this is a tutorial on uvmaps.
meshers mostly upload a uvmap of the mesh for skinners. but most of us newbies, when we first started, dont know what the uvmap is used for. so you download it anyway and stick it in the downloads folder along with the mesh. thus, filling your downloads folder with useless files :smt120.
i'm going to tell you what it is, what it's used for & how to use it.
then you can decide if you want to fill your downloads folder with them
first things first, download the ambodyopenshirtpants-uvmap.rar from the list at the end of this tuorial and extract anywhere you normaly extract your sims stuff, and boot up photoshop (or your chosen editing programe).
then follow this tuorial
what is a 'uvmap'?
what do i use it for & how do i use it?
the uvmaps for heads are as shown. they are all positioned the same for all ages (not baby though) but differ only in slight facial structure. i've shown you the adult female face here.
the areas of the eyelashes & inside mouth normaly are just filled in with black.
on this uvmap i have shaded in the areas which are mostly used when making new stuff for the face.
the teeth area doesn't have to be braces, you could put in horrible deformed teeth
and the same goes for the rest of the face.
it's your canvase
i've put here the uvmaps for all ages & both genders for the smooth (nude) body meshes. the child is called 'cu' (child universal) and the toddler is called 'pu' (i have no idea what the 'p' is for but it's also universal)
i've also added the afhead-uvmap & amhead-uvmap.
use these to practice on and make new stuff.
once you are good with them you will be able to recognise what parts of other uvmaps are for yourself
some uvmaps can be very confusing. if your not sure, then fill that area in with a bright colour and refresh your sim. you should be able to find it.
HERE are some more uvmaps of base game and ep outfit meshes.
as always...have fun
