Sims 3:Modding

CAS (Create a Sim)

Things you can stick on your sims - skintones, clothing, and more.

General CAS Tutorials

• How to Make a Simple Texture Replacement by ThomasRiordan - Scroll down to post #17 by HystericalParoxysm for info on replacing skintones and eyes.
• Creating Default Replacement Skintones for TS3 by Aikea Guinea
• Default Replacement Eyes, Plus Changing The Whites by Aikea Guinea
• Sims 3 Hair Basics by HystericalParoxysm

CTU Tutorials

Tutorials on using Delphy's CTU:

• Quick and Dirty Guide to the CAS Unitool by Hanlon Razor

• Creating Custom Clothing Stencils by daluved1

• Adding Custom Clothing Stencils by daluved1

• Creating A New Base Texture by daluved1

• Replacing Textures by daluved1

• Basic Mask Editing by daluved1

TSR Workshop Tutorials

Tutorials on using TSR Workshop:

• In depth clothing tutorial by Sinastra

• Creating a clothing mesh tutorial by sww_sww_sww

• Understanding complates (advanced) by Murano

• Adding Logost to Clothing (beginner) by kittyispretty69

CAS Tools

Blender GEOM Mesh Plug-In By morgade

Morgade is currently working on a GEOM (body meshes) import/export plugin.

• GEOM Mesh Plug-In

Delphy's CTU

Currently in beta - allows creation of new stencils, full clothing retextures as well as non-replacements, and more. v1.8 and above has inbuilt 3d mesh view.

• Delphy's CAS Texture Unitool

Delphy's Acronym Bending Original Output Barber Shop (aka DABOOBS)

This program allows you to create non-replacement custom hair meshes for The Sims 3. It generates entirely new hair packages that can be placed in game, and contains all possible linkages and correct file assignments.

• DABOOBS

TSR Workshop

This program allows you to create non-replacement clothing, hair, make-up and accessories. At the moment you can edit existing meshes to create new looks, unlimited mesh editing will soon become available. Friendly user-interface and live 3D preview of your work in progress. Currently in Beta.

• Download TSR Workshop here

• TSR Workshop discussion forums

Patterns

Burberry, burberry, burberry.

Tools

Delphy's Pattern Packager

The Pattern Packager program allows you to add new Patterns (aka items that appear in Create a Style) to your Sims 3 game.

• Delphy's Pattern Packager

TSR Workshop

The TSR Workshop tool has a pattern plugin that can be used as an alternative, offering a somewhat easier GUI and auto-upload to TSR, if you are a member there.

• TSR Workshop

Pattern Tutorials

• Four-Color Patterns In Paint Shop Pro 9~Graphic Intensive! by Misty 2004

• Pattern Guides at TSR

• Colour Patterns in Paint Shop Pro by Regina

• Separating Patterns Without Vectors by JaneSamborski

• Custom Patterns by HystericalParoxysm - French - German - Italian

• How to convert a Sims3Pack file to a Package file

General Modding

Creating gameplay modifications and the like.

Tools

The Lepid Llama Unpacker by Echo

This is a fairly simple tool to extract the contents of a sims3pack exported file. Simply choose the sims3pack file when prompted, then select the file to extract and click the "Export Selected" button on the bottom left.

• Lepid Llama Unpacker

Postal Package Editor by Echo (Alpha)

If you're joining in the fun of figuring out file formats and how to make mods, this is a pretty good place to start. If you're looking for content-creation wizards, this is probably not what you're after just yet. This is a very generic tool, for exploring the innards of the game's package files.

• Postal-Package Editor

S3PE Demo Package Editor

This is a package editor, created mainly to test and demonstrate the s3pi library, but it is quite a useful package viewer/editor and packer in its own right. Created by Peter L. Jones.

• S3PE Demo Package Editor

s3pi Library - Programmers Only

This is the rudiments of an open source library to support people wishing to make tools for The Sims 3. It is written in C# under .Net 3.5 and contains wrappers that implement methods to read and write package files, unpack packed files, and interpret several file types. Created by Peter L. Jones.

• s3pi Library

TS3 STBL Editor

With this editor you can change ingame text, like item description, job description, job names, etc.

• TS3 STBL Editor

Sims 3 Package Explorer

A tool to examine, extract, replace and modify Sims 3 package content, by Okeanos.

• Sims 3 Package Explorer

Neighborhood Workshop (formerly Save Game Editor)

• Neighborhood Workshop-now with simple painting replacement by TigerM

Snaitf's FNV Generator

• Snaitf's FNV Generator

Simple Encoder for Making Hashes

• Encoder for Making Hashes by ChaosMageX

Experimental Object Cloner

ObjectCloner is a tool intended to create new Sims 3 objects by copying and renumbering parts of an original game object. Created by Peter L. Jones

• Experimental Object Cloner

Modding Tutorials

• Sims 3 Gameplay Modding for Dummies by Inge Jones
• Sims 3 XML Tuning Modding (a more user friendly version of the above tutorial, with pictures)
• How to Make a Simple Texture Replacement by ThomasRiordan
• Core Modding Tutorial (For complete and total nincompoops, like me!)
• Creating a New Book
• Adding Clothing to a Category (for beginners)
• IL and DLL overview / tutorial
• Custom Painting In Sims 3 by Snaitf and Srikandi
• How To Clone A Painting And Change the Texture
• Mini-Tutorial: linking stairs, railings, and fences by Srikandi
• Object Modding (aka adding interactions)by Kolipoki

Installation and Content

To help you get custom content working in-game, and other related utilities.

Delphy's TS3 Install Helper Monkey

Use this program for easy set-up and installation of Sims 3 .package files.

• TS3 Install Helper Monkey

Delphy's Sims3Pack Multi Installer

Designed for mass installing multiple Sims3Packs into a specific folder.

• Sims3Pack Multi Installer

TSR Merlin

Easily install/uninstall both .sims3pack and .package files, and view the content of a package before installing to make sure your files are clean. Instant installation of .sims3pack files (as compared to the Launcher installation process).

• TSR Merlin

Marhis' TS3 Framework Installer for Mac OS X

Help has arrived for Mac users looking for an easier way to install Sims3 .package files.

• TS3 Framework Installer for Mac OS X

JFade's 3Viewer (Beta)

The 3Viewer aims to be a Sims3Pack Installer, Editor, and overall Download Manager all without using the Launcher provided by EA. Think of it as the Sims 3 version of the Clean Installer with additional content management capabilities.

• The 3Viewer

JFade's The Compressorizor Redux! (Beta)

The Compressorizer Redux! will compress DBPF package files to save hard drive space. Just like the Sims 2 Compressorizer, the Sims 3 Compressorizer allows you to pick a directory and will search for all known file extensions utilized by the game.

• The Compressorizor Redux

Building

Instructions and help on building the perfect lot in Sims 3.

Building Tutorials

• How to create a basic roof with different slope angles - By Feldynn
• Building an Aquarium pool in TS3 - By aphexZero
• How to build a specific lot type, where to have a party and why it matters - By Blackcat007
• How to Create Split Levels With and Without Warped Walls - By Qbuilderz
• Creating a sunken room with floor to ceiling windows By - Beefysim1
• How to build a pool in a lake - By AllHeartAnne
• How to Make Pools of Different Depths - By KRD123
• Building an Aquarium Pond - By Patul
• Half Walls and Folded Stairs in a Modern House - By Amiao103
• Indoor/Outdoor Pools - By kraslev
• Building a Yacht!! a basic framework - By Ralphaelninja
• TS3 Circular Stairway Tutorial - By Patul
• True Sunken Basement - By Flabaliki
• Split Level Stairs - By Plasticbox
• Split levelling 4-level house without warped walls - By ellacharm3d
• Bridges in The Sims 3 - By Flabaliki
• Split Level on the Second Story - By Flabaliki
• How to build a multi split level home (eqivalent to 8 clicks) - By Rosalie_Q
• Correct Pool Windows - Even After Reloading - By sims-holic
• Gambrel Roof Tutorial - By ricslady99
• Under Ground Garage - By Xeroz
• Glitch: How to Make Water go Green - By suttonbros
• Split Level Pools {Sloped} - By Moonfeather
• Fountains in a Pond - By rgarraw
• TS3 Nine Livable Levels (Illusion) by Patul
• How to make an underground carport by Xeroz
• Building a Gambrel Roof Tutorial by ricslady99
• TS3 Nine livable levels (illusion) by Patul
• TS3 Greenhouse (and custom roofing) tutorial by Patul
• "Acrostacking" Stacking Objects in TS3 tutorial by Qbuilderz
• "Geoblending" Covering Objects with Terrain in TS3 tutorial by Qbuilderz

Video Building Tutorials

• Roof Height Adjustment Tutorial{TSS}
• Connecting Garages to Foundations Tutorial{TSS}
• Split Leveling Tutorial{TSS}
• How to make Waterfalls Tutorial{TSS}
• Pool Techniques Tutorial{TSS}
• Building a Better House Tutorial{TSS}
• Tricks with Split Leveling Tutorial{TSS}
• Basements/Multilevel Basements in The Sims 3 Tutorial{TSS}
• Landscaping Tutorial{TSS}
• Landscaping Megatorial{TSS}
• Creating Bridges{TSS}

Meshing Tools

WesHowe is doing great work with some Milkshape plugins:

• Sims 3 tools (packages and mesh)

Meshing Tutorials

• Modifying a TS3 Mesh by Wes Howe

Advanced Coding

If you are interested in all the file formats that go to make up the game, check these resources out:

• Files by Type Code: Sims 3:PackedFileTypes
• RCOL (Scene) Sims 3:RCOL
• Catalog Resource Sims 3:Catalog Resource
• Key table and lists of resource references Sims 3:Key table