A lot people ask: \"OMG I want that hair on my sim! how do you get it!? \" or go \"I want those clothing!\".
Often the case is that those items are what is called: Custom Content. There are two different types of CC (Custom Content), one being what is available from the shop, it will install automatically and will be problem free to install, use on your sim, and upload (hopefully at least).
The other kind of CC is the stuff you gotta search the web for and find yourself. So how do you get it!?
There is a few awesome sites to find CC for the sims2, and the sims3, so I compiled a list over cool pages:
http://www.thesimsresource.com/
http://blog.sina.com.cn/lemonleafs
http://mysims3blog.blogspot.com/
http://lessims3desubaxi.blogspot.com/
Ok, so now you know what it is, and you got some idea where to get it! SO how do you install your stuff. The best way of doing this is to do as follow:
You MUST MUST MUST unpack/unzip and install the package to the following path
Electronic Arts\\The Sims3\\Mods\\Packages
Unpacking and installing it from other random places may not work, and might make things get wonky .
Go to your Electronic arts folder >The sims 3> CREATE a folder named MODS> make another folder within mods named Packages/.packages>put custom content here (sorted in subfolders or just in this one, whatever you like.
To unpack a lot of packages you might need to unzip using winrar (http://www.rarlab.com/). And in a lot of the downloaded custom content you will find a file called resource, and this file will be a .cfg file. You need that one in your folders, package folder (I also have one in my mod folder).
All of this will however not guarantee or help with actually installing the files (that alone did not work for me regardless of having followed instructions to a T)
Luckily the sims world have a lovely creator named Delphy. You can find her on modthesims.com.These tools that she has made will help you install your stuff.
The Framework Installer http://www.modthesims.info/d/384014 Will help you see if your setup is right.
Under beta: the dashboard tool : http://www.modthesims.info/d/387006 To keep your stuff clean and tidy
You don\'t really need those two, they are just handy tools to keep stuff clean, and to check if your pathways is right.
What I needed to install was Delphy\'s Helper monkey, you can find the beta for the second helper monkey at this page: http://www.sims3gamer.com/2010/04/07/sims-3-helper-monkey-v1-2-beta/
And the old one was sadly taken down, I had to redownload it from other site, which I lost the link to :(. So basically if you need the old one to make it work you will have to look around online, since Delphy no longer has it available.
For a different and perhaps better explanation that my own try: http://www.sims3gamer.com/2010/03/18/five-steps-to-shiny-custom-content-in-sims-3/
How to: replace images on your sims.
Gotten a few questions in regards to this so decided to put up a little info about it.
First you need this: http://www.zindasgoldensims.com/
(thank you for awesome image replacer zinda!)
This is a basic, very easy and straightforward image replacer. A few certain things are needed for the ideal picture and how it works however.
The ideal format would be size 512x512 (or maybe 1024x1024 for higher quality, but I use 512x512) saved in .png format.
So how do you get pictures to put in them?
Well you will need an imaging editing software of some sort, I personally use photoshop, but you can use any other form of software, as long as it can save in .png. I recommend the free program Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ ) or maybe paint shop pro, but that\u2019s ain\u2019t free <.<
Ok you have your image replacer and software, what now?
Well you need to take in studio, or in game snapshots. You do this by for example, after you made a sim in the studio, click c. It automatically saves all screenshots to a folder in your sims3 game folder. It will be named screenshots.
Then open the images in photoshop/gimp/whatever you use, and edit it to 512x512. There are several ways of doing this. You can try adjusting the cut out option,w hich will make you go bonkers and nuts, and probably like me, give you a sudden urge to throw your head against the wall. So I personally do it like this.
Pick the prettiest piccy \\(*.*)/
Make a new file, make the size 512x512
Drag piccy over to empty file, adjust size and angle as needed for ultimate prettifullness
After this, I erase the background of the sim, which is normally monocoloured and blue. What I can\u2019t erase with magic eraser, or by using the magic wand as a tool, I do by hand.
Then photoshop you way to a kewl background and effects. I do not photoshop my actual sims, cause I want them to look like what you get :3
And voila, for brushes and kewl patterns for your background layer go google, or look around deviant art for example. Brusheezy is also a nifty site.
After you\u2019re done just (assuming you installed the replacer) double click it\u2019s icon, and click browse, it will take you to your sim folder, and you can see a list of your sims waiting to be uploaded by name. Pick the one you want, and replace his or hers picture with the one you made for them.
:3
Good luck everyone.
