Tutorials:Tutorials
What are tutorials?
Tutorials are documents written to guide you through a specific project or technique. When someone figures out how to do something, or would like to share a technique, they can write a tutorial so others can learn to do the same thing. This way, someone who knows how to make something can help hundreds of people, just by writing the instructions down once. Many tutorials also include pictures and screenshots, so you can follow along visually as well as reading the text, to make sure you fully understand the process.
Yes, tutorials do require a lot of reading, but without a direct neural interface to simply pour the information into your brain, tutorial authors use a combination of words and pictures to teach you techniques.
But this seems a lot like school...
Well, yes, sonny jim, it does, doesn't it? The whole idea of tutorials is to teach you - your goal in doing a tutorial is to learn something new or to expand on existing knowledge.
It can take several hours to complete some tutorials, and quite a few more to make anything from the techniques you learn. Even then, your first projects will likely not be presentable.
Modding is Hard and Tedious. Doing things right is Hard and Tedious. If you hate hard and tedious, just go drink a beer with your friends and forget it now. In order to be successful at modding, you'll need to really enjoy learning new things. The smell of your brain frying should be a smell you enjoy, and you should be the sort of person that relishes the feel of a well-earned tension headache.
What are the two main types of tutorials?
The first type of tutorials work sort of like a course at school - these tutorials are a series. They're meant to be read in order, completing one before going on to the next. You'll find series-type tutorials in the Body Shop Skinning and Body Shop Meshing areas, primarily.
The other main type of tutorials are "toolbox" tutorials. They're generally shorter than ones in a series, and are designed as supplements to other tutorials, to help you gain specific skills that you can use to improve your basic skillset.
How do I know what tutorial I need?
If you're completely new to Sims 2 modding, you probably don't know exactly where you should start. There's a great guide, with links to tutorials here, including a nifty flow-chart, which shows you what sort of things you should learn, and in what order. If you want to eventually make something more advanced, start at the beginning and work your way there.
How do I start a tutorial?
Before you begin, you need to read over the tutorial, especially the introduction. Generally in the introduction, the author will explain the purpose of the tutorial - what you will create or learn, so you know what you're getting from doing this.
They will also tell you if there are other things you need to know first. Many tutorials have "prerequisites" - indicating that a previous tutorial or knowledge of another technique is needed before you can continue with their tutorial.
The introduction should also tell you what will be required in terms of tools, programs, and plugins.
Make sure you read the introduction thoroughly. Is the tutorial for you? Is it on what you want to do, or a subject that will eventually lead you to what you want to do? Do you have the prerequisites - have you completed previous tutorials, or simpler techniques?
