Fixed Object Shadows *Work In Progress* Update 5

[Simsbaby]

For some unknown reason, a lot of the new objects EAxis is releasing in expansions and stuff packs have messed up shadows. Usually the ground shadow is switched with a wall shadow, causing the wall shadow to always show up, even when it's not placed next to a wall. This looks horrible in game and needed to be fixed, so I'm working on this now. I haven't gotten all of the shadows yet, so if you know one that's broken then it would be really helpful to tell me which object it is so I can fix it. I have not heard anyone complain about this, so I'm guessing it will get as many downloads as my floating pancake fix.



Download Update 5

What has been fixed...
 The Sims 2
  Expensive Stereo
  Cowboy's Caboose Chair
  "Outdoor Ergo" Ergonomic Chair by Gudfoer-Ebadi Furnishings
  Sweet Tooth Survior Pinball
  "Election Day" Retro Space-Age Action Pinball
  The Eclectic and Enigmatic Energizer
  Cool Shades
 
 Ikea Stuff
  EKTORP Two Seat Sofa
 Teen Style Stuff
  Fit For Royalty by It Creations
  The Better Bookshelf by It Creations
  You're So Vanity by It Creations
  Fine Finish Desk by It Creations
  Higher Education by Darkness
  Patchwork Desk by Darkness
  Pompadour Dresser by Fun in the Sun
  Curves and Swerves End Table by Fun in the Sun
  Swervy Curvy Desk by Fun in the Sun
  The Television Television
 Glamour Life Stuff
  Affluent Armoire by Well Bred and Co.
 Apartment Life
  Globulous Wonder by Anne Nuit
 FreeTime
  Ultra Sporty Trophy Display
 Bon Voyage
  Instant Giant
  Foreign Flavor Dresser
  GrassCo Folding Chair
 Seasons
  Books First for Learning: A Bookshelf for Education
 Pets
  Atomic Clothing Manager by Streamlined Industries
  Andromeda Far Out Dresser
  Andromeda Lil'Astronaut Desk
  Ring-O-Posies Commercial Planter
  Junior Cosmonauts Bedside Table
  Formicium Counter by Astro-Tops Design
  Atom Bench by Nucular Novelties
  Aqueduct of the Future!
 Open for Business
  The Java de Pwi Barstool
  Soldier's Quarter Recliner

There are a lot more broken meshes, so I don't know how long it will take before this is completely done. I do know that I'll probably have to update this every single time they release a new EP or SP.
Update 1: Moar objects fixed by Windkeeper and Havelock.
Update 2: Fixed more objects and added in Lord Darcy's fix.
Update 3: Fixed the base game pinball machines, and a sculpture from Apartment Life.
Update 4: Fixed the Cool Shades and the Eclectic and Enigmatic Energizer.
Update 5: Added Ultra Sporty Trophy Display.

[Emma]

To be fair, I've only seen the floating pancake thing once, in rohina's sim story when Tad had a pancake stuck on his head! (Funniest thing evah!) But I will try these fixes. Cheers

[Ambular]

I use your pancake fix!    But I'll probably wait on this one until it's updated more.

[Havelock]

You mean probably things like this :


One should know what part of a UV Map is used for what shadow.

I use your pankakes also and i PMed you because i have added some fixes to your Shadow fix. Like the Desk Shadows.

[Lord Darcy]

Thanks for the fix. It bugs me every time I find yet another FAIL that I haven't noticed before.

There was a thread about similar issue with Teen end table some time ago. Havelock supplied the fix in the thread. But probably he already addressed this issue in his PM.

For anyone interested, Windkeeper made similar fixes for Atomic Furniture set. Should be available in the booty.
ETA: Now they're rolled into simsbaby's fix. Thanks!

How do you fix it, anyway? 'Cause I noticed a similar problem in IKEA preorder end table. I found out that the shadow group names in GMDC are all wrong, e.g. the group which should have been groundshadow was named southwallshadow. I fixed it by renaming the shadow group names properly in GMDC. Have I done right?

[Ambular]

I find it strangely comforting to learn that wallshadows are as much a pain in the ass to get right for EAxis creators as they are for me.  :p  Hmm, I wonder if this could be why some of the shadows on my cloned objects don't seem to show up properly...

[Simsbaby]

You mean probably things like this :
Crappy EAxis FAIL.
One should know what part of a UV Map is used for what shadow.

Thanks Havelock, I've updated the download with your fixes included. 

How do you fix it, anyway? 'Cause I noticed a similar problem in IKEA preorder end table. I found out that the shadow group names in GMDC are all wrong, e.g. the group which should have been groundshadow was named southwallshadow. I fixed it by renaming the shadow group names properly in GMDC. Have I done right?

Yep, that's what I've been doing. It seems to fix it when all that's borked is the group names. A little bit more work needs to be done when the UV map is messed up.

[Havelock]

I find it strangely comforting to learn that wallshadows are as much a pain in the ass to get right for EAxis creators as they are for me.  :p  Hmm, I wonder if this could be why some of the shadows on my cloned objects don't seem to show up properly...

It is not so hard to do it right.
If you load the Object in Simpe the shadow behind is south, left is east, right is west. Groundshadow should always be under the Object. There is a northwallshadow also in some objects but you have to flip the object to see him.

@ Simsbaby because i missed it, the bedSingleElite_gmdc has the southwallshadow wrong should be behind the headtile appears on the side.

[Simsbaby]

I'm not sure what you mean. I already fixed the mixed up ground shadow, and it shows the correct shadows when placed against the wall. What did I miss?

[Jade]

These mistakes are always driving me crazy.  I spend lots of time fixing custom shadows on user objects, but I didn't know how to fix the maxis ones.

Does this fix go in downloads or somewhere else game fileish?

[Simsbaby]

It should be fine in downloads.

[Lord Darcy]

Found two more FAILs, both from Pets. (Seriously, WTF with all these borked shadows found in Pets?)

Atom Bench by Nucular Novelties (Park Bench from Pets)
Aqueduct of the Future! (Fountain - AtomicAge)

The shadow of OFB Mission Recliner is seriously fucked up, with the wrong texture name found in shadow TXMT and all.




Also, I fixed the immobile groundshadow problem found in some Maxis chairs. (Thanks Havelock for information and helpful advices.)
Fix is attached below. ETA: Attachment removed, fix is now rolled into simsbaby's fix.



Maybe it can be rolled into your fix?

[Simsbaby]

Thanks Lord Darcy.  I've added your fixes into the file and fixed what you've pointed out.

[akatonbo]

I've bookmarked this, because I do appreciate the fixes, but I actually am likely to stick with playing with shadows off, as I have ever since I downloaded some gorgeous 'metal branch with leaves' type wall hanging that still had a full rectangular shadow left behind from the painting it was cloned from. (PHAIL. ...but it's pretty.) If I ever decide to ditch the thing and play with shadows on, I'll be installing this.

[Simsbaby]

If you could send me the file, it would be an easy fix. 

BTW, right now I'm not going to get Apartment Life until I can update my downloads folder, so I won't be able to check and see what's broken in it. Sorry.

[Simsbaby]

Okay, I've gotten AL, and I'm checking through the new objects. I've found two so far. A new sculpture (fixed), and the new closets. However it seems MilkShape doesn't exactly want to let me import them right now, so I need to beat it into submission. I've also got the basegame pinball  machines fixed.

[Giggy]

Okay, I've gotten AL, and I'm checking through the new objects. I've found two so far. A new sculpture (fixed), and the new closets. However it seems MilkShape doesn't exactly want to let me import them right now, so I need to beat it into submission. I've also got the basegame pinball  machines fixed.

You're the man! I've been utterly pissed off with those Pinball machines but I couldn't fix it myself due to the fact that simPE wouldn't work for me.

[Havelock]

Okay, I've gotten AL, and I'm checking through the new objects. I've found two so far. A new sculpture (fixed), and the new closets. However it seems MilkShape doesn't exactly want to let me import them right now, so I need to beat it into submission. I've also got the basegame pinball  machines fixed.

Simsbaby i got the whole object in wings 3d whitout a prob, but you may have missed to uncheck the dupe resource with the lower polycount. Sometimes they have subsets who have no uv coordinates in the Meshes. They cause 3d Programs to crash or error.

[akatonbo]

If you could send me the file, it would be an easy fix. 

Thank you! I will see if I can find it. (Actually, now that I have thought on it, I can't remember which of two objects was the problem, so shall have to turn the shadows back on and check, and I'm fairly sure that I have other badly b0rked shadows as well -- the wall deco from the Sims Connection Chinese restaurant set comes to mind too -- but I certainly don't expect you to fix a zillion pieces of CC in addition to the shoddy work already in the game.)

[kazebird]

I have noticed if you put the Energizer Aspiration reward against an indoor wall, the shadow looks really messed up

[Havelock]

I have noticed if you put the Energizer Aspiration reward against an indoor wall, the shadow looks really messed up

Here is the fix.

Edit: Attachment removed is now in main shadowfix.

[Simsbaby]

Thanks Havelock. Can I include that in the main file? I've also fixed the Social Glasses aspiration reward. The ground shadow was flickering as well.

[Havelock]

Thanks Havelock. Can I include that in the main file?

Sure i posted it here so you could add this to your fixes.

[Ambular]

I have to say I really love this distributed approach you guys have been taking to these projects...so much more effiicient than half a dozen modders turning out the same type of mod all in different places!

[Simsbaby]

Update 4 available. Now fixes the flickering shadows of the Cool Shades and the Eclectic and Enigmatic Energizer.