How to Make Sims 2 Avatar Tattoos

In this tutorial the photo editor that I will be using is Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0. Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 can be purchased for around $80, or an older used version can be bought for even less on Amazon.com

Exporting the files from The Sims 2 Game

To start this project open the Sims 2 Body shop, it will be in the program files under EA Games / Sims 2.

Once the Sims 2 Body shop is open select "Create Parts" followed by "Start New Project" and then "Create Genetics". Click on the picture of the hand, also known as the Skin Tone Button. This will open up an image of the four skin tones currently available in the game. Select the skin tone that will serve as a base that the tattoos will be on.

Click the folder at the bottom of the screen that looks like a folder with an arrow to "Export the Texture" it will prompt you to name the project. Any name will do. I named mine "tattoo". Click the check mark and now wait for the textures to export.

New Sims 2 Skin

After the file has finished exporting it will show where they were saved to. Generally it is saved to /Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Projects/tattoo. To find this file simply open up your "Documents" folder followed by "EA Games" then "The Sims 2", "Projects" and finally "tattoo".

CAUTION SIMS 2 NUDITY AHEAD!

There are no fuzzy blocks here! You will be exposed to nude Sims 2 skin! Including elder Sims! However, if you have ever seen a naked Barbie doll I think you will be able to handle it.

At first all the odd files in this folder will seem overwhelming, however, after we go through the breakdown they will seem like a breeze.

Sims 2 Skin Breakdown

These are listed by the first part of the names before the "~" sign:

"afbodycut" is adult female body cut, meaning she is fit

"afbodynormal" is adult female body normal

"afbodysoft" is adult female body soft, meaning that she is overweight

So what is everything else you ask, well the faces are well, faces the ones titled "ambodycut", "ambodynormal", and "ambodysoft" are the adult male cut, normal and soft. Leave the ones starting with a "b", "c", and "t" alone because they are the baby, child and teenager files. Files starting with an "ef" or "em" are the bodies for the elder females and elder males.

Important Note: College Sims 2-

If you have the college expansion pack, the college students will match the adults so you will not need to alter the teenager files.

Open the File in Photoshop

Now that we know what all these files mean lets add some tattoos. Only do one sex at a time to avoid confusion. I am going to start with the guys. First open the "ambodynormal" to do this right click on the file and select open in Adobe Photoshop Elements or the Photo Editing software of your choice.

Edit the file in Photoshop

There are two ways that we can create a Sim tattoo the first way is by creating an image using Photoshop Elements. Another way to create a Sim Tattoo is by using another image.

Creating a Sims 2 Tattoo

To make your own simple custom tattoo in Photoshop, first create a new layer. Now fill the layer in with the color of your choice. For the simplicity of the tutorial I am filling the layer with black. Now to create a tattoo use the cookie cutter tool and select an image then drag the image on the layer and it will cut out a black copy of the image. I am using one of the Chinese symbols to create a chest tattoo.

Resize this layer and place it on the body. Do NOT merge the layers. Always keep your tattoos separate from the body background. This will make it easier to transfer the tattoos across body types.

Another way you can create your own tattoo is by using the selection tool or paint brush tool to create some simple lines or a drawing.

Using an Image as a Sims 2 Tattoo

The other option is to use a premade image to create the tattoo. First you will need to find an image to use. Line drawings work the best but feel free to experiment.

Bump up the contrast if the image is color. Use the magic wand tool to select the background behind the object, and delete it.

If the image is black and white select the white background around the image and then under "Select" choose "Similar" and continue to use that menu option until only the black is unselected. Then you can delete what is behind the image and leave only the image behind.

Arm Bands

Doing Arm bands or leg bands may seem a little trickier because they need to be on both the front and the back of the body. This can be done easily by creating a band and making it as wide as both the front and the back. If you put the tattoo on the Sims right arm, simply place the image so that it goes across where both arms meet in the middle.

For legs or left arms just hold down the "alt" key then select the tattoo and two little arrows will show up. Now drag away the image and the program will create a duplicate image. While dragging it hold down the shift key and it will keep the images parallel to one another. Drag the duplicate to the other arm or leg and there you have it your band is ready. (See image)

Blending the layers

Once you have the tattoos where you want them on your Sim. You now want to blend the tattoos on to the body so they look more like a tattoo, change the layer style to "Multiply" and the opacity to 75%. On some color tattoos you may want to try out other blending options some colors will look better with different effects.

Previewing Your Sims 2 Tattoos

Once the Sims tattoos are the way you would like them you will need to save. First, we will check how the tattoos look on the Sim, and then we will save it across all the body types.

Go to "File" then "Save as" when the menu comes up change the file type to a "BMP" and delete the "copy.bmp" off the end of the file name. Now select save, when you do this it will ask you if you want to replace the current file, click ok. It will ask you another question about the formatting click ok. Do NOT close the file.

Now return to the Sims 2 Body shop screen. Next to where it says "Enter tool tip here" there is an arrow pointing in a circle. Click this arrow, it will now update the preview Sim with the tattoos. If any adjustments are needed such as position or size go back to the open file adjust resave and preview again. Once you are satisfied with the tattoos on your Sim you are ready to save it across all the body types.

Saving Tattoos Across All Sims 2 Body Types

In photoshop select all the tattoo layers and go to the "layers" menu and select merge. This will put all of the tattoos on one layer. Then select menu and with the tattoo layer selected in the layers panel, choose select all. Next select the edit menu and select copy.

Go back to the folder with the skins, open up the "ambodycut" file and paste the tattoo layer in. You may need to adjust the placement of the layer so that everything is in the right place once it is save it just like you did the "ambodynormal" file.

Repeat this process with all the adult male bodies and all of the elder male bodies. At this point you should be able to refresh the Sims 2 Body Shop and see the tattoos on all male adult and elder body types.

If you would like you can now add tattoos to the female body.

Loading the Sims 2 Tattoos into the Game

When all this is complete go back to the Sims 2 Body shop. Enter a name for these skins in the Tool Tip area and click the button that looks like an arrow pointing to a folder. This will import the skin to the game. Now your Sims 2 tattoo skin will be available in the game. When you design a new Sim you will have the option to select the custom skin that you made.