Applying custom textures to custom race

[bigfoot343]

I want to create a custom race in the Creation Kit so my Nord can have a body texture with tattoos while making it so not every other Nord is running around with the exact same tattoos, but I am having trouble figuring out how to apply my body texture to my custom race. Can anyone help me figure this out?

[infinitedice]

I'm trying to figure this mystery out as well... it's easy to assign a texture from the bsa file that is already packed.... but if I want to tweak the texture then save it as a new dds file do I then need to import that into the original 'textures' or 'high res' bsa pack? If so how do I do that...

 

Once in the bsa pack how do I reference that dds texture from within the editor?

 

Anyone... please share some details on this.

[infinitedice]

Okay I have finally figured some of this out. I'm willing to share unlike the other people who keep secrets on the forum. :)

 

1) you need to extract a dds file from the texture or high res bsa.

2) Take that dds and open it in photoshop with the dds plugin installed.

3) Edit then save the dds, it takes a while for it to save so don't be in a hurry.

4) Using the same directory structure as was found in the source bsa... (textures/actors/dragons/xxxxxx.dds) <--- This is an example. Create the same path of directories under the Skyrim installation directory. Not sure if this is important or not but I'm doing it.

 

In the Creation Kit editor:

1) Go under miscellaneous and click the TextureSet item. Look for an entity close to what you're making/editing. Open it, and change the name to something meaningful. Click save and it will generate a new item. Open it back up and change the path to your edited dds file. I clicked the Facegen Textures checkbox then assigned my dds texture to each element in the box.

2) This is where it gets tricky...

3) you need to make a new ArmorAddon Again I suggest doing the same way (open a similar creature, change name of item, save. Just like you did for the TextureSet above) name it accordingly. This is where you use the TextureSet you just made.

• 
   
  
• click the select button beside the biped model inside you'll see a few items under 3dname
  
• double click each item and select the TextureSet you created earlier.
  
• close the window... on the ArmorAddon screen change the Skin Texture dropdown to your TextureSet.
  

4) You then need to make an Armor item... Call it whatever you want. This Armor item must be set up like it's worn so use the same method above, open, change name, save. This Armor item will reference the ArmorAddon and the RACE of the creature.

5) Under the Race of your creature, choose the Body tab and change the Skin dropdown to your Armor item.

6) Create an Outfit item (as you did for the others above) this should then contain the Armor you created above.

7) Under the Actor open your creature. Click the Inventory Tab. You need to select your Outfit file here.

 

Click preview on the window and it should show the new skin.

 

So the logic is... Texture --> ArmorAddon --> Armor --> Outfit --> Actor

Armor --> Race

 

I found it beneficial to open and duplicate every element of another creature which has a 3d model closest to what I needed, for a dire wolf... use a regular wolf. For a giant eagle use a Dragon.... etc.

 

If someone knows the details of how these elements are handled more accurately (especially the TextureSet) please share with us! :)

Edited February 11, 2012 by infinitedice

[bigfoot343]

Sigh.. doesn't work. All that I end up with once I add the outfit to my race is a headless Nord who Still doesn't have the tattoos.. Edited February 11, 2012 by bigfoot343

[Redd99]

I had the same problem as you. I wanted one of my characters of a custom race to have tattoos, but if I changed the body texture - all of the members of that race had the same tattoos. How I got around it at first was by switching between two different body textures depending on who I was playing. Now, however, I've created some followers using that same race so that method won't work anymore. I found some good instructions on how to create a custom race with a custom body texture on this forum which worked for me.

 

Try using the directions here:

 

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/555227-give-different-body-textures-to-a-custom-race