Help with NifMerge and CharGen - Merging causes wrong eye color

[urza4315]

I've got a problem with getting the right eye color for one of my custom NPC's.

I'm using the NifMerge tool. If I directly Ctrl+F4 export from the creation kit, then I get the right eye color for my character but without the morphs from the Chargen sliders.

If I merge a racemenu exported head nif with the CK exported head nif, I'll get the right morphs but for some reason the eye color is wrong.

And if I merge the two nifs after unchecking the eyes in NifMerge, I'll get the right colour but not the morphs for the eyes so the eyelashes end up misaligned with the rest of the face.

Any ideas on how to solve this, anyone?

 

Update: SOLUTION FOUND

So sorry that I didn't post this sooner, I wasn't really bothered typing out all the instructions at the time and I didn't realize so many people had the same problem, but that was selfish. The only way to make this right is to share my solution with you all!

But beware that this solution was tested on an older version of Chargen Extended. I haven't made custom NPCs since expired6978 updated RaceMenu to include CharGen Extension so I don't know if these problems still occur or if this fix still works. I don't know what problems could potentially occur with the new RaceMenu. You'll have to try it out yourself.

So the problem is caused by the fact that Chargen Export does NOT correctly export the path to the correct eye textures to your exported Nif file, therefore you need to copy and paste the path to the correct texture from Creation Kit to your exported nif.

What you'll need: Nifskope and NifMerge.

 

1. Follow the instructions on Chargen Extension on configuring NifSkope to open up your Skyrim .nif files.

 

2. Go into Creation Kit, make sure your NPC has the face parts you want, and Ctrl+F4 export.

 

3. In game, unequip everything from your character, design your face, then export your head.

4. Go to Skyrim\Data\meshes\actors\character\facegendata\facegeom\ and find the exported .nif file for your NPC (identified by their editor ID)

5. Open up the Creation Kit exported .nif and your CharGen exported .nif in NifSkope

6. In your CK nif file, click on your NPC's eyes. If you did this correctly, then in the Block List in NifSkope a "NiTriShape" node should be selected with a value saying "FemaleEyesHumanBlue", or something along those lines.

7. Click on NiTriShape -> BSLightingShaderProperty -> BSShaderTextureSet. Next look at the Block Details, expand the Textures branch and on the first line is a path that points to the correct eye textures. Double click the path and copy it.
Then, find the same place in your CharGen .nif in NifSkope and paste it into the same line. It should replace the incorrect/missing texture path.

8. (Optional) If your NPC has makeup or warpaint of any kind, then go to NiTriShapeData (FemaleHeadNord) (or whichever race you're using) -> BSLightingShaderProperty -> BSShaderTextureSet, find the line that points to data\textures\actors\character\FaceGenData\FaceTint\[NpcEditorID].dds, copy and paste it into the same place in your CharGen .nif.

9. Merge your nifs with NifMerge.

10. Copy the .dds file generated by CharGen and replace the one in Skyrim\Data\textures\actors\character\FaceGenData\FaceTint to give your character makeup.

 

Happy NPC making!

Edited July 18, 2014 by urza4315

[urza4315]

Figured it out, consider the matter closed.

[katubug]

You should post the solution, to help others who might be having the same problem! Like me, for instance. >.>

[252Naberius]

Yeah, I'm having the same issue. Please post the solution?

[Exyll]

...ok so thanks for posting the fix for this...

 

Anyone else know how to correct this issue, Im having the same problem

[Smalls21]

I would like to know a possible solution, as well. I've tried making the follower dependent on an eye mod and then tried to make it a vanilla selection and it still comes out the wrong color. The same goes for the eyebrows. If anyone has any ideas or the original poster ever comes back, I would love some help with this.

[252Naberius]

Hello guys I'm back with good news. After a while I finally returned to trying to make custom followers, and after a night of frustration and tinkering with Skyrim and Nifmerge, I FOUND A SOLUTION! However, I'm not sure if it's the same solution urza4315 found, but it certainly worked for me!

Oh and a heads up, I'm terrible at explaining things but just try to bare with me.

So first thing's first; when you're making the NPC in Creation Kit, set the correct eye color there. For example, if I'm making a Nord and I want the finished product to have blue eyes, then while I'm in the Creation kit, I'll set the eyes to blue.
(If you use a mod like Eyes of Beauty, I'm sure it would work the same way but I haven't tried yet myself. Just have the custom eye mod active in the CK, and select the eyes there).

Next, export the head using ctrl + f4. Now, this got me, so listen up: Even if you already exported the head with the wanted eye color BEFORE reading this, do it again. Just trust me, this took many hours of aggravation to figure out. Just after you set the right eyes, re-export everything.

Now, when you open NPC Nif Merge, (assuming that you know the basics of how to set up the two nif files in Nif Merge), uncheck the box next to "Eyes". Check the "Merge child nodes" box and hit the "Match by Vertex" button as you usually would, and then click "Merge to Target"

Good luck, and let me know if this works for you guys as well.

[Exyll]

Now, when you open NPC Nif Merge, (assuming that you know the basics of how to set up the two nif files in Nif Merge), uncheck the box next to "Eyes". Check the "Merge child nodes" box and hit the "Match by Vertex" button as you usually would, and then click "Merge to Target"

 

Good luck, and let me know if this works for you guys as well.

So if I'm reading this right, unchecking the box will give you a *direct* translation of your desired change to the NPC feature instead of trying to blend it with the vanilla face?

This might expalin my problem, as I follow the Nexus wiki to the letter, I will try this asap.

 

I work with NifMerge and I can see a strong resemblance to my character in RaceMenu after the merge is complete, but its never a mirror image.

Edited July 9, 2014 by Exyll

[252Naberius]

Oof, actually I was far from right. It only worked for my dark elf follower because the shape of his eyes that I made ingame with the Racemenu was the same as the one selected in the Creation Kit. In other words, this won't work if you have more customized eyes (i.e., affected the tilt, size, eyelid height, etc.). I'm actually running into this problem all over again with female followers, I can't find a work around to get the right eye color. Eh sorry.

[urza4315]

Sorry that I didn't post the solution sooner guys, edited the original post. Enjoy.