mmkay

I was chatting about a few things I do to combat lag over on discord and realised I do quite a bit of maintenance to reduce lag/load times. I decided to write em all down and before I knew it, I had a big ol' list. Here's hoping it helps!

Save/File Tips:

Clear your caches (located in the same spot as your mod folder fyi) I usually delete the onlinethumbnailcache, avatarcache and localthumbcache caches every time I exit the game, the main one to delete regularly is the localthumbcache file, they're just temporary files but it can get pretty big after a while.. if you're having any mod issues, particularly ui ones, it's always worth deleting that to see if it helps.

Remove any saves you're not using from your saves folder, and keep an eye on save file sizes. In my experience, any saves over around 30-40mb start to get a bit laggy. Things that bump this size up are the amount of townies in game and the amount of lots/objects in the world.

Regarding the above point, I regularly bulldoze lots I don't need anymore, just to save the game from having to cope with extra shit to load in the background and reduce save file bloat.

Similarly, I delete a lot of unnecessary townies. Also, try to keep the amount of outfits on townies to a minimum, ain't no townie need four swimsuit outfits, the game will thank you..

If you have cheats enabled you can usually shift-click/delete object on things like random coffee cups or stray cupcakes sims foolishly drop around the world (or eat em.. whatever tickles ur pickle) just get rid!

Whilst we're keeping objects in game to a minimum.. I try to clear sims inventories now and then, including townies. You can do this via mccc even if you're not currently playing that household by heading to MC Cleaner -> Sell Sim Inventory/Sell Household Inventory. RANDOM LUMPS OF CLAY BEGONE!

Think of a save file like a lot.. the more objects in it, the laggier it gets! Try your best to remove anything or anyone unnecessary where you can.

Hit "Save As" instead of "Save" now and then - the more you overwrite a save, the more chance it has of going wonky, treat your game to a fresh one now and then and remove the old one from your saves folder (maybe don't delete it right away in case you wanna roll back, keep it somewhere safe).

If you can (although ik it can be a pain) set up a new/fresh save, you'd be surprised how bogged down old ones can get! For legacy players, it's usually best to do this whenever you have a small family to save yourself some pain, since you can just save the household and take em to a new save (you will lose sims inventories/household inventories/relationships with sims outside the household tho so beware! Pictures/other collectables can be saved to a lot however, and you can always cheat back relationship bits etc.. bit of a last resort but new saves are shiny and fast!)

Make sure your Screenshots/Video folders are empty - move em somewhere else, it works, trust me. If you have a lot of custom music installed try n' clear some of those out too.. the smaller that Sims 4 directory is, the better.

Delete any last exceptions/last crashes (same spot as your mod folder again) you don't need em unless you're planning to upload em somewhere for help.

Settings Etc:

If you get a bad lag spike, opening the main menu and/or saving can randomly stop this. If it doesn't, try exiting the game, clearing your localthumbcache and restarting.

Clearing all notifications from the game panel can also help.

If you can, close all other apps and background apps you don't need whilst playing, ts4 is super memory hungry so it can definitely help.

The GraphicsRules Override file by Simp4Sims can reduce lag/latency and make your game look a little better in the process!

Srslysims Simulation Lag Fix mod can help reduce lag too (if you've altered the game speed via mccc tho, don't use this unless you plan on resetting it to default).

If you aren't keen on, or barely use a pack, consider disabling it.

Not ideal, especially for those of us taking screenshots, but lowering the graphics settings whilst playing definitely helps.

If you use re/g-shade, consider switching it off whilst playing and only turn it on for screenshots.

A clean and tidy pc/laptop runs better in general. Remove anything you're not using/don't need anymore to free up space, remove temp files, clean up your folders now and again etc etc.. especially that dreaded mod folder, speaking of...

Managing Mods:

SORT OUT YOUR MODS FOLDER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.. skdsjdjs it doesn't have to be immaculate but at the very least try n' clear it out now n' then. Also try to separate your script mods/overrides from the rest, patch days don't need to be so stressful ;-;

Personally, I don't merge my mods; if something breaks it's much harder to pinpoint! It makes it easier to find/delete specific mods too.. and let's face it, there's usually one or two items in that set you could do without lmaooo.. also, don't think it helps much tbh! Yeah you could say the game doesn't have to work as hard to load merged files but that's debatable, it's still the same amount of items/polys at the end of the day ¯\(°_o)/¯

If you like merging files and/or see results from doing so, you can merge stuff you definitely know you're never getting rid of, especially CAS/BB stuff.. but steer clear of merging gameplay/script mods! If a merged file seems to be the culprit when using the 50/50 method, try unmerging it and 50/50ing it again! You might not need to get rid of everything if something's borked.

Bulk Rename Utility can be used to remove all spaces and special characters from your mod files, the game doesn't particularly like loading those so it'll thank you.

The Sims 4 Mod Manager is a great way to sort through your mods, you can easily see, move and delete files from here (not great for build/buy, poses etc as thumbnails are usually missing, but great for CAS stuff). An extra hint with this that I've noticed is that if any of my mods get renamed with [D1] at the beginning after looking through them via the mod manager, it means it's a duplicate file so you can get rid.

I also use the Sims 4 Tray Importer to help me sort through mods. Simply save a sim/lot with any cc you don't want and find it in the importer, you can then go through all the cc in the cc tab and delete/sort it (I also use this to sort cc if a bunch has the wrong tags etc, makes it easier to find in my folders by saving em to a lot or w/e - it also spots duplicates which is handy).

It's a ballache, but the 50/50 method is tried and tested if you're having issues.

no shade to the teens and early twenties bloggers but it’s hard finding people within my age group that are active and continue to contribute here in the community. 

also idk if anyone else experiences this but sometimes it can be difficult relating to the younger population due to generational differences, pop culture, etc. 

Haiii! As promised, here is the tutorial to make it so your custom shoes no longer require a shoe slider!

Thank you to the bestie who took the time to pick through Madlen's package file to figure out how it worked. And of course, thank you to Madlen who did the majority of the work figuring out how to make this possible in the first place!

♥ Tut below cut ♥

Are you tired of your sims' 3D, skin detail eyelashes conflicting with their rings and other accessories? Are you fed up with downloading certain rings and other accessories only to find out you can't wear them with some skin details?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, this trick is for you! One of my dear OCs just got engaged and I found a beautiful ring for her! But when I put it on her, her eyelashes turned silver which made me want to throw large objects but then I remembered that Sims 4 Studio is our friend!

Take your eyelashes (we're probably all if not most of us, using Kijiko's skin detail version or the MM skin detail eyelashes but I only did this with Kijiko's) and switch them to a new category! I hardly ever use Occult Details so that's where we're going:

There's plenty of options to choose from here, it just depends on what you use and don't use.

Copy the file you want to relocate into your S4S mods folder and open it up:

Click on categories, find your Occult options, apply to all swatches, save the package, and BOOM!

*Note: The reason I used Kijiko's sunglasses version rather than the skin detail version is because for whatever reason, the skin detail version is tied to rings so even when I moved it, I got silver eyelashes with the ring she was wearing.

I used vampire cheeks because again, i'm not using anything in there that would conflict!

I did this same method with her engagement ring because Occult features stay on no matter what outfit you're in. So it saves time rather than adding the engagement ring to every outfit (unless you don't want them sleeping in it, makes sense).

Here’s a full list of Sims 4 tutorials I’ve made over the years. I hope this will be helpful to you. ✨

Creating Poses

How to Create Custom Poses: click

How to Create CAS Poses: click

How to Create All in One Pose Pack: click

How to Make Poses With Accessories: click

How to make poses for Different Height Sims: click

How to Create Couple/group Poses: click

How to Make Poses With Objects: click

How to create poses with the easiest way using custom rigs: click

How to make posing easier by adding IK targets: click

How To work with Facial Expressions: click

How to create poses against the Wall: click

Creating Makeup

How to create custom content Eyeliner: click

How to create custom content Lipstick: click

How to create custom content Eyeshadow: click

CAS Background

How to Create a custom CAS Background: click

Photo editing

How I take super high-quality pictures in The Sims 4: click

Photoshop Tutorial – Smooth Skin: click

How to Download Backgrounds directly in Photoshop: click

Drawing the perfect Eyeliner in Adobe Photoshop: click

How to Create Glitter Text in Photoshop: click

How to create a Drop Shadow in Photoshop: click

Removing Green Screen Background using GIMP: click

Removing Green Screen Background in Photoshop: click

Removing Green Screen Background using Krita: click

My favorite Adobe Photoshop Brushes: click

How to Add Filters in Photoshop: click

How to edit Sims 4 Screenshots – Quick & Easy: click

How to draw hair with a mouse in Photoshop: click

Miscellaneous

My favorite Alpha Custom Content creators: click

The best Maxis Match CC creators: click

My favorite Sims 4 Sliders and Presets: click

Huge selection of Sliders & Presets: click

How To Post to Instagram from PC: click

How to remove unwanted CC with the Sims4Studio: click

How to Install ReShade on The Sims 4: click

My favorite ReShade presets for The Sims 4: click

Quick The Sims 4 Tray Importer Tutorial: click

How To Download My Sims From The Gallery: click

How to install custom content in The Sims 4: click

Pose creators you should check out: click

A cure for Adfly/Shortest links: click

Free and good music for your Youtube videos: click

The Best Build and Buy mode CC creators: click

Custom Content for Sims with disabilities: click

Must-have 3D eyelashes: click

How to Change Gallery Pictures: click

windows 10 is garbage so every time i boot up the computer i have to run command prompt and enter

net.exe stop “Windows Search”

after

if you’re like me, you may struggle sourcing cc that can be used on fat sims. whether it’s making realistic fat sims, or simply finding clothes that don’t distort or clip through their bodies, it can be an absolute pain. fortunately for you, i’ve compiled this list of resources and creators who have made fat sim friendly cc!

*please note: while i will try to make this list as inclusive as possible, male/masculine-frame sims are often an afterthought for most creators, especially fat sims, so most of this content may be female/feminine-frame exclusive

i will try to update this periodically to include any new finds :)

**ALSO–some creators’ pages may contain nudity/NSFW. please browse at your own risk!

first, let’s start with bodies!

because you can’t have a fat sim without a fat body

presets & sliders

screaminsnail - great variety of different fat body presets for masc and fem frames. highly recommend. **page may have NSFW content

hi-land - great variety of different fat presets for masc and fem frames. a staple in my game. special mention: thicc king & queen jaw slider  **page may have NSFW content

vibrantpixels - lots of different body presets. special mentions: the arm thickness slider and ankle thickness slider.

afrosimtricsimmer - lots of different body presets. special mentions: juicy & pound cake **page may have NSFW content

also recommended:

sweet bod & honey by simulationcowboy

soft boi and dense boi by narci-cism

big daddy by kikovanitysimmer

LBOS by estrojans

give me curves by arenetta

extended butt slider by gzckrg

shoulder height slider by hellfrozeover

chest depth and width slider by hellfrozeover

cheek sliders by pirumxsim

skin overlays

moonchildlovesthenight - they have lots of skin overlays and defaults that are great for fat sims. very realistic and diverse. highly recommend. **page may have NSFW content special mentions:

u r real skin - defaults & overlays (my personal skin default)

strudel skin

stretch marks

amanda & adam overlay

brianna & brandon overlay

sims3melancholic - lotty skin & erika skin

pralinesims - aphrodite skin

blahberry-pancake - bold skin & overlay

skin details

catshrub - starch masks

alienratz - tiger stripes stretchers

marigolde - lucky skin stretch marks

faaeish - chubby cheeks & growing pains

miikocc - cellulite overlay

now onto clothes!

finding clothes that don’t warp, distort, and/or clip into fat sims is a big pain. here are some creators i recommend whose clothes are tried and true on fat sims. i won’t include descriptions, because i am far too lazy for that, but i will note if they are typically mm, mix, or alpha creators

**please note that some creators listed may have some older content that don’t play nice with fat sims. i will try to note them, but please keep that in mind when downloading!

also, some creators may have patreon-locked content, but can be easily found if you know where to look :)))

aharris00britney - maxis match

arethabee - maxis match

astya96 - alpha

belaloallure - alpha (tsr)

busra-tr - alpha (tsr)

candysims4 - maxis match

clumsyalienn - maxis match

daisy-pixels - alpha (simsdom)

dissia - maxis match (tsr)

elliesimple - alpha (simsdom)

evellsims - alpha

gorillax3 - alpha **sometimes their clothes will do the thing where the arms go inside the body, but the clothes themselves are fine 

grafity-cc - alpha (simsdom)

greenllamas - maxis match

joliebean - maxis match

thisiskiro - alpha **a few pieces are a bit wonky

kumikya - maxis match

laupipi - alpha (tsr) **their older stuff isn’t quite fat sim compatible, but their newer stuff is *chefs kiss*

liliili - maxis match

lynxsimz - alpha (simsdom) **NSFW WARNING!! some bottoms clip, but tops/dresses are usually pretty quality

madlen - maxis mix

miikocc - maxis match

ms-marysims - maxis mix

myshunosun - maxis match

newen092 - alpha **their older stuff (18-19) is NOT GOOD on fat sims. NOT GOOD.

nitropanic - alpha (simsdom) **NSFW WARNING!!

nuagelle - maxis match

nucrest - maxis match

oakiyo - maxis match

okruee - maxis mix

pixelunivairse - maxis match

plumbobnfries - maxis mix (tsr)

ridgeport - maxis mix

rimings - alpha **a few items may have minor clipping, but overall very good quality

savage-sims - alpha

sentate - maxis match

serenity-cc - maxis mix **some of their older stuff can clip or just look… weird on fat sims, specifically some pants and skirts. boots also don’t work well with large calves

sifix - alpha

simkoos - maxis match 

simstrouble - maxis match

soboro-sims - alpha **some older stuff clips with fat sims

solistair - maxis mix **NSFW WARNING on their older stuff!!

trillyke - maxis match

waekey - maxis match **older skirts do the arm-in-body thing

yunseol - alpha **dresses are a little hit or miss, but the tops are good

accessories

there are a lot of creators listed above that also dabble in accessories, but i wanted to make a special section highlighting a few creators whose accessories are fat sim friendly; more specifically, necklaces.

pralinesims - ultimate necklace collection **not every necklace will work with larger necks/fat sims, but there are a lot that do

christopher067 - high quality necklaces that work with all neck sizes

simstefani - y2k-style; accessorize 1 | accessorize 2

eunosims - trendy y2k-esque style; they fit most neck sizes

blahberry-pancake - ‘unusual’ style; works with most neck sizes **simsdom warning!

hello all! I have discovered an easy way to move cc nails into their respective nail categories! I will also be including a template for creators to fix uv placement of their nails, if so desired.

You need: CAS Tools 

1. Open CAS Tools and click the ‘Clone Package Editor’ Tab.

2. Open your CC nails that you wish to convert with the select button.

3. Use the drop down menus to select either fingernails or toenails

4. Click commit changes. It’ll look like nothing happened, it worked, I promise.

5. Save your package!

That’s it! Your nails are now in the nail category

CC CREATORS!

I have updated a UV template and added the proper fingernail and toenail uv sections. You can find them here! 

Here is also a tutorial on changing UV layout to coincide with the template, if you were feeling up to updating your cc to it’s proper UV section.

💙💙💙

Hey Y’all, it’s Shelly

After a plethora of events that led to my old blog’s deletion, I decided to try again and start fresh. Cheers to a new chapter and new beginnings. I have a lot of content to update with my new brand, so it’s going to take some time but, overall I am excited to officially be back! Much Love and God Bless! 🤎

Sincerely,