How to retexture hair in the Afterglow archive on Linux
Using primarily native Linux programs without the Lutris wrapper
Resources necessary:
seabensims’ Afterglow GIMP curves
Prerequisite programs:
Flatpak framework
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
Protontricks
Cat’s Easy Hair Binner
CroconawSims’ Bodyshop Installer
Install Protontricks
Install Protontricks if using steam installation of Sims 2 Legacy Collection. Protontricks is available on Linux using Flatpak.
According to the official Github page for Protontricks, you can install Protontricks using Flatpak or Flathub. Distros like Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, ZorinOS, etc already have Flatpak built in. However, if you are using a distro like Ubuntu, EndeavourOS, or Gentoo, you need to install the framework necessary to install Flatpak applications using the command line.
Special note for Debian/Ubuntu users: the official community packages for Winetricks and Protontricks can often be outdated. It is recommended to use Flatpak instead of the community packages for better game compatibility.
Download CroconawSims’ Bodyshop installer for the Sims 2 Legacy Collection via Modthesims
run the exe file for the Bodyshop installer in Protontricks using the ‘run an arbitrary executable (.exe/.msi/.msu)’ option in the drop down list.
Its important to note that the folder setup on steam installations for Legacy Collection on Linux are pretty different compared to the ones of Windows. For ease of installation, put a link to your Legacy Collection installation folder on your desktop, and install Bodyshop to that folder instead of trying to hunt down your Steam common apps folder.
Follow all instructions on the installation prompt to install Bodyshop and/or Homecrafter. I don't think you need to install DXVK to your game – AFAIK Steam already handles that for you using the Proton compatibility layer.
Run Bodyshop.
Depending on how big your downloads folder is, it might take a little bit to load.
Export hair textures from Bodyshop using the on-screen prompts.
Open GIMP and open texture .bmp in GIMP. Apply volatile/base textures – I’m using the afterglow base textures that are colored in volatile.
note that the interface is drastically different from Photoshop and other Windows image manipulation programs. If you have trouble finding the scale transformation tool, use the ‘tool’ menu to manually change the transformation tool to scale.
Apply GIMP curves.
The option to use a color curve can be seen under the ‘colors’ menu. Under the presets menu, select ‘preset from file’ and then select whatever curve you’re using.
Export .bmp and overwrite the files.
Note that depending on your PC, live previews may or may not work for you. My PC’s really crummy so I don’t get live previews.
Make sure the new textures were applied in Bodyshop.
Bin hair in either SimPE (which I've personally had some trouble getting running on Linux -_-) or Cat’s Easy Hair Binner by running either program in the Proton prefix.
Merge SavedSims folder files with mesh if desired, and compress to .zip or .7z to prepare for upload.
Special thanks:
@seabens-simbler, @antoninko, @catofevilgenius, and all the members of the Linux sims community (tag is #simming on linux).
