

the x value the same add 64 to 96 to give you 160. Repeat

for the final sticker with a y coordinate of 224. You

should end up with a work area that looks like the picture

to the right. They are now in a perfect column! Now let’s

try a new feature, flipping! In the same box used for the

coordinates and size of the sticker is the buttons which

allow you to flip a sticker horizontally or vertically. I am

going to flip the second and fourth stickers vertically. The

Horizontal flip will not have any effect on a sticker like

this because it is perfectly symmetrical. On a-symmetrical

stickers this can be very useful.

Select the stickers using your mouse the just click the

appropriate button, the left being for horizontal flipping

and the right one for flipping vertically. Repeat this for

the fourth sticker. This is a great way to add visual

interest to your patterns and get more use out of what

EA has provided.

So this is what we have so far. Next step is to duplicate this 2

times. This is where it gets tricky. There is 2 ways of doing it, the

cheat’s way or the long way. The cheat’s way is to select the 4

stickers like you would on your desktop by clicking and dragging

the mouse. By copying like you would and pasting, it pastes the

column intact. On catch, you have to line it up using a

combination of your eyes and the x coordinate. You can’t use the

y coordinate as it merges all the 4 stickers to the position you

input. There is no option to merge the 4 stickers into one larger

sticker like you would in a vector program. The long way is placing

them individually. I am going to use the cheats way but both work

although you may need to practise the cheats why in order

to get it lined up properly. I am duplicating this to the x

position of 156. Now to make a complete 2 palette pattern

lets create another column in the missing spaces but

alternating the flipped stickers. Still work in the same layer.

You should end up with something like the picture below.

You can check what it looks like using the

preview mode which is the icon that looks like a

video camera. Apply it to different surfaces to

see what it looks like. This is the icon if you are

not sure.

Here is what this pattern looks like in

the preview mode. If you’re not

happy go back and tweak the pattern.

It’s advisable to test in game how it

works as there is colour variation

after export as I have found. Once

you’re happy you can save for future

tweaking and export the pattern.

To export your pattern click the options button at the

bottom left corner of the screen. This is located in the

exact same place as in the Sims 3 game itself. Choose

export from the list and this will pop up.

Choose a pattern name, something unique. I usually

add my screen name initials into the name and a

descriptive word. For this Pattern I would call it “PC

Floral Geometric 01”. This leaves it open for if you

want to do different versions or a series of patterns

with the same theme. Choose the category to put it in

and a description. I usually tell them the amount of

recolourable areas and my name as the creator. Now just accept and the pattern will be turned into a

sim3pack file and can be found in your exports folder. I advise to install in your game before sharing

for quality purposes if you wish to share your creations. So that was making a simple 2 palette

pattern. Let’s make it a little more difficult shall we?

Here I have selected layer 3 and added thin lines using the

square in the basic shapes menu. It is in stencil mode in a

pleasant shade of yellow.

I used a size of x=4 and y=128. It’s a nice thin line but gives

the pattern a wonderful classic touch.

The coordinates I used were x=0, 64, 128 and 192 with the

y coordinate staying at 128. Try some other variations or

make a completely new pattern. As you can see its quite

easy. Below is what it ended up looking like in the preview

mode.

Again you can save to tweak later and export if you are happy with it. Follow the steps from earlier

and you should be ready to go. Now let’s change this to a 4 palette pattern next.

I need to move around some of the layers in order to do what I want. This is easy as saying 1 2 3

assuming you can speak English of course. I am going to move the empty 4th layer to position 2.

Easy wasn’t it? What I am aiming to do is make alternating strips

that will recolour. Using the pre-existing stickers from the

decorative section we have been using, I copy them over to the

new layer. This creates alternating columns of the stickers. It ends

up looking something like the picture to left. I have used a lighter

grey (HEX code of 666666).

The positions are the same as previously covered but just in a

different layer. You can copy and paste between layers to make it

easier for you. Once again check in preview mode and export as

mention prior. Mine looks like the picture below.

So that is pattern making. It is

relatively simple. So to summarise:

1. Keep constant shapes related to

the size of the work area. This aids in

keeping a symmetrical design.

2. Know the difference between

stencil and sticker mode.

3. Practice copying and pasting

stickers onto the same layer or between them.

4. Understand how you want your pattern to look like. This helps you lay out the pattern without all

the trial and error.

5. Practice makes perfect. Go over everything I have covered and keep trying until you understand it.

It may take a while to get used to but is well worth the effort.

Stay tuned for the next issue where I tackle the specular layer and how to utilise its potential.

THE LOVE LEGACY

Eve’s Faith

CHAPTER 1: Eve’s Letters

To whom this may Concern:

I left all the money in the cookie jar, over the stove. That should be the last of the debt. I’m

dropping my husband’s last name and I also refuse to pay off any more of his loans. If you want him to

pay it back so badly, you go find him. Simla only knows where that waste of meat is. I haven’t seen him

in years, and seeing as I’m skipping town I suggest you find someone new to leech off of.

I’m ain’t putting up with anymore of this silliness. I have a daughter and she deserves to live a

life of happiness, without having to look over her shoulder every ten seconds in fear. And if you was

even thinking about shaking down any of my kinfolk, I have some sad news for you. They dead, my

brother died off just last week, which is why I am now skipping out.

Betcha thought I was stupid eh? Just cause I didn’t graduate out of high school don’t mean I

ain’t got no common sense. Sometimes street smarts are more important than book learning, especially

when it comes to scum like you O’Rielly. Oh, and don’t bother trying to find wedding records, cause

Bubba and I were never legally married. Just common law junk, in account of us living under the same

roof for twenty some years.

So consider this a farewell letter from me to you. And if I ever catch you anywhere near me, I

have a fully loaded shotgun with your name on it.

―Eve

Faith,

I’ll be picking you up from your friend’s house just before noon. Make sure you have all your

things packed and ready to go. It’s a long drive, so I already packed you some food. I also spoke to your

counselor at Chanty Junior High, and they said that you are free to go up to high school in the fall. So

don’t bother going to the school for anything.

―Mama

Dear Sister,

While going through the records and old newspaper clippings, apparently our family has roots in

Twinbrook, I suggest you head there. The housing is currently dirt cheap as to the incident that

happened there fifty years ago. I enclosed a map for you. I’m leaving everything in my possession to you,

so please make sure to spoil Faith with it. She deserves the best, everything we didn’t have growing up. I

know you always worried about me not having a family of my own, but you two were the world to me.

Even more than the drugs. I managed to call on some favors and get $100,000 simoleons together and

deposited it in the bank as soon as I could so I wouldn’t spend it. Consider it a thank you for putting me

through college, even though I did screw up in the end.

I never could do anything right,

―R. Lawrence

Dear Eve Harrison,

We are sorry to inform you about the death of your brother Romance Lawrence, even though he

was your half-brother he requested that we send you a letter in the occurrence of his death. Enclosed is

a check for $100,000 that he specified to be sent to you at the time of his death.

Our deepest condolences,

The United Bank of Sims

Dear Eve Love,

I am happy to let you know that the house you requested is available. Enclosed is the key.

Sincerely,

The Mayor of Twinsbrook

CHAPTER TWO: Settling In

Sunday

We spent the summer making our way across the Sim States to get to the south. I never in my life

expected to be back down here. To many tryin’ memories I suppose. There ain’t no easy way to go back

to your roots, even if it is for the best. Though seeing the bright open Twinbrook sky, it eased my heart a

wee bit.

Hefting the suitcases up the front stairs to the front room was no easy task. It didn’t help that I am

getting on in the years and every pound of those blasted things multiplied my age. The house is

interestin’, I like it. It’s going to take Faith some time to settle in though, she hates too many changes.

But hopefully she will get used to it in time. The house is called Bygone…Bygone… something. I forget,

but it reminds me of a Gingerbread House. And there ain’t nothin’ I love more than Faith, cides food. So

livin’ in a gingerbread inspired house seemed down right normal.

I spent over three thousand simoleons make sure that my kitchen was just right. After all these years

working on old cracked up stoves, I could finally afford a top of the line one, like they have in the nice

restaurants. I can’t wait to try that baby out. Another change, is that I decided to try getting a cookin’

job at one of those nice sit down and eat places, no more flippin’ burgers for me. I’m gonna make my

daughter proud and become a respectable chef. Make enough money so I can take care of us both. No

more going without. Lords know Faith and I sacrificed for too long on account of that jerk’s selfishness.

It’s about time we got to treatin’ ourselves nice. No more panty-hose with holes in ‘em, no more

patchin’ up undies neither. No, no not this sister. Eve is a new woman now, with no debt, and I ain’t

fixin’ to change that either!

But even’ though I said that, Faith went off and got herself a job, ‘spose it’s alright though. Girl has to

save up for her own car and all. Times are a lot better, but they ain’t so good that I can just throw money

left and right on the non-essentials. I mean for goodness sakes we have drapes an’ a comput’r, I haven’t

a had a chance to learn how to use it, but Faith will teach me. She says in this day’n age ‘t’s impor’nt to

know these things to get a’ead.

Today’s Recipe: Key Lime Pie

5 egg yolks, beaten

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup key lime juice

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Completed in: 35 minutes

Monday

Acciden’ly woke up at fo’ am… I guess old habits are hard to break. Working at a fast food joint

for ten years will do that to you ‘parently. I was really stressed out, so I ate a lot… I’m going to need to

go on a diet soon. I made some Renoit Grape Pancakes for Faith so she could do well in school. She told

me about how she wants to get on the honor roll so she could go to a good college with scholarships so

it won’t be too s’pensive. Bless her soul, that girl is jus’ too mature.

When Faith got home from school she told me about this Writin’ Club she be trying to join. She

has to put together a small por’folio of her writings. Or something, I didn’t even know the girl could

write. Well I hope she does well, but I don’t want her over-doing it… Her just graduating high school is

good ‘nough for me.

I’m still not making enough money to afford the bills. If I can’t find a way to get a promotion

quick we gonna end up in a bad place. I don’t want to talk to Faith about it though; girl is stressed out

enough as it is. She doesn’t need her pathetic momma holdin’ her back none…

Today’s Recipe: Renoit Grape Pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 cluster of Renoit Grapes (added for sim sakes)

Tuesday

Before heading off to work today I wanted to make sure that our last names were indeed

changed. But I got so wrapped up in cleaning up the house I missed my appointment. I’m feelin’ so

down lately. I ‘spose it’s cause Faith is so busy doing her stuff, that I feel useless. Cause I was never good

with that homework stuff…

Faith competed in a chess competition, and didn’t come home till late. She lost and didn’t want

to talk about it. Not that I would have been much help in that situation either…

Today’s Recipe: Nothing

Wednesday

Today’s Recipe: Crepes

2 eggs

1 cup of milk

2/3 cup of all-purpose flour

1 pinch of salt

1 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil

Thursday

Today’s Recipe: Cookies (Washboard Cookies)

½ cup of softened butter

1 cup packed with dark brown sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon hot water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour

And as much sugar as you want!

Friday

Today’s Recipe: Cheese Platter

Now, obviously this isn’t really a recipe, more of a group of things to assemble. You need to make sure

to have a theme to your cheese platter, for the one I prepared today I chose texture. However to be on

the safe side of variety make sure to pick an aged cheese, a soft cheese, a firm cheese, and blue if you

want to be adventurous.

For the cheese platter I prepared for the party, it needs to have the right balance of foreign and familiar.

So I went with aged cheddar as the familiar taste and the aged category.

Saturday

It was a normal bustling day at the Bistro; I spent it juggling eggs and knives. I’ve been making a

name for myself here, though I don’t know what kind of chef I want to be yet. Everything is moving

along so quickly, never thought I’d be work at a classy establishment you know. I was just about to move

onto adding the finishing touches to a tri-tip steak when I had the strangest urge to look at my phone.

“Ma, I wish people would take me seriously. Chad Miller who is the president of the Writing

Club stood me up. We were supposed to be working on the layout for the yearly literary journal the

school produces. I’m absolutely livid! I’m gonna head to the park for now till it’s time for work.”

I remember wrinkling up my forehead and frownin’ when I read that. My poor girl was having a

hard time. I didn’t really know what to say to her, so I put my phone in my pocket and finished up the

steak while I thought. I remember when I met Faith’s pa. He was a charmer, he could charm his way in

and out of any girls window in the county. And he did. Thinking about that inspired me, and I knew just

what to say.

“Dont worry ur lil head over it all of the strugles ur goin thru will make u stronger” I winced at

how stupid my text looked but sent it anyway, Faith would figure it out. I ended up having to text her

later letting her know I was staying at work late. We had gotten an emergency order for Cobbler.

Today’s Recipe: Cobbler (Fresh Fruit Basket Cobbler, The Sims Cobbler is made with apple)

2 cups of sliced fresh peaches

2 cups of sliced fresh nectarines

2 cups of pitted and quartered plums

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 cup currant jelly

½ teaspoon apple pie spice

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

1 flakey biscuit pie crust

¼ cup of white sugar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

(Thanks Cera for this 'how-to' post!)

A Mods folder is required for all .package cc. It must go in the The Sims 3 folder under my documents for .package cc to work (sims3packs are installed through the launcher). To create the folder do the following.

Go to :

---> Documents

---> Electronic Arts

---> The Sims 3

You should end up in this location username/Documents/ElectronicArts/TheSims3

Here create a new folder (file, new, folder) and name it Mods. Inside the Mods folder create another folder and name it Packages.

Next you need to have a resource.cfg file. Your .package cc will not work without it! Just click and “save as” this file to the Mods folder (but not inside the Packages folder).

skuld.modthesims.info/Resource.cfg

Inside the Mods folder you should now have Packages and the resource.cfg file. Just place your .package cc in the Packages folder and you will be ready to go!

You can organize your cc in the Packages folder too. You can create additional folders in the Packages folder for things like mods, sims, building, decorating.

nb cfg files are updated from time to time, so be sure your file is the upto date one.

Top Pick Review

Community Amateur Lot Top

Pick for went to Lilsapphire

for her Lot Castle Ruins

Community Pro Lot Top Pick

went to KateSterling for Club

Neon

Amateur Lot Top Pick went to

DeathNoteSim for Yellow

Victorian Cottage

The first Pro Lot Top Pick

went to Gokukaren for

Geyser Cliff House

The second Pro Lot Top Pick

went to Simeve for

Salida del Sol

As sometimes happens, it’s just too difficult to choose one lot! Two talented

creators won Pro Top Pick this week!

Article by Cera13