View source for Sims 3:CTU Guide

<font size="5">This page is under construction :) - daluved1</font>

=Delphy's CAS Texture Unitool v1.8=
The following is simply a guide/handbook/manual (however you want to look at it) for the [http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=348082/ CAS Texture Unitool] (CTU). This is '''not a creation tutorial''', so do not expect to specifically learn how to edit, modify or design textures from reading this. 

: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] ''Refer to [[Sims_3:Modding#General_CAS_Tutorials| CTU Tutorials]] for a list of tutorials. Or, poke around the [http://www.modthesims.info/forumdisplay.php?f=593 MTS Sims 3 Creation Forum.]''

===What does this tool do?===
The CAS Texture Unitool (CTU), is a tool that allows for editing and creation of Sims 3 CAS Parts. With this tool you can import custom textures, designs and meshes to create your own unique clothing for the game.

===What do I need?===
=====Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5=====
The CTU was built with [http://www.microsoft.com/net/ Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5] (free), so '''you must have have it installed!'''

===Where can I find it?===
The CTU can be found [http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=348082 here].

===How do I install it?===
Simply extract the contents to any place you wish. You should see the CASPartEditor.exe and a bunch of other files, and then a casparts folder.

'''KEEP FOLDER STRUCTURE INTACT''': Do not delete/move/change or otherwise do anything to the file arrangement!

===How do I run it?===
Double-click on CASPartEditor.exe
=====Creating a Shortcut=====
For easy access it's a good idea to create a desktop shortcut. Simply right-click on CASPartEditor.exe and go to Send To → Desktop.


==General Information==
====CAS Parts====
A .caspart file itself can be thought of as a "placeholder" in Create-A-Sim. By linking meshes, textures and other details to the .caspart, you create what is commonly know as a CAS Part. CAS Parts are what a the game actually displays on the sim (i.e. shirts, shoes, watches, etc); this includes the mesh, shape, color, lighting, transparency or anything else that affects the look of the design.

====DDS Files====

{{CheatDetail
|desc=A DDS file is a type of raster image, commonly used by many games, including both Sims 2 and Sims 3. DDS files can be saved in a variety of formats, both compressed and uncompressed. You will need to save your images in DDS format for use in the CTU.}}

[[Image:RightArrow.gif]] <font size="2">'''Image Editor'''</font><br>
Your everyday run of the mill image editor like MS Paint or Paintbrush will not suffice for TS3 skinning. Instead you'll need a program that at least has these basic features:
* RGB Mode
* Channel View
* Layers
* Image Adjusters (i.e. desaturate, colorize, etc.)
Most people use Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. However, there are free alternatives like [http://gimp.org/ GIMP] or [http://paint.net/ Paint.NET].

[[Image:RightArrow.gif]] <font size="2">'''Plugin'''</font><br>
Many imaging programs do not initially know how to save/handle DDS files, so you'll have to install a plugin for them. Here are two of the most common ones.
* [http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html Photoshop]  
* [http://registry.gimp.org/node/70 GIMP]

=====DXT Compression Chart=====
When working with CAS Part textures the compression type most commonly used is DXT. There are several different DXT compressions available so refer to the chart below to see which one to use for each specific part.

{|class="nicetable"
|-
!Texture/File
!Acceptable Compression(s)
!Alpha Channel
|-
| class="shaded"| Base Texture
| DXT5
| Yes
|-
| class="shaded"| Clothing Specular
| DXT1
| No
|-
| class="shaded"| Clothing Ambient
| DXT1
| No
|-
| class="shaded"| Mask
| DXT1
| No*
|-
| class="shaded"| Overlay
| DXT1, DXT3, DXT5
| Yes
|-
| class="shaded"| Part Mask
| DXT1 
| No*
|-
| class="shaded"| Stencil
| DXT1, DXT3, DXT5
| Yes
|-
| class="shaded"| Skin Specular
| DXT1
| No
|-
| class="shaded"| Skin Ambient
| DXT1
| No
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> If the mask has 4 pattern regions, then you'll need to include the alpha channel.

====Packages====
The CTU saves your finished creations as .packages, similar to what was used with The Sims 2.

: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] ''For help with installing .packages, see [[Game_Help:Installing_Sims_3_Package_Files| Installing Sims 3 Package Files]]''


==Getting Started==
===Creating A New Package===
To create a new package, go to File → New. By default, you should be in the Find a CAS Part tab. Here is where you pick what mesh you wish to start off with.

====Parameters====
To help quicken the search for a mesh, you can dial up the type of mesh you wish to use by setting the age/gender/type parameters.

====Mesh====
Once you set the parameters, you can either pick the mesh you want to use from the drop-down list or you can select it using the Quick Find box by clicking on the thumbnail.

===Extracting===
When creating new designs for your CAS part, it's a good idea to use the existing textures/meshes as guides.

=====Meshes=====
To extract a mesh, simply click on the "Extract Meshes" in the Find a CAS Part tab.

=====Textures=====
The easiest way to extract textures is to use the "Extract Textures" button in the Find a CAS tab. However this will give you '''all''' the game textures linked to that mesh.

=====Quick Extraction=====
If you only need one or two files, instead of digging through all the textures, you can use the quick extraction method:

* Anywhere you see a key number, click on it to highlight it.
* Next, hit the "find" button nearest to the key.
* A DDS preview window will come up, when it does click the "export" button at the bottom of the screen and choose a destination to save the file.

This also comes in handy when you need to retrieve a file you may have lost or deleted, simply open a preexisting package and follow the steps above.

<font color="red">Do not extract and/or use another creators textures without their permission. Yes it's your computer and yes no one will know, but it's better to respect people's wishes don't cha think? :)</font>


==Creation and Customization==
When you've finished editing your textures and you're ready to import them into your packages, see: 
: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] <font size="5">'''[[Sims_3:CTU_Guide_Customization| Customization]]</font>


==Miscellaneous==
These are extra actions found under File in the navibar.

====Find Key====
If you know the key number of a certain game texture, then you can type it in here and the CTU will retrieve it from the FullBuild2 package.

====Generate Thumbnails====
Generates all 1k+ thumbnails for faster loading.

====Debug Mode====
Debug mode shows some advanced buttons best left for more experienced simmers. While in Debug mode you can modify the TGI lists to change linkages to VPXYs, etc.

====Options====
Allows you to change the TS3 root folder (directory where the game is installed).


==FAQ==
===CAS Issues===
: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''CAS Part Not Showing Up At All'''
Make sure you:<br>
(1) Have the game configured for .packages<br>
(2) Didn't put the .package in My Documents

: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''CAS Part Won't Recolor'''
Some meshes are not recolourable and will simply not work at all in CAS. (i.e. the burglar gloves)

: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''Wrong Thumbnails'''
Try deleting your caches.

: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''Original Texture Won't Disappear'''
Sometimes no matter how many changes you've made to the base texture/specular you'll still see the original texture in CAS. What you're seeing is not the texture, but bumpmaps linked to the mesh. The only way to get rid of these is to extract and grey-out the bumpmaps. However you'll have to do it as default replacement at the moment.

===CTU Errors===
: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''System.Core Error'''
You don't have [http://www.microsoft.com/net/ Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5] installed or installed properly. Go get it and install it. If you have it already, reinstall.
: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''Greyed-Out Mesh Parameters'''
If the mesh parameters are greyed out, and they won't let you change them make sure you hit File → New.
: [[Image:RightArrow.gif]] '''System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException Error'''
Change your Regional settings to make "." the decimal place separator instead of ",".

===If All Else Fails...===
If you've read the above FAQ and you still can't get the CTU working then go to the [http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=348082 MTS CTU thread] to see if you can find an answer there.