simmanity

Simmanity = Sim + Humanity

Formerly @astraace. Renamed to @simmanity on 01 August 2023

On extended hiatus...

Quick Links

My UI Recolour Mods for The Sims 3. Suggest one at this post.

Sakura - Pink UI

Wisteria - Purple UI

Celeste - Sky Blue UI

Social / Contact

ModTheSims - aecyia is more active on this site

GitHub - VMPYRC is more active on this site

tumblr (this blog)

Posts

How to prioritize your TS3 Mods!

How to create your own UI Recolour Mod

How to make your own UI recolours for The Sims 3

note:

this guide is for the Windows PC, Steam Version of The Sims 3, because that is what i have

dino_rex's thread:

this thread is what got me started

you can download the starter packs on the attached files of this post

i don't use this starter pack anymore because it's limited and didn't include what i wanted to change

i would recommend that you use the other options below...

start small first:

i wrote a similar post on creating custom loading screens here, so this post will be VERY similar to that!

please start with that tutorial first to get familiarized with the whole editing process, then move on...

now, to do it yourself:

first, navigate to where your TS3 game is installed:

Steam -- Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 3\

DVD 34 bit-- Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\

DVD 64 bit-- Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\

Origin 34 bit -- Program Files\Origin Games\The Sims 3\

Origin 64 bit-- Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 3\

// idk the path for non-Windows installations //

NOT THIS -- Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3

navigate to:

\GameData\Shared\Packages\

and the packages you are looking for are:

FullBuild0.package

DeltaBuild0.package

for BOTH packages, do this:

Open in S3PE

Resource

Select all

Export

To file...

Choose a folder to export to (An example: have a primary YourProjectName folder, with 2 folders within it: Originals and Edited. Within Originals is 2 folders: FullBuild and DeltaBuild)

Export the files to the appropriate folder

now that you've exported the Originals, time to make your edits:

Navigate to YourProjectName folder

COPY the original file that you want to edit (from the Originals folder)

Place it in the Edited folder

Edit these files with your preferred image editor

Open S3PE and have your File Explorer up

Select the images you've edited in your File Explorer (Ctrl+A to select all)

Drag to S3PE

Popup window: Import

Wait until it's complete

Hit X to close S3PE

Save? Yes.

Choose a name for your package

Save

Copy this package to your Mods folder

Start your game. Changes should appear.

Repeat until you are satisfied with your changes

my version

my 3 UI recolour projects (Sakura, Wisteria, Celeste) are based on this starter template repository on GitHub. don't use this template because it is stylized / customized for MY OWN three projects, and may NOT be what you want. however, you can copy the folder structure and look up what files to change for your own project (as inspiration).

i highly recommend that you use GitHub to BACKUP and TRACK your changes (or another version control software)

released new versions.... notice... green ui...

notes on custom loading screens...

My original post: here. Rewritten and reposted to tumblr for easier access. Also added photos. This will be updated more than the original post.

The Issue: NRaas Portrait Panel (NPP) conflicts with Sakura (my UI mod).

You can do this for other mod conflicts. I am only using NPP and Sakura as examples.

The Solution: Have NPP be of higher priority than Sakura...

1 - The "Resource.cfg" file is used to determine how custom content (CC) and mods are loaded by the game. It allows you to prioritize folders and subfolders, which is super useful when organizing your mods.

2 - I assume most people have setup their mods based on this guide

3 - From this, there are 2 folders (Overrides and Packages) and one file (Resource.cfg)

4 - The Resource.cfg from that guide looks like this:

Priority 501 DirectoryFiles Files/... autoupdate Priority 1000 PackedFile Overrides/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*/*/*/*.package Priority 500 PackedFile Packages/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package Priority 499 PackedFile Test/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*/*/*/*.package Priority -50 PackedFile Probation/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*/*/*/*.package Priority 500 PackedFile DCCache/*.dbc

5 - The Priority number determines the load order. Higher numbers are loaded first, so mods with higher priorities override those with lower ones. Higher priority numbers are generally for: overrides, fixes, core mods, replacements, etc.

6 - So, Priority 1000 loads before 500, 499, and -50. Which means this is the priority in terms of folders:

Overrides

Files (???)

Packages, DCCache

Test

Probation.

7A - My Mods folder looks like this:

7B - My Resource.cfg file looks like this:

# Overrides = Files that must always take precedence such as fixes, core mods, and replacements. Priority 1000 PackedFile Overrides/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Overrides/*/*/*/*/*.package # Secondary = Files that must go after Overrides Priority 750 PackedFile Secondary/*.package PackedFile Secondary/*/*.package PackedFile Secondary/*/*/*.package PackedFile Secondary/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Secondary/*/*/*/*/*.package # Not sure what this is for: # The "autoupdate" flag suggests this folder may be for dynamically updating or monitoring files, possibly for mods or utilities that update automatically or change during gameplay. Further investigation needed... Priority 501 DirectoryFiles Files/... autoupdate # DCCache = .dbc files are created when .sim3pack files are installed Priority 500 PackedFile DCCache/*.dbc # Packages = Standard packages Priority 500 PackedFile Packages/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package # Test = actively developed/tested new content; experimental mods Priority 499 PackedFile Test/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Test/*/*/*/*/*.package # Probation = under review, has potential issues, outdated, needs fixing Priority -50 PackedFile Probation/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*/*/*.package PackedFile Probation/*/*/*/*/*.package

Here's a link so you can easily copy-paste it.

8 - This means the load order is:

Overrides

Secondary

Files (???)

Packages, DCCache

Test

Probation

9 - I have NPP in the Overrides Folder, and Sakura in the Secondary Folder. This makes NPP load before Sakura. This also means you can download the latest Sakura versions and throw them in a folder, without having to modify Sakura's files to be 'compatible' with other mods!

Overrides (folder) -- has NPP

Secondary (folder) -- has Sakura

Packages (folder) -- my other mods

Resource.cfg

10 - You can configure your own Resource.cfg however you want, just make sure...

the priority numbers are accurate AND in the order you intended

the folder structure reflects the priority you assign

the folder structure is organized and consistent, with clear and descriptive folder names

you define the depth of subfolder scanning based on how your mods are organized. don't scan deeper levels than necessary, as it may slow down loading. example: stop at 3 or 4 levels if your folders don't go deeper than that. after editing Resource.cfg, test the game's load time. if it is significantly slower, you may need to reduce the scanning depth or reorganize your mods.

use comments for clarity. this is in one line starting with the symbol "#". it should look like this in your text editor:

not like this, where there are multiple lines:

regularly clean and audit your mods for duplicates, outdated, broken, and conflicting mods

if mods have specific instructions with prioritizing, follow that.

// and probably a bunch more mod organizing tips here //

a preview of a light blue ui recolour for the sims 3. i only re-coloured some parts to see how it'd look...

skills journal

build buy modes

i think this shade is pretty good.

I recently discovered that someone edited a version of my mod “Sakura” and shared it without ever reaching out to me. This has left me with mixed feelings, and I want to share my thoughts to encourage more open communication and collaboration in the modding community, especially in relation to my projects.

Screenshots for Wisteria v0.0.2

World Adventures Journal:

Recoloured to a lighter purple

Includes text and icon/button colours

Screenshots for Sakura v0.0.13

World Adventures Journal:

Recoloured from purple to pink

Includes text and icon/button colours

Notification Manager

dark pink = hovered the tab "Information" (the envelope)

dark pink = inactive tabs

white = current tab

white = flashing notifications

old vs new:

Celebrity Journal

Simology Panel

old vs new:

Skill + Collection Journal

dark pink = tab icons and skill description text

they're both the same value; can't have one without the other

should the text for statistics and challenges be pink too? hmm...

Sakura v0.0.13 and Wisteria v0.0.2 are now released.

Planned Changes for Sakura v0.0.14 and Wisteria v0.0.3:

Currently working on Sakura v0.0.13. Will include colour changes to fonts/icons/buttons, a pink Adventure Journal, and other minor fixes. No specific release date planned.

Ideas for a new recolour project... I would prefer a short, flowery name that is easy to say/write/spell.

red - camellia / tsubaki, rose, poppy, ...

orange - begonia, marigold, ...

yellow - daffodil, buttercup, ...

green - flora, lime, ...

other - dahlia, peony, iris, ...

here are some screenshots from Wisteria v0.0.1 ♡

Dots1

Dots2

Dots3

Dots4

Stars1

Stars2

Stars3

Stars4

Stripes1

Stripes2

Stripes3

Stripes4

Free to download and use wherever

Zoomed in: 256x256

Zoomed Out: 500x500

Transparent: 500x500

This is my project called Sakura.

My goal is to recolour The Sims 3 UI to a nice cute light pink, with some light blues and purples ♡

This is just a side project of mine. Testers will be needed. See below :D

These are some unedited screenshots. Some are cropped, however. The colours may appear darker or brighter or different based on your own computer’s brightness and image settings ♡

There is so much more to be done !!!

Yes. Pink ♡