Face Templates - 2008-05-08 - No Update - New Links

[ElfPuddle]

 

[polonius]

woot!  so glad to see you're still alive and well... and also of course that the project is still inching forward lol  

Take your time, although honestly, to judge from what we've seen so far, a template you consider "imperfect" is probably infinitely better than the "finished" ones in Maxis's set. 

Lol I'm as excited (or maybe more so) about this project as for the upcoming EP!

[Ambular]

(I would also like to see a compare-and-contrast of this project and Amber's sometime. Not to have them competing with each other...just so I could have a better idea of the differences.)

Heh, in a nutshell, Naitali has been working her hieny off to get everything nice and consistent and anatomically plausible and ethnically accurate while keeping the basic "feel" of the faces, whereas I went through and said, "Hmm, this guy's nose is absurdly big.  Let's make it smaller!  That kid's eyes are so far apart he looks deformed!  Push them closer together!" and so on.

As someone at MTS2 pointed out, mine have a rather Anglo feel because I found it such a pain to try to make pronounced ethnic features that look both accurate and attractive (the game really doesn't accommodate them very well, which may be why they went with such grotesque cartoony distortions instead.)  I admire Naitali's determination to work around that.  Hers will also likely breed better than mine because she's been so careful to stay consistent with how the features are spaced.

Frankly, I made mine mostly as a stopgap until hers were done.  They're still a lot less fugly than the defaults.  And, er...they're available now.  XD

[KevinTMC]

Thanks, Amber.

I really do hope these are ready soon so I can use them in my new neighborhood. But you did a very nice job in providing a "stopgap" alternative.

Yup...the gap's good and stopped, I'd say... 

[AllenABQ]

Coming into this thread REALLY late.  All I've gotta say, Nailati, is:

WOW! 

You go, girl!  Finish these off!  I'd love to replace several of my own that I'm currently using in my game with your creations.  VERY well done!

[polonius]

Just wondering if we could maybe get an update on the project, to see how far along things are... not that I'm trying to rush you, of course, I'm just eager to create my new neighborhood with your lovely sims in it.

[Nailati]

Yay! AllanABQ! What a reversal--you posting in my thread. And yay, everyone else! Thanks for sticking around despite my inconsistency.

So. Status:

Don't ever do what I did.

I've spent the past few months working intermittently on perfecting face #2. A couple of days ago I declared her finished. Huzzah!



Now to round out the other ages & genders--then I'll be able to simply mix a little of template 2 into any faces that are too wonky. I could be done in time for Festivus! So I flipped her over to male--



gah.

What I've done, thinking I was so clever, was to use my beta templates to make a few versions of #2. Then I turned those versions into temporary templates and used them to make the uber-2. Problem: my beta templates carry hidden Maxis freakshow genes for every age except adult, and, compounding that, my temporary #2 templates carry freakshow genes for everything other than adult female. Meaning I can't get this face to convert.

So now I'll attempt to replicate her from Maxis templates (or else make my beta templates complete--awful lot of work for supposed betas--and then attempt to replicate her with those). Unless somebody knows some SimPE voodoo that would fix this. I can't imagine a way around it, though.

[DrBeast]

Good thing you're returning from time to time Nailati, or else Pescado would announce you dead! These face templates have turned into a royal PITA, eh? Well, I'm glad you still have the energy to continue working on them! We're all awaiting patiently still for you to finish them...they're surely worth the wait!

[Gwill]

I made the mistake of forgetting to put these back in when starting my new neigbourhood after pets.
I'm now blessed with a headmaster with the most hidious #18 face.  I can never get over how awful that face is.  What the hell was maxis thinking?
Luckily I noticed before creating townies, so it's just a few NPCs that look like mutants, and even they have mostly been luckier than the headmaster.

Since I'm posting anyway; I have to tell you how in love I am with the second elf face.  That's one elven hunk!

[Ambular]

Yay! AllanABQ! What a reversal--you posting in my thread. And yay, everyone else! Thanks for sticking around despite my inconsistency.

So. Status:

Don't ever do what I did.

I've spent the past few months working intermittently on perfecting face #2. A couple of days ago I declared her finished. Huzzah!



Now to round out the other ages & genders--then I'll be able to simply mix a little of template 2 into any faces that are too wonky. I could be done in time for Festivus! So I flipped her over to male--



gah.

What I've done, thinking I was so clever, was to use my beta templates to make a few versions of #2. Then I turned those versions into temporary templates and used them to make the uber-2. Problem: my beta templates carry hidden Maxis freakshow genes for every age except adult, and, compounding that, my temporary #2 templates carry freakshow genes for everything other than adult female. Meaning I can't get this face to convert.

So now I'll attempt to replicate her from Maxis templates (or else make my beta templates complete--awful lot of work for supposed betas--and then attempt to replicate her with those). Unless somebody knows some SimPE voodoo that would fix this. I can't imagine a way around it, though.

O_o

...you know, it may just be that I'm up way too early right now, but I made my own set of templates and I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  LOL!  XD  Although now that I think of it, I believe I used a much different methodology than you have.  Hmmm...she's very beautiful, there must be some way to get her to work...if you'd like to PM me a copy I can putz around with her and see if I can help...

[Eleonora]

I've spent the past few months working intermittently on perfecting face #2. A couple of days ago I declared her finished. Huzzah!

Wow, just wow. Somehow, you have managed to recreate my face with almost pinpoint accuracy  . I'll only need to tweak the nose angle and eye shape a little and voila, sim-me. And I must say the rest of your templates are looking fabulous (except for that male #2 conversion that didn't really turn out well ) I know it's kinda late but I came her to support you and I beg you to please finish this project. I'm sure you'd be making a lot of people very happy.

Edit: don't forget to spell-check kids!

[Merope]

Eleonora, you must be hot!

Nailati, the work you've done so far is amazing.  I hope someone can help you straighten this out!

[polonius]

Yay! Nailati's still alive!    I was starting to worry lol.  Seriously, though, I can't believe how much work you've put into this project.  I would have given up ages ago!    I'm glad to see you're still working on it, even if intermittently.  It's definitely worth the wait!

[ElfPuddle]

*throws an early celebratory party*

Nailati hasn't forgotten us!!

[terrakosmos]

Yay! AllanABQ! What a reversal--you posting in my thread. And yay, everyone else! Thanks for sticking around despite my inconsistency.

So. Status:

Don't ever do what I did.

I've spent the past few months working intermittently on perfecting face #2. A couple of days ago I declared her finished. Huzzah!

Now to round out the other ages & genders--then I'll be able to simply mix a little of template 2 into any faces that are too wonky. I could be done in time for Festivus! So I flipped her over to male--

gah.

What I've done, thinking I was so clever, was to use my beta templates to make a few versions of #2. Then I turned those versions into temporary templates and used them to make the uber-2. Problem: my beta templates carry hidden Maxis freakshow genes for every age except adult, and, compounding that, my temporary #2 templates carry freakshow genes for everything other than adult female. Meaning I can't get this face to convert.

So now I'll attempt to replicate her from Maxis templates (or else make my beta templates complete--awful lot of work for supposed betas--and then attempt to replicate her with those). Unless somebody knows some SimPE voodoo that would fix this. I can't imagine a way around it, though.

Oh, ouch! I've had that happen before. No way to fix it that I know of, but I can sympathize. Here are some tips that are probably painfully obvious to you now, but may be useful to others thinking about trying these:
-- Work on only one archetype at a time. Trying to work on all faces in one age group increases the chance for this kind of error, unless you are in the habit of keeping frequent backups of your SavedSims.
-- Flip over to other ages and genders often to avoid... surprises.
-- Complete all eight gender/combos of a face before replacing any files. I do them in this order now: Create AF, AM, TF, TM, CU, PU in BS. Check faces in CAS. Make changes in BS. Check faces in CAS again (stupid perfectionism). Then replace files. Replace EF and EM with AF and AM, respectively. Fiddle with EF and EM in BS. Optional CAS check. Replace EF and EM files. Replacement is always my last step.
-- Make obsessive backups of SavedSims rather than deleting them, and keep them organized by archetype and/or date discarded. (This can't help you if your backups are based on incomplete replacements, of course.)

Best of luck completing your replacements, Nailati! They look luverly and unique. No matter when you release them, they'll be a hit.

[wes_h]

Coming into this thread REALLY late.  All I've gotta say, Nailati, is:
WOW! 

This thread, plus the recent related activity on MTS2 has made me begin work on my contention that the same linkage method I used for adding a new dog collar will allow new things to be added to CAS, including non-replacement face templates.

My first attempt to do so has been ignored, probably because I had only an "af" template in the package, instead of all eight age/genders. So I will add the rest and see if I can make this work.

Because I am such a poor artist, I borrowed some (Eelf) of AllenABQ's face meshes rather than make poor imitations. His posting at MTS2 said it was OK to copy and use them, and I plan to leave him with the credit for the artistry anyway.

If I get the package construction details correct, someone else that actually has talent can use it for a template to put some original non-replacement templates into CAS. Please continue with the replacement efort, because I can't guarantee I will succeed (although I have done a lot of research on this already), but if I do, the GMDCs you guys  guys and gals all are creating will need to be available to put into the set(s).

Anyway, I am just awed by AllenABQ and Nailati's artist's eye for balance and detail (Mr. "Can't-draw-a-stick-man-with-a-ruler" here).

<* Wes *>

[Eleonora]

Eleonora, you must be hot!

  I guess so, but I wear my grumpy face most of the time, so it isn't that noticeable 

[Gwill]

Is there a working link for the betas at the moment?

[Nailati]

OK -- Keep cool, my babies, as Conan would say. I'm chipping away at this.   Here's the current set of faces for template #02 BASE:



You can download them as regular, non-template Body Shop Sims if you want to take a look. Let me know what you think.

Download face #02 test Sims

[blubug]

I really like these faces, and I'm using your old replacements at the moment. My newly-generated townies are soo much prettier. I'm assuming there will be wider noses coming up as well like before? I especially like the bridge of the nose in all 5 faces. Good job, can't wait!

[polonius]

woooooooooooHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! 
I always get so excited when I see this thread has been updated
I was afraid (again lol) that you'd abandoned the project.  These are so much better and well-rounded than any set I've seen, let alone the Maxis fuglies.  These will totally be worth the wait, IMO.

[vilia]

I like the distance between the eyes and the jaws. Very nice!

[miros]

These will definitely be worth the wait!

I'm planning to run every Townie or Dormie I can get my hands on through the plastic surgery station the second these are finally released.

[PlaidSquirrel]

I like that they all really look like the same person, the guys look like guys and the child is not hideous.
I'm really looking forward to using these when they are finished.

[Angeleyez]

I really enjoy the ways these look so much realistic. Thanks and cant wait for the rest of them. Move over old townies theres new faces to this town.