I wanted to make a visual for what's going on with the Ice Set like I did for the Flowers Set. Both of these sets I have run into an issue of no image textures to be had from these items. In game, they seem to use a gradient and only the bump & specular maps. This will not work for Sims 4, the objects need to have an image texture. I've included a little infographic above to show what I can derive from the ice items, and what other things I can attempt to make new image textures.
ACNH bump (shadow detail) and specular (shine detail) don't work with The Sims, they need to be recreated with an alpha channel, and the originals are incorrect colors, so I did this first.
I tested it with a plain glass texture, including the new custom bump and specular maps. but as you can see, it gives it no detail and kind of looks like it's inflatable and made of plastic due to the lack of detail. I was perplexed about the bump map also, which just looks like waves, I would have imagined on this item with the lines for the cubes, that it would have had detail added into it, but they do not.
The glass texture in this level of transparency is too clear-looking, as it was just a test, but the items will probably benefit from some level of transparency, as they sort of look that way in ACNH (image included above from Nookpedia & mtmmo), so this will add another level of complicated as well as there are no EA glass beds, for instance. So please bear with me on this set, I probably will not be able to crank it out like usual. It will take a lot of time and figuring out a new image texture for each item in the set while using the bumps/speculars as a guide, and tunings that need to be played with. I will probably have to work on it a little at a time. I hope no one is too disappointed to read this update, I know it's a really cute set.
I will update this post with any images of things that I have tried & any progress made.
Also, if there are any creators that want to give it their own try, I am happy to upload all of the files and share a link.
Update:
Here are some other sets that the people who want the ACNH Ice Set might be interested in:
-Gauntlet101010's TS4 Freeplay Ice Set converted to TS4 (curseforge)
-Darkdata's ACNH Pocket Camp Ice Set converted to TS4 (modthesims)
Update:
My first try at the new texture did not work out 100% the way I wanted it to. I have another idea to get the image to lie where I want it on the mesh and have things line up properly, but it looks like I may be able to use these textures from the other objects as I had hoped, which is good! I already see that instead of square shaped bricks, I need to make them rectangular without the image looking like it is stretched.
Update (October 9th):
I tried another object that came with a texture, and tried to make it look like translucent glass, but I got the result in the image added above. I just need to find the right EA object to use as a base.
Update (continued):
The snowflake door decor has been successfully made 💗
Update (October 10th):
Added the frozen pop-cicle treats on the plate. I needed to make a new texture for the plate but I think it turned out nice. There are many swatches and they're really cute! The table they are on is by the lovely Shandir, I believe from this set.
Update (same day a bit later):
Working on these snowflake decors! I am making 2 versions, one set has a soft glow like the Alien DNA object in the space set. (note image textures have not yet been improved.)
Update (Wednesday evening):
Added 2 rugs, one is round with snowflakes, and the other is ice blocks. Added a snowflake-shaped purse wall display.
Update (continued):
Added snowman, snowflake wand wall display, and the tree ice sculpture. (pics added above)
Update (Wednesday October 11th):
I have messed with the tree ice sculpture for awhile. My first try the transparency was not showing up in game, only in Sims4Studio. I tried it again, and it was having an issue where the transparent parts overlapping were making it look very strange in game, like the gelatin desserts from awhile back. I ended up separating the full mesh onto two meshes and making the base with no transparency. So happy I figured this out! This is one of the items that had no image texture, so I added it myself.
Update (continued):
Added 2 versions of both of the ice sculptures, one large one for the ground, and a smaller one that can go on tables & other surfaces.
Update (continued):
Added 3 wall sweater displays, with lots of swatches. Added the pillar with the new texture. Note image textures have not yet been upscaled.
Update (continued):
Added painting, and 2 floors, 3 walls, and a dance floor. Dance floor requires Get Together. I still need to upscale the image textures, which makes the items look much more crisp and vibrant in game.
Update (Thursday October 12th): Today I added a skinny retail/accent table made from the ice table mesh. I also added a little jar that's like a little night light with a snowflake in it. About the table, what do we think about another item made to look like this, but as a taller shelf, skinny from side to side, for retail items? I think I might add a couple more items to this set before I declare Part 1 finished. Stay tuned! & I hope that everyone is having a nice week 💗
Update (continued):
I made brand new shelves to match the set, one longer and one half the width size. Added some folded sweater decor as well.
SimderTalia
2023-10-10 12:59:41 +0000 UTCAby Case
2023-10-10 10:57:23 +0000 UTC