SIMS 4 - CREATING MULTIPLE PANEL WALLPAPERS AND WALLPAPER MURALS - TUTORIAL
Added 2023-05-28 16:10:51 +0000 UTCThis tutorial is available on Google Docs for convenience, if you prefer.
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I call them wallpaper murals, and this style of wallpaper allows you to click and drag the image instead of placing each panel according to the image on them.
They can be anywhere from 2-5 panels wide. The 5 panel versions tend to be less crisp, but they can still work beautifully.
Making these walls is super easy, and I'm here to tell you how - wallpaper and seamless patterns are another topic not discussed in detail here.
Also, this tutorial makes life easier by using blank normals and speculars. If you don't know what this is, please take a look at these great tutorials:
The Sims 4 Normal Maps Tutorial - The Sims Resource - Blog
How to Create Specular Images in The Sims 4 - The Sims Resource - Blog
There are many awesome tutorials out there for these files, and you don't have to use the ones linked. Feel free to search out something that works for you!
I'll briefly explain below about blanks and what sizes they should be.
You can also check out these tutorials for creating patterned walls. One thing to remember, though, is that Sims 4 Studio will resize your wall files for you, so you don't necessarily need to create them and then reduce the sizes anymore! Although, I still do it for normal and specular maps.
SIMS 4: Creating Custom Wallpaper | Tutorial - YouTube
SIMS 4 - MAKING PATTERNED WALLS - TUTORIAL | Patreon
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PROGRAMS I USE:
PHOTOSHOP for creating the wall panels (You can use a different free program like GIMP and Paint.net, but I will not be explaining how to use those)
SIMS 4 STUDIO for creating the package
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SUGGESTED AFFILIATE WEBSITE FOR AMAZING IMAGES, PATTERNS, GRAPHICS:
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Grab a nice clear image, or make one if you're artsy. If you grab one from the internet, be sure to follow the Terms of Use of the creators or website that you use.
The size of your base image will determine the settings in Sims 4 Studio to get your image on the walls in game.
For a 2 panel image, like the one in this project, I prefer to make sure that it's seamless on the sides, as this is less of a mural and more of a wide wallpaper. You can make all of these walls as accent images and not make them seamless, however, which is the beauty of this style of wall! This is discussed more later. This is how a seamless 2 panel wallpaper will look in game:
And this is what your tall wall panel will look like that goes into Sims 4 Studio:
I'm going to reiterate the fact that you cannot use the same image file across all sizes of walls that go into your package. For example, if you use an image for your short wall, which is 256x768, you cannot simply stretch it to the medium size of 256x1024, or you will have a squished image, and believe me when I say this does not look good in game. If you're planning on sharing your work, make sure your files are sized properly, with correctly sized images.
For the above project, the short wall does not include the blank coloured space at the top, nor the wood beam that separates the image from the blank space; those are additions to the images to get the medium and tall walls. All of my short walls are the basis for the entire multi-panel project, whereas with regular wallpaper, I start with the tall wall.
Take the time to build your wall files properly, and people who download your work will be very appreciative!
SINGLE PANEL WALL SIZES:
SHORT - 256X768 PIXELS
MEDIUM - 256X1024
TALL - 256X1280
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NORMALS AND SPECULARS
Recently, I have noticed that walls and floors that are made without normals and speculars have a highlighted portion between all panels when looked at from different angles. This is not an error in the image files used to create your walls, but a game issue. Therefore, I now always clone a specific wall that already has the slots for normals and speculars so that I don't have to go through the rigamarole of adding them.
Briefly, normals give your projects a slightly 3D impression using shadows and light, and speculars provide the shine factor.
As previously mentioned, I'm only going to talk about basic blank normals and speculars for now.
Normals (dds format) and Speculars (png or dds format) must be made using the regular size walls, and then reduce them to the following sizes prior to putting them in Sims 4 Studio:
SHORT - 256X512 PIXELS
MEDIUM - 256X512
TALL - 256X1024
A blank normal ends up being a flat gray colour with no bumps or any marks to mar the image. The same is true for a blank specular, but the colour depends on the amount of shine you want applied to the walls - white for maximum shine to blind people in game (LOL please don't use pure white), to black which leaves the walls with no shine at all. I tend to go close to black if not full-on black because most of my walls don't actually need to shine. I would use shine if making marble walls, or subway tiles, etc. There is much more to creating these files, and you can find more information through the links posted at the beginning of this tutorial.
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When making wider walls that span 2-5 panels, make sure that the images are crisp and clear, as there may be some distortion in game due to the compression and decompression that occurs.
As I mentioned before, you can make these all seamless so that they flow over the walls nicely, or you can make them as accent sections that do not flow past the intended images. Here's an example of a 4 panel image in game that is seamless, shown across 2 full sections:
And here's an example of one that is intended for use only as an accent:
- You can easily repeat any of your wallpaper murals that aren't seamless by using columns or other objects to hide the break in the pattern!
- With multiple panel walls of this style it's also important to note that they don't like corners much, and they are particular in where they're placed, so you'll possibly see mismatching at corners, and you'll need to see how they fit best on your walls. I even change the shape of a room just to get the desired effect sometimes!
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FILE SIZES IN PHOTOSHOP FOR MULTIPLE PANEL WALLS:
2 PANELS
- SHORT - 512X768
- MEDIUM - 512X1024
- TALL - 512X1280
3 PANELS
- SHORT - 768X768
- MEDIUM - 768X1024
- TALL - 768X1280
4 PANELS
- SHORT - 1024X768
- MEDIUM - 1024X1024
- TALL - 1024X1280
5 PANELS
- SHORT - 1280X768
- MEDIUM - 1280X1024
- TALL - 1280X1280
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MAKING THE PACKAGE
This is by far the most important section to creating multiple panel wallpapers and wallpaper murals that are applied using click and drag in game.
DO NOT IMPORT ALL OF YOUR WALL COLOURS OR CLICK ADD SWATCH PRIOR TO UPDATING THESE SETTINGS OR YOU WILL HAVE TO DO IT FOR EACH SWATCH! MAKE SURE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SWATCH SET UP IN YOUR PACKAGE FOR THIS PART.
Go into the Warehouse tab in Sims 4 Studio, and find the 3 lines called Material Definition easily by clicking on TYPE and scroll until you see them. You will do the following for each of the 3 lines:
Click on the line, then on the right window, click on Edit Items under Material. A window will pop up. In that window on the left, click on DiffuseUVScale. You will be editing the number next to [0] under Value on the right.
Depending on the wall size you're making, edit that number as follows:
2 panels > 0.5
3 panels > 0.3333
4 panels > 0.25
5 panels > 0.2
Click save on the bottom right (couldn't fit in image, sorry), and click on the next Material Definition line and repeat for that one and the next.
⚠️ Make sure you've got your project name updated under the Studio Tab > Catalog, and set your price. Go under the Tags tab and deselect Paneling and select Wallpaper - but only if that applies to your walls! I've made marble wallpaper murals and selected Rock & Stone, as was appropriate. If you don't update any of this information, your work cannot be searched properly, and it will potentially be in the wrong category. For example, floral walls should not be found under Masonry unless it's floral painted bricks. That is very annoying to players!
Feel free to make custom thumbnails, although it's not really necessary. The game will show the first swatch in your package as the thumbnail if you don't.
Once you have everything in the .package, all the settings and Catalog information updated, and you have the Tags set properly, SAVE the package and put it in your Mods folder to test. You may find sometimes that what seems like a clear image during creation turns out blurry in game, so don't put all your swatches in until you have tested how it looks in game.
If everything looks good, CONGRATULATIONS!
Now you can add your other swatches if you have any! Please remember to also update the colour tags for each swatch. Re-save your .package and replace the one in your Mods folder with the new package.
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It's always a good idea to regularly save your .package while working on it, in case something happens and you lose all of your hard work!
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I hope this tutorial helps you, and if you have any questions or comments, or even additions of tips and tricks, please comment! We're all here for each other and it's important to work together as a community, in my humble opinion.
Most importantly, have fun!
Here's a few images of some of my projects using this tutorial:
