View source for MTS2:Creator Guidelines/Sims 3 Poses and Animations/Sandbox

=Sims 2&3 Poses and Animations Upload Guidelines=


When uploading a pose pack or animation for The Sims 2 or 3 to Mod The Sims, we have some basic requirements to ensure that your upload is good, shown well, and has the correct info and files needed for people to use it in their games.  This allows both moderators to check your uploads for quality, and for downloaders to see if your item is something they want to add to their games.


Below is a WIP that still needs to be edited to incorporate poses and animations.


==Quality==


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Naturally Posed
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| [[Image:Guidelines_poses_posewholebody.jpg|right|thumbnail|300x300px]]''
Always try to alter every or at least almost every joint a little bit. Altering just a few joints can leave your pose looking quite stiff and unnatural. Begin with the big changes and work your way down to the details. Don't forget to pose the face, hands and fingers as they count a great deal towards the overall quality of your pose.  
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Anatomically Possible 
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| [[Image:Guidelines_poses_impossibleangles.jpg|right|thumbnail|300x300px]]''
Just because you ''can'' move the joints any which way, doesn't mean it's a good idea.  Always try to keep in mind what the human body would be capable of when you move a joint on your pose. Don't go beyond the anatomically possible. Avoid bending joints in impossible directions or at impossible angles unless it's required to fit a certain theme or context. E.g. If you are making acrobatic poses then it's fair to expect that they may be able to bend in ways that would cause an average human lots of pain. 


Keep in mind that a pose that is anatomically possible for the human body, isn't necessarily doable for sims without looking really bad. It doesn't make a useful pose if you alter a joint in a way that the sim mesh gets badly distorted even if it would be possible for a human. If the mesh gets badly distorted, try to work around it or go for something else. 

<blockquote>
'''Tip: Whenever you're unsure, use a mirror to check what's possible on your own body or maybe work from pictures of real people.'''
</blockquote>
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Respect for the Laws of Gravity 
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| [[Image:Guidelines_poses_defygravity.jpg|right|thumbnail|300x300px]]''
Text
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Skeleton is Stretched or Compressed 
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| [[Image:Guidelines_poses_stretchcompress.jpg|right|thumbnail|300x300px]]''
Text
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Clipping or Anti-Clipping 
|-
| [[Image:Guidelines_poses_anticlipping.jpg|right|thumbnail|300x300px]]''
Text
|-


|}

==Screenshots==

 





{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Show Your Whole Creation
|-
| 
Text 
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | In-Game Screenshots 
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| Pic here
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Additional Angles  
|-
| Pic here
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Poses Labelled 
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| Pic here
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Clothes and Hair Obscuring the Pose 
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| Pic here
|-


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Pose Box (TS2 Only) 
|-
| Pic here
|-

|}

==Information==


{{Template:Guidelines-InfoFiles-TitleDescription}}


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Expansions Required
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| When uploading your sim, you'll be asked to tick which expansion packs (EPs) and stuff packs (SPs) are required for your sim.  Unless the content used on your sim from an EP/SP is absolutely essential to the overall look of the sim and they would look totally wrong without it, do not tick any EPs/SPs.  This is because all sims can be used in the base game if installed with [http://modthesims.info/d/409950 Clean Installer], and if someone is browsing MTS to show only uploads that use the EPs/SPs they have ("compatible" uploads) then they will not see your sim, even though they could still use it with just a change of hair or clothes.  You can still mention "Hair is from Open for Business, clothes are from Apartment Life" etc., so people without those packs aren't surprised when they go to use your sim in-game.
|}


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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! style="text-align:left" | Credits and links for custom content 
|-
| You are responsible for providing accurate descriptions, links, and credits for all pieces of custom content included with or pictured on your sim.  This is to give credit to the creators for their hard work, and to make sure downloaders can get anything that isn't included by downloading it separately.

You must look inside the .sims2pack file to see what is included. You will need to remove any content that the creator says you can't share. You will also need to collect credits and links for any content you have included in your screenshots, even if it didn't package with your sim (like default replacement skintones or eyes), as well as any required meshes for hair, clothing, or accessories.  This is usually the most labor-intensive part of uploading sims, so it may be a good idea to organize your content before making sims to share, so you know all the custom content you might want to use is is shareable and identifiable. 


'''Look inside the sims2pack:'''

To see what's inside your sims2pack file (look, you'll need to get [http://modthesims.info/d/409950 Clean Installer], a free program which is safe and easy to use.  Once you install Clean Installer, it should associate itself with .sims2pack files, so when you double-click on any one of them to open it, Clean Installer will come up and tell you what is inside.

[[Image:Opensims2pack.jpg|right]]To open your sim in Clean Installer, go to your Desktop. You should find a new file there, with the same name that you gave your sim in Body Shop when packaging. It should have an icon like the one shown. Right-click on this file and choose Open.<br style="clear:both" />

[[Image:Simcontentsci.jpg|right|300x300px]]Clean Installer will open and you will see a list of the contents of the sims2pack file, including what description the creator may have entered when they made the file, in the "Name" column.<br style="clear:both" />

[[Image:Citooltip.jpg|right]]You can check the filename for a particular item by floating your cursor over it.<br style="clear:both" />


'''Crediting and Linking:'''

Now you need to:

* Identify everything inside the sims2pack file, and track down who made it so you can give them credit for their creation, plus and a link back to their site, profile, or the original thread or webpage where you downloaded the item.  A proper link and credit should look like this: "Long Wavy Hair by Nouk: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=427745" - what the item is, the creator's name, and a link.  It's okay to link to dead sites if the creator's site is offline and you can't find an alternate link through Google.

* Provide links to any custom meshes required for the included clothing, hair, or accessories.  Without the mesh, the item will not work properly in-game.  The mesh may or may not have packaged in the sims2pack.

* Check everyone's terms of use for the content on your sim, and make sure that you can indeed share their work in sim uploads.


You will be asked to provide the links, credits, and descriptions in the upload process.  While MTS does save links entered previously by other creators, some of those links may not be correct.  It is your responsibility to make sure that all of the links for your upload go to the right places.

Start a text file on your computer where you can type everything out as you locate the parts. This can be the most tedious part, depending on how descriptive the original creators were in their descriptions and filenames. They are generally good clues, though.  It's a good idea to start your text file by typing in the custom items you know are on your sim (skin, hair, lipstick, etc.), so you know when you have a credit and link for each item, and then also make a section for any required meshes and the links and credits for those meshes.  Then you can begin filling in each item as you find out where it came from.


* Search MTS or [http://www.google.com Google] with the information you can find on the item (from the description or filename) to track down the source. 

* The [[Content Lists|Table of Custom Contents]], on the SimsWiki can be useful in finding content, especially if it's in a particular theme.

* If all your searching fails and you can't find the item on your own, try the [http://www.modthesims.info/fd.php?f=556 Where Can I Find Forums] at MTS. You can search the forum in case someone has asked about the same item before, and if you can't find what you're looking for, you can post a new thread to ask if someone knows where the content came from. Give as much information as possible, like a screenshot, the description, filename, and any other info you can to help people help you track it down.
|}


==Screenshots==


{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Screenshots  
|-
| Take some nice big (600 pixels or more on the smallest side is a good size to aim for), clear pictures of your sim.  Your pictures should be in-game (not in Body Shop), and you can either take your pictures in Create-a-Sim or (even better), put your sim on a lot, indoors, and in a well-lit room so they look their best.

You will need to include at least:

* A '''close-up picture of the sim's face''', from the front, with the sim wearing a neutral face expression (like a mugshot) - not smiling, laughing, etc.
* For sims based on a person or character, a '''comparison picture''' of the real person, ideally similar to the close-up picture of your sim.
* If your sim normally wears a mask, goggles, sunglasses, etc., you should also include a picture of your sim uncovered as well, if their face is too covered to tell whether the sculpting of the face is unique and interesting or accurate to the person they're based on (if applicable). 

Please remember, for your required pictures:

* '''No photoshopping:''' Do not apply filters like sharpen, contrast, etc. to the required pictures, as downloaders want to see what your sim will look like in their game, not your skills at using Photoshop.  

* '''As packaged:''' Your pictures should show your sim as you have packaged them, so that what downloaders see is what they'll actually get.

Tip: You may, of course, include other pictures like a full-body picture, posing pictures, whatever, to show off your sim how you like, and if your sim is a toddler, child, or teen, you may want to include a picture of how they'll look when they grow up, just so downloaders aren't surprised when if your cute kid turns into a weird-looking adult.


{{Guidelines-Screenshots-Tips}}
|}


==Other==


{{Guidelines-NotAllowed}}


[[Category:MTS2 Creator Guidelines]]