#sims edit tutorial

[salemssimblr]

hellooooooooo i love all of your renders and posts you're so talented oml. may i ask for a tut on how you did the smoke in this post? tysm ily :D

Hey, thank you so much ahhh!!! That means so much to me!! ILY! 😘

In truth, my method for smoke is not sophisticated at all... It's actually laughable how simple/easy my process is for this, I'll admit 😅

There is a way to do it right in blender, but for this particular trick I don't use blender (mostly because I've never been able to get it to work right, user error I'm sure haha). But if that's what you're looking for, there's an (untested) tutorial here!

I personally use photoshop for my smoke, and, I admit, brushes!

This tutorial assumes you have a basic knowledge of photoshop, but if you don't or if any of this is confusing feel free to send me an ask and I'll be glad to help!

A while back I scoured the internet for free cigarette smoke brushes and amassed a small collection of them. Unfortunately none of mine are marked with a name or anything so I can't link to specific ones, but here are a few I've found for this tut:

Click with caution! I use ad blockers and these sites are fine for me but as always be careful!

Brusheezy free smoke brushes 15

Brusheezy free smoke brushes 12

Resource boy 200+ free smoke brushes

If you're using photoshop, make sure the brushes are in .abr format!

Once downloaded (& unzipped), if you double click the .abr file it should automatically install and open your photoshop if it's not open already.

I've pulled one of my renders of Ariss (pre-smoke) into photoshop, so let's make some smoke.

Step 1: Create a new Layer!

Make sure you are working on a new, empty layer! This will be important in later steps!

Step 2: Add smoke using your smoke brushes

On the new layer, select the smoke brush you want to use, and make sure your color is set to white/off white/grey.

Hover over your image and select where you want your smoke to be. I was unable to take a screenshot of this process, but I put my smoke here:

Step 3: Adjust opacity/shading

You should have a layer for your smoke now. Double click it and the layer style window should pop up.

In this step... honestly go ham. If you follow exactly what I'm doing, it won't look the same because of differences in our base image (color, brightness, saturation, etc). But I usually adjust:

Blend mode

Opacity

Color overlay

Outer glow

If your smoke isn't on a separate layer, any adjustment you make here will be on the main layer, which we don't want!

I've adjusted mine, & ended up with this:

Step 4: Move & adjust your smoke

Because your smoke is on a separate layer, now you can move and adjust it.

This is all up to your preference! I typically just move, adjust, and edit the layer style until I get something I want.

Sometimes I'll also blur the smoke, which you can do by selecting filter -> blur -> gaussian blur, just make sure you're on your smoke layer!

You'll know you did it right when you get this window showing the transparency instead of your image, & if the smoke blurs when you adjust the radius!

& that's it!

There's a way to also use the standard brush tool and "path blur", which I've used before but don't usually like the result of it.

But if you'd prefer to try that, here's a tutorial for it!

[citylighten]

Subtitling Tutorial

This one goes out to you @weirdosalike 🙌🏾

As a disclaimer, my program of choice is Photopea, but this is so simplistic it definitely works for Adobe Photoshop as well. The first thing to do, of course, is find the cap you want to place subtitles on.

My caps are huge, so the size you want your subtitles to be is ultimately dependent on what you think corresponds with your image size the best. However, readability is everything. So, you want them large, but at the same time you don't want them to be overly big especially if you plan to have other characters speaking in the caption. (Enormous text is only what I do when I'm having characters really scream or be in an emotional state, it shows emphasis.)

Generally, my setting for text look like this. The bold thickens the text and the size works well for my images. Usually, I use white and golden colors for my speakers, but if it's a scene with numerous characters I splash color to indicate who is who.

Example:

On that note, I try my hardest to choose light colors for my speakers because it can ideally show against the background well opposed to if I used darker hues. Ultimately, I don't think I'm the best at color picking so discovering what works and what doesn't work is like trial and error but for the most part? I believe that light colors are the way to go.

But let's go back to our original cap.

You can't read this at all! So what we're going to do is put an outline around it. By clicking the effects button you'll see this list of options

What you want to click is stroke, which will show you these settings.

This is how the font now looks with an outline. But it's still not quite readable, so I add a drop shadow to create a contrast.

It stands out more prominently, although you may personally want the font to be a bit bigger. And after clicking okay, this is the outcome!

Sometimes I consider new forms of editing like having a faded black box behind the text, but I'm not fully committed to the concept. But this is the fun of editing; figuring out what works and what doesn't work! Hope this is helpful.

[smubuh]

♡GLITCH EDIT TUTORIAL♡

I have finally found some more time to sit down and write another photoshop tutorial :) This tutorial will teach you how to do a glitch edit, just in time for halloween! Keep reading to go to the tutorial.

Step 1. Start off with your sim cutout on one layer (tutorial here) and then a white background on another layer.

Step 2. Create a new layer by clicking on the icon on the bottom of the layers palette. Now use the rectangle tool and a color of choice to create a rectangle on this new layer.

Step 3. Now right click the top sim layer and choose “merge down” to merge the sim and the rectangle.

Step 4. There is no perfect way to do this next step, I had to retry a couple times to get it to look right. Take the rectangle selection tool and select some long selections. Create the first selection and then hold SHIFT to add more selections. Once done with 4-5, click the move tool (v) and then use the arrows on your keyboard to move this selections a little to the left or right. 

Step 5. Do this a couple times so it looks something like mine, don’t get too close to the face yet. Now duplicate this layer by right clicking and choose Duplicate Layer.

Step 6. Repeat what we did before, add selections and then move them a little to the right or left, this time though you can get a little closer to the face and make the selections smaller.

Step 7. Now use the selection tool again but this time make the selections a little bigger, this is where our wave distorts will be.

Step 8. Next to go to Filter>>Distort>>Wave and set your settings similar to mine, I had to adjust a little depending on image size. Click OK when done.

Step 9. Mine looked like this when done. Now right click the top layer and choose “Merge Down”. You should just have one sim layer now, but we need to duplicate for a 3d effect so right click this layer and choose “Duplicate Layer”.

Step 10. Now double click the little icon of your top layer and the blending options will come up, uncheck G and B channels and click OK. Then use the move tool to move this top layer a little to the left or right to get a 3d effect.

Step 11. For the last step download this Smoke .psd and open it in photoshop. Drag the smoke folder onto your own image. Set the opacity to around 65%.

That’s all for the glitch tutorial, I hope it is helpful!

[wrenpity]

How do you get that really smooth effect on your sim edits? I really love it, it gives them an animated kinda feel!

Hi nonny! ✨❤️

hmm… there’s nothing specific about it, it is just a set of circumstances that makes the sims look smooth:

1. The skin

I really love skins that makes my sims’ skin smooth and soft, I use this default one by @madmono and then I usually use another skin as an “overlay” depending on the vibe of my sim, but all of them are very smooth/maxis match ones

My tip: to provide a smooth base, always use “mattifying” / maxis match skin, you can always add some glow later!

2. Topaz Clean

I always use topaz clean for all my edits, I haven’t found any tool that gives such smooth finish to my pictures, so if you haven’t used it, give it a try! Actually, I don’t use the same topaz settings for my edits, I go back and forth, depending on the sims, their skin details, hair… but If you’re curious, this are the settings that I used in my last post

3. Finishing touches

At this point your sim’s skin should be looking pretty smooth, but I really like to add some extra touches that gives it that “animated feel” as you said. I used to do contour and all that stuff, but lately I’ve been skipping that and focusing on highlight touches on the higher points, such as cheeks and shoulders. It can be as subtle as you want, I think it gives a beautiful finish to the skin.

The way I do it is by using the dodge tool in photoshop, and I pick the midtones range 

here’s a before and after, as you can see just a few light touches (nose, forehead, cheeks, cleavage, shoulder) make all the difference, also I added some contrast to the picture, It really helps the glow to pop! ✨

well, I hope this was helpful nonny, there’s not much about it ❤️✨

[smubuh]

♡COLOR ORB EDIT♡

I haven’t done a photoshop tutorial, so here is a simple, but also pretty, edit tutorial! Keep reading to go to the tutorial.

Step 1. Start off with a simple edit, just a sim on a background. Make sure everything is on one layer.

Step 2. Now go to Image>>Canvas Size. Change the drop down menu to percent, type 100 in the width box, make sure Relative is checked and click the left arrow so the arrows shift to the left.

Step 3. Now go to Layer>>Duplicate Layer. You should have two layers exactly alike. Use the Move Tool to move the top layer to the right. Your images should be side by side now.

Next go to Edit>>Transform>>Flip Horizontal, this will mirror your image on the right.

Step 4. With the top layer selected go to Image>>Adjustments>>Black & White. I just left the preset at Default and didn’t change any settings. Click OK.

Step 5. Duplicate this black/white layer by going to Layer>>Duplicate Layer. Set this layer to Soft Light at 100% Opacity.

Step 6. Next create a new layer by clicking the little icon on the bottom. Make sure this new layer is on top.

Step 7. To add the color orbs click on the Brush Tool. Select the round brush, set the size to around 813px (something large) and make sure the hardness is at 0%. You can change the size depending on how large you want the orb to be. Also make sure you select the color you want the orbs to be. I chose a dark peach color.

Step 8. Finally, click on the image to add an orb, I just added two, one on each side. Set the layer to Screen at 100% opacity.

And that’s it! Pretty simple! Message me if you have any questions! :)

[smubuh]

♡OFFSET STROKE: GIMP TUTORIAL♡

I love this tutorial because it is pretty quick and simple. This tutorial will teach you how to add an offset stroke to you sim. You can download GIMP for free here. Keep reading for the tutorial.

Step 1. You will need to start with your sim and background on separate layers. Learn how to cut out your sim here. While holding ALT on your keyboard, click on the sim thumbnail. This will select your sim automatically.

Step 2. Next create a new transparent layer by clicking the icon at the bottom of the layers window. Choose Transparency and click OK.

Step 3. Make sure to change the foreground color to the color you would like your stroke to be. I chose white (#ffffff).

Step 4. Next go to Edit>>Stroke Selection. Change your settings to match mine, you can change the line width depending on what thickness you want the line to be. Click STROKE when you are done.

Step 5. Now move the layer with the stroke below you sim layer by either clicking the down arrow or drag the layer down. You sim layer should be on top, stroke layer in the middle and your background on the bottom.

Step 6. Finally click the the move tool and click and drag stroke to move it to where you would want it. If you want more than one stroke click Layer>>Duplicate Layer.

That’s all for this tutorial, message me with any questions! :)

[smubuh]

♡LEMON EDIT TUTORIAL♡

I recently went to starbucks and they had this promo for their tea and I loved the graphic design of it and it inspired this lemon edit! This is a more advanced tutorial, but I hope I was able to break it down to make it easy enough! :) Keep reading to go through the tutorial.

Step 1. Start off with an image preferably with a white background, it just makes it easier! :)

Step 2. Now select the magic eraser tool and set your settings somewhat similar to mine, you might have to play around with the settings sometimes. Erase all of the white so you are just left with the sim.

Step 3. Create a new layer by clicking the icon and drag that layer to the bottom, underneath your sim.

Step 4. Take the paint bucket tool (G) and fill this new layer with the color #f8f4ee.

Step 5. Create another new layer just like before, make sure it is in between your sim and the background color. Take the rectangle selection tool (M) and drag it to create a selection behind your sim. I redid it a couple of times to get it just right. Once you like the rectangle, fill it using the paint bucket tool with the color #1a1a1a.

Step 6. Click on your top sim layer and one again take the rectangle selection tool to select any part of your sim below the dark grey rectangle. Once selected, hit delete on the keyboard so it disappears.

Step 7. Now to start adding some images! I used this lemon png and added it in a new layer underneath my sim. I played with resizing and rotating until I liked the position. It should be under your sim but on top of the rectangle.

Step 8. This is where it gets a little trickier. Right click your lemon layer and select duplicate layer. You now have two lemon layers. Take the new layer and drag it to the top. If you want to flip the lemon, go to Edit>>Transform>>Flip Horizontal. Then rotate and resize it as needed. I put right next to my sim because I want to come out from behind her back.

Step 9. Change the opacity of this layer so you can see through it, I set mine to 31%. Now take the Polygon Lasso Tool (L) and select any part of the image that would be behind the back of the sim. When finished, hit delete on the keyboard and set the opacity back to 100%.

EXTRA STEP. This is an extra step you don’t have to do, but I am picky. I didn’t like the color of the leaf so I went to Image>>Adjustments>>Replace Color. I then used the dropper tool to select the green leaf color and replaced it with the color #c9ff75. I did this for both lemons and the rest of the leaves/floral I used.

Step 10. I repeated the above steps adding more floral and greenery. I used this flower, this leaf, and this leaf. Some of them went on top of my sim and some I put under. I spent most of my time on this step, moving things, rotating them, and moving them up and down. Get creative here! :)

Step 11. Before you start this step, download this pattern, you will need it in a second. Next click on your rectangle layer and choose “fx”, from that menu select outer glow. Change your settings to something similar to mine, I used the color #000000. Do not click okay yet.

Step 12. While that window is still open, check “Pattern Overlay”. Select the pattern you just downloaded and change the setting to lighten, 50%. Now click okay.

Step 13. Now to brighten and enhance your image! Right click on any layer and select flatten image. You should just have one layer now. Open up one of these Dream PSDs. (I used Ember) Drag the top folder from the Ember PSD onto your own image. It will automatically enhance your image. I didn’t want the blue hue so I hid the Selective Color 1 layer in the Ember Folder.

And there you have it! Please tag me if you try out this tutorial and remember you can always change things up and make it your own. Love you all!

[smubuh]

♡GRADIENT BACKGROUND + WHITE BORDER: GIMP TUTORIAL♡

Another GIMP tutorial!  This tutorial will teach you how to add a gradient background and a white border to your edit. You can download GIMP for free here. Keep reading for the tutorial.

Step 1. Use this tutorial to cut out your sim, the sim should have a transparent background.

Step 2. Create a new layer by selecting the icon at the bottom of the layers window. Choose a White Layer Fill Type and click OK.

Step 3. Click the green down arrow to move this layer to the bottom. (You can also drag it down)

Step 4. Now select the Blend Tool (Gradient Tool). Double click the Foreground and Background colors to choose the two colors you want your gradient to be. I chose a subtle medium and light pink. I also chose the shape to be Radial, and Repeat is set to none.

Make sure you choose FG to BG (RGB) to get your Foreground and Background colors to be the gradient. Also I had to click the double-sided blue arrow to reverse my gradient (darker color should be to the right, my screenshot is backwards).

Step 5. Now click and drag to place the gradient, you may have to try a couple of times to get it to look how you want.

Step 6. Now go to the top and choose Select>>All. This will select the whole image.

Step 7. Next go to Select>>Shrink. This will be how thick your border is, I chose 60px. Click OK.

Step 8. Click on the icon to add another new layer, I chose a White Fill Type, click OK. Then go to Edit>>Clear to delete the middle section of this white layer. You should be left with a white border.

Step 9. If you want to delete the part of your sim overlapping the white border, click on your sim layer. Then go to Select>>Invert.

Step 10. Finally, click the Eraser Tool and increase the size to 200-300px. Then erase the bottom part of your sim.

Here is the final image! I hope this helps, message me if you have any questions! :)