Guidelines for Sims 3 Objects
Objects are some of the most popular items to make for the Sims game and can be defined as new objects or recolors.
- Object Mesh:You have created or edited the 3D shape in a 3D editor such as Milkshape or Blender.
- Object Recolor: You have changed the overlay or other parts of an object's texture files - with or without editing the mesh.
- CAST Recolor: Recolours of existing objects, done in-game using the Create-a-Style tool to change the colours/patterns applied. We do not accept CAST recolours at MTS.
Creating your object
Meshes - reasonable poly counts
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If you have created a new mesh it needs to have a polygon count which is reasonable for what it is. A curvy, complex item that would be used rarely can have a higher count than a blocky/boxy item that would be used frequently. Look at EA/Maxis items similar to the type you're making to get a good idea of what a reasonable poly count is for the game. Items with excessively high poly counts for no good reason will not be accepted at MTS.
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Textures
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Meshing is fun and absorbing, but a good mesh needs a good texture to look good in game, especially if you are trying to keep polygon counts low. You need to make sure that your textures are crisp and clear. There shouldn't be any blurriness or pixellation to your textures. They should look as clear and crisp as textures from the game (or better!). If you're using an image for texturing (photoskinning or otherwise), make sure you're not scaling up your image - if it's a logo or design, you should have to shrink it to fit on your texture, not make it bigger.
| Good shading (*)
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Your textures should have some detail to them - not just a flat single-colour bucket fill, but with highlights and shadows in the right places. Even for flat, smooth items, you should have some detail. This is especially important on cloth items such as couches or bedding, but it applies to all items. Texture shading in TS3 is done using the multiplier.
 For more information on making textures, see: TS3 Meshing FAQ: Textures
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| Not too bright/dark/shiny/shadowed (*)
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| In TS3 the contents of an objects Multiplier or Specular Channel will affect how the object looks in game. A high contrast on your multiplier will result in heavy shadowing, whereas a too bright specular will give your object a milky glow.
If you're showing your object in a colour, try not to use too bright colours. Even if you're making something you want bright lime green, you don't have to use the brightest, most saturated colour possible in the game.
For more information on setting up proper multipliers and speculars, see: TS3 Meshing FAQ: My Mesh is Shiny!
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| Proper shadows (*)
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There are three kinds of shadows in TS3: sunshadows, interior dropshadows and dynamic indoor shadows - most buy objects have all three shadows.
- Sunshadows are generated using the shadow LODs or you can use TSR Workshop to generate sun shadows.
- Dropshadows are a texture mapped onto a floor or wallshadow mesh and mapped to a shadow file. Your object needs both these shadows to look its best in game.
- Dynamic shadows are the big shadows that move relative to light sources such as lamps, windows etc.
Particular attention should be paid to the shadow shape actually matching the object.
For more information on creating proper shadows, see: TS3 Meshing FAQ: Shadows
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