Do you remember that snowtato person? She made stuff for the Sims 4 like a decade ago and then vanished? What if she came out of hiding to write a tutorial for... The Sims 3? And still didn't fix her downloads page.
Tattoo Tutorial 1 (Easy Mode): Black Work Tattoos
Here's a tutorial for how to make basic outline tattoos with no fill colors.
Before you begin, make sure you have all your utilities.
Photoshop (I use CS6)
IntelTextureWorks added to Photoshop (download and follow the installation instructions).
cmar's Tattooinator
Step 1: Your base image
Acquire a base image for your tattoo. Use the internet, your art skills, whatever it takes.
For best results, your base image should be:
Larger than 512x512 pixels (big images sized down look better than small images sized up)
Black/grayscale lines on a white or transparent background
Your canvas will be square, so you'll get the best size/detail if your image is closer to square shape
You can make your own, get an AI to do it (if that doesn't creep you out), or grab something from the internet.
PRO TIP: Coloring pages are perfect for this. For our example, I'll use this image I found by searching for "cupcake coloring page."
Step 2: Resizing and .DDS-ifying
Now that you have your image, let's get it into Photoshop.
Create a new Photoshop image that's 512x512 pixels, RGB colors and either a black or transparent background. A black background is the best choice for this but I always forget. Like so:
This will become the .DDS image you'll eventually load into Tattooinator.
Now open your tattoo image in Photoshop. With images I find online, I create a new image with dimensions from the clipboard, then copy/paste the image onto the blank canvas. Like so:
Why not just paste directly into the .DDS file? You can. I prefer to work with the full-sized image so I can tweak as needed. For example, the original has text on the bottom that I don't want being transferred to my Sim's body.
To remove it, I use the rectangular marquee (M) tool to the select just the parts of the image I want to copy.
Next, copy and paste the image into your square .DDS file.
You'll probably need to resize the image to fit. Use the move tool (V) to resize it. You may need to zoom out to see the square "handles" that allow you to resize:
Press [ALT] while clicking and dragging to retain the original dimensions. In this case, I think the cupcake looks cute and fills the canvas better when it's a little wider, so I didn't bother pressing [ALT].
You'll notice that I left a little bit of empty space around all the edges. Any pixels on the edges will "wrap around" to the opposite side of the image. You could probably exploit this to make, say, a barbed wire tattoo that wraps all around the arm. Haven't tried it and I'm not trying to make a wraparound cupcake, so I left a nice little margin all around.
Fill that margin with white.
Step 3: Converting Your Lines to a Red Channel
It looks great and it's the right size, but Tattooinator requires a little bit more to make the image work.
First, let's invert the image. Go to Image>Adjustments>Invert or press [CTRL] + [I].
Note: If you are using an image with a transparent background, you'll need to add a white background before you invert the image. Here's an example workflow:
Then, invert as usual.
I had the wrong settings on my selection tool, so I've got a tiny box of transparency around my image. I colored over it with the brush tool [B] to match the black background.
Now, create a new layer [SHIFT] + [CTRL] + [N] and fill it with pure red with the bucket tool [G]. It's important you use the correct red. Hex code: #ff0000. Tattooinator will use this as the RED color channel.
PRO TIP: Personally, I prefer to use HSB. H: 0, S: 100, B: 100. I know everyone and their pet hamster uses hex codes, but this is much easier when you're working with more color channels.
You should now have a bright red square. Time to turn it into your beautiful tattoo lineart. Add a layer mask to your new layer by clicking the little button at the bottom of the Layer panel with a black circle. A white square should appear next to your red layer's name.
Now, jump down to your inverted lineart layer. Select the entire image [CTRL] + [A] and [CTRL] + [C] to copy it.
[ALT] + [CLICK] the white square to edit the mask data. Your whole image should now look white.
[CTRL] + [P] to paste your inverted line art. Click the red box in your layers panel and you should now see your lineart has magically turned red.
We don't need our original lineart layer any more, but we do need a pure black layer on the bottom. Delete the layer and replace with a black one (or color over the whole thing with a giant brush [B]).
Your image is almost done!
Step 4: Add a Blank Alpha and Save
Time to dip your toes into the joys of Channels! On the Layers panel, click the Channels tab.
Now, click the "Create New Channel" button that looks like a sticky note with a fold in the corner. This will make a new channel called "Alpha" or "Alpha 1" appear.
Click the RGB channel, then the little eye next to the Alpha channel so that all your channels are active and visible. Now your image should look like this:
It's ready to save! [CTRL] + [S] and select .DDS file from the dropdown. Name it whatever you want, pick a file location you'll remember and press "Save."
A window full of exciting options will pop up. Select the same ones as me:
Great work. Keep your DDS file open in Photoshop for now, in case you have to troubleshoot.
Step 4: Tattooinate!
Open Tattooinator and hit the "Select" button next to DDS file. Navigate to your newly saved DDS file and open it. Then, make sure only "Channel R" is checked, otherwise your tattoo might cause issues in game.
Next, click the red boxes on the top row one by one and change them to black or a dark color. These will be the preset "ink" colors for your tattoo in game. I like to do black, brown, and purple. Don't worry about changing the other channels. Here's how my screen looks once I've changed everything:
Click the button at the bottom that says "Preview Tattoo Image." Here's the moment of truth! If you've done everything right, it should look like this:
Viola! Black lines with a skin-colored background. Feel free to click through the other presets and admire your work.
If that's not what your preview looks like, you might have messed up somewhere along the line. Jump back to Photoshop and make sure your DDS image has:
A solid red layer with a layer mask (black background, white lines)
A solid black layer
An alpha channel with just black in it (will show up as translucent red when visible over your image in Photoshop)
Once everything looks good, close the preview, name your tattoo at the top of the screen and then click "Create Tattoo Package."
Save it as whatever you like and place it in your game's "Mods/Packages" folder. Run your game and find your brand new tattoo design in CAS. Congratulations on your custom tattoo!
Personally, I think the back hair adds.
FAQ
I haven't actually been asked anything yet, but I'm a teacher, so here are the kinds of questions I anticipate.
1. I don't have Photoshop!
You can use GIMP, it's free and has basically the same functionality. cmar's tutorial walks through how to save DDS files in GIMP
2. How do I make a tattoo with colors?
You can find the basics of making tattoos with colors in cmar's and WolfoftheNyght's tutorials. They'll show you how to add up to four colors (including the outline color) to tattoos.
I'm planning on making one--maybe--two more, advanced color tutorials. These are for the crazy people like me who want fully-CAStable tattoos with lots of colors. Yes, these are tattoos, not accessories! No, I haven't seen anyone manage this before. (And yes, it's a lot of work…)
3. How do you add .package files to your game?
Sorry, I can't help with that. Check out the Installing a Mods folder tutorial on MTS.
4. This seems like a lot of work to create a pretty simple effect.
Yeah... Thankfully, it gets very, very fast with practice and I'm honestly addicted to creating custom blackwork for all my Sims. It becomes second nature: Grab image>Resize>Invert>Add Mask to Red Channel>Add Alpha and Black Background Layer>Save and Tattooify.
But yeah, the process has lots of weird steps. Welcome to making content for the Sims 3. Haha.
It seems that, once again, I have forgotten to post about that set when I uploaded on Patreon! :D
Anyway, yoga clutter with new yoga mat using @twinsimming mod, plus a new version of my beach yoga mat, using twinsimming mod (that I renamed twinsinsimming, I think... I CAN'T spell any names correctly, I'm sorry for that!!)
On request, but also on my own wish list for a long time because I have a Sim 3 who DREAMS to have a nail salon; I made the hair dresser set for her because Sims 3 can't (yet?) have a nail salon, but that's her real goal life…
Anyway… here's all the needed clutter for a nail salon, furniture will follow in the next update!
(by the way, I remind that Sims 3 modders can use my meshes for their mods; it's always better if my meshes can still be required/needed, but it's OK if not. Not even needed to ask (I can be long to FIND your message), but please, message me when you upload so I ca download! ;D
Soooooooo, if anyone wants to use my objects, and the coming ones, for a manucure salon, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO!!! Ingrid and I will be forever grateful for that!)
It will be released on Around the Sims 3 the 3rd of July.
It’s available in early access for Patreons right now.
You might already know Garden of Shadows is DOWN, the Eltham's Drift post from there isn't archived. Luckily the original link still works. You can dl it here if it's not in other backups⬇
Also the Fairhaven City link has been broken for a long time, and a few months ago @kevinvoncrastenburg reuploaded it to MTS (thank u Kevin🫶). You can dl it there⬇
Just got into the sims 3! I’m relatively experienced with having very modded games, but I like more androgynous/alternative custom content. Are there any creators who specialize in that sort of thing? :-)
Not surprised there is already paid cc for Paralives out and about, but I am disappointed. It's an indie game with a dev team that is committed to no paid DLC, so it just feels... extra gross.
That said, I hope people realize the culture around cc for The Sims isn't normal and vote with their wallets and attention instead. Reward (and tip!) creators that do things for the love of the game, hobby, and community. -- And ignore those out for profit.
I hope the Paralives Community becomes chronically unprofitable for them.
What pisses me off the most about there being early access content for paralives is the fact that it’s an INDIE GAME. it’s not a multi million dollar company like EA. It’s an early access indie game and some of you are so fucking greedy for cash that you wanna profit off of it? We already have to deal with this shit in the sims like the community is fucking infested with it and now you wanna do this to paralives when they literally told us that we’d always be getting updates for free???? Loser behaviour. You’re a loser
Apologies for this taking forever and me disappearing off the face of the Earth, sorry if you've tried to DM me w/ issues, etc etc blablabla. I would like to say I'll be more active now but who knows, life is kind of sucky atm
New patches:
Mirror Reflection Settings - Tunes how far away mirror reflections stay visible. Push reflections out further (or rein them in if you've got a wall full of mirrors and want your frames back, mirrors are each their own little camera). Patch idea from Boring Bones
Animation Blend Tuning - Clamps animation blend (transition) durations to a min/max, so transitions that snap can be smoothed out and slow blends can be made snappier. Also includes a forceBlendOut option that lets through blend-out times the engine would otherwise discard. Big thanks to @thepancake1 for the patch!
Split-Level Lighting Fix - Makes lighting not stop at a single level - lot-bound lights now pass the engine's 'world light' filter in outdoor rooms and terrain lightmaps. May cause a bit of light bleed near walls/floors. All credits to Arro-Now!
Brady Bunch BEGONE - The engine fills unlit/dim rooms at night with a fake blue ambient (the "Brady Bunch Blue" apparently). This allows you to change them or to (ideally) zero the values so unlit rooms render without the gross blue glow. Patch idea from Arro ,thanks!
All four are experimental for now, they'll graduate one day...
Updates/Changes:
CPU Thread Optimization - Fixes Alder Lake+ CPU issues correctly now (hopefully).
Lighting Quality - Improved blur math precision to prevent color banding, plus an additional fix for rooms gradually darkening over repeated passes. Blur is now energy-preserving so it stops drifting the average brightness down.
Startup Warning Dialog Fix - New Hide Dialogue setting that prevents the dialog from being created at all, rather than making it visible.
As always, download can be found here readme can be found here
So, I assume most of you don't know, but there is a bit of drama inside the Paralives community. It's funny because this whole thing is revolving around The Sims 3.
TwistedMexi made his first paywalled "early access" mod called Sims 3 Camera, and I've been working on the same thing as he was.
1. Let's get the "clone" allegation out of the way first.
(Source: TwistedMexi's discord server)
TwistedMexi is accusing me of cloning his mod, but let’s look at the facts. Thankfully, I always use GitHub, so the commit dates are there to prove it.
(2026-05-26 22:27:02 +0200) is a timestamp of the first commit with hash d82ddd909e06833b0f8d5d439ad602d04a4f3e08
(2026-05-27T19:57:44.000+00:00) is a timestamp of the publication date of his Patreon post.
Honestly, I didn't know I could see the future, but ok.
2. The second thing I want to address is that currently there are a lot of awful comments directed at Tmex. PLEASE do not harass other creators.
3. Regarding early access and paywalls: My mods are developed in my spare time as a passion project. I believe in keeping my work accessible to everyone, which is why all of my content will remain completely free, forever. I believe the community should play a role in maintaining projects if the original creator steps away, which is why I always share the source code for my projects
Free mods are a pillar of a healthy community, whereas paywalls only lead to gatekeeping and unnecessary drama. My hope is that more creators choose to release their mods in a way that prioritizes community growth and shared resources.
A reblog would be greatly appreciated to help spread this message.
AI and the epidemic of sharing .package sims and not crediting people is seriously just going to turn creators away from sharing their CC with the community
All credits go to @simkoos for the mesh and textures. [TS4 original]
📌 Some important notes:
Info on individual objects can be found here.
The DUNDERGUBBE box has 5 presets, only one is CAStable.
The FRAKTA bag is not CAStable, left it like that since IKEA only has blue and yellow as its bag color (also, the mask would be difficult to make - yeah, yeah I admit I'm lazy lol).
The JÄTTESTA shelf unit is almost as high as a full wall, so a slightly shorter version is also included, which has same height as the EKENABBEN shelf.
The KALAS utensils (except for the cutlery) are stackable.
The KLUNKA laundry basket is functional, so you need either Ambitions, Town Life, University, or any of the store hampers to function properly.
The XL rug has a total of 36 presets, so they are divided into two sets of 18 presets each (idk if it's just me but I can't imagine scrolling across presets that plenty lol).
These items have a reasonable polycount for gameplay (highest was around 2k+)
Since this a large set, I've also included a collection file (aisquared4to3simkoosIKEA_COLLECTION.package) to put in the Collections folder.
📌 Items not converted...(and reasons why)
UPPLAND seating set: looks a lot like the EKTORP set, which can be found here, here, and here.
POANG armchair: already converted here and here.
JULES chair: already converted here, here, and here.
MALM dressing table (with mirror): no need to be converted since a separate mirror could just be placed on top of the empty dressing table (also there are no functional vanity tables in TS3), and while I attempted to convert the separate mirror I couldn't get the reflections right so as a workaround I just edited a TS3 mirror to make it look like the TS4 counterpart.
FAMNIG HJÄRTA cushion: already converted here and here
UNDERHÅLLA blocks: would have wanted to make it functional, but I haven't any way around making toys, maybe next time I'll give it a try.
prguitarman
gummygunk
stormborns
areudirty
vaporwave
janainaart
annaxmalina
