SSE How are people making custom NPC faces for SSE?

[ranasix]

I notice Racemenu doesn't allow for custom head exports in SSE. So how do I get a non-vanilla head onto an npc? I tried SPF but it loses all the Racemenu specific edits and just keeps vanilla stuff.

 

Thanks.

[JWGamimg75]

Hello! In the short and sweet:

1) I start by creating a new character using RaceMenu (and the Live Another Life mod) in Skyrim Legendary Edition. I will save a preset, export the head, and create an NPC file (spf). Exporting the head creates a nif file and a tint mask (dds).

2) Then I create my NPC in CK (32 bit), import my NPC file, create texture sets (body, hands, eyes, brows, face/head), headparts (hair, brows, eyes), armor (for custom body types like UNP or CBBE) + armor AA files (torso, feet, hands) -- the NPC will use the armor as a skin.

3) Then I export facegen data (control + F4)

4) I then replace the CK-created facegen/facetint dds file with the Racemenu-created tint mask dds file, renaming the RM one to match the CK one. I do the same for the tga file. I will then create an ZIP archive of the two files.

4) Next, I use NifMerge to merge the CK-created facegen data nif file with the Racemenu exported-head nif file.

5) Once everything works in-game (SLE) I then create an SSE version by using SSE Nif Optimizer to "optimize" all the SLE nif files for compatibility for SSE, as well as opening my ESP (from CK 32-bit) in the CK 2.0 (64-bit) and saving the file...to convert it to 64-bit.

6) I open each nif file used/depended on my follower in NifScope and link all the standalone textures.

 

In short and from my experience in getting this figured out -- you need SLE + Racemenu + CK 32-bit + NifMerge + SSE Nif Optimizer + SSE + CK 2.0 (64-bit) + NifScope

Edited October 19, 2018 by justinglen75

[ranasix]

Wow. Thanks, very much, for the roadmap.

[Algabar]

In addition to JustinGlen75:

 

Converting your custom follower to SE in Nif Optimizer may lead to a glitch with eyelashes not properly attached and generally "weird" looking eyes.

 

Here's how to fix it:

https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/5058135-sse-nif-optimizer/page-103&do=findComment&comment=54592653

 

Thanks to R246 for this info!

[JWGamimg75]

Algabar speaks the truth there about the weird eyes, mainly for the female followers and the fix is legit!

 

Also, CK 64-bit likes to automatically (and annoyingly) create facegen data files after you save your esp, and once you click on archive for whatever platform you're wanting to upload to BNET for. What I do is create 7Zip archives of each my final facegen files (optimized nif facegen file and tint mask dds files) so that when I'm ready to pack my archive, ill delete the overwritten files created by the CK and then do a right-click over my 7zip archive file and choose "extract here" to restore my originals. I then upload.

Edited April 16, 2019 by justinglen75

[THEpsycho44]

So i need Skyrim Legendary Edition, right?

but where do i get it? Steam does not offer it anymore

[ZMD78]

just need racemenu for sse to be updated so you can export the niff and dds in game whilst in race menu...its currently missing this feature and im really keen to share my custom chars in sse made with racemenu

[Jyotai]

 

 

4) Next, I use NifMerge to merge the CK-created facegen data nif file with the Racemenu exported-head nif file.

 

When I put a head exported out of Skyrim SE Racemenu into NifMerge's left column, and the nif from control-f4 exported out of CK into the right colum... NifMerge does nothing. Check the box at the bottom... still appears tp have no data loaded into it.

 

I've tried with nifmerge from here:

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/40494/?tab=files

1.0.3, 1.0.4, 1.0.6 - same no result in all 3.

 

 

 

Is there something else needed for SE users?

[JWGamimg75]

@Jyotai -- Sorry if this is a late reply on this, but in case you haven't figured it out yet -- NifMerge is not compatible with SSE NIFs.

Unfortunately, it's only usable with pre-SSE NIFs (ie. Skyrim Legendary Edition).

If you created a character using Racemenu for SLE, and going to use NifMerge, you need to create the character's facegen data from CK 32-bit. Then you use NifMerge to merge the facegen NIF with the one created in RM (SLE). Once that's done, you can convert/optimize the Oldrim NIF(s) with SSE NIF Optimizer for use with SSE. I hope that makes sense.

[MightyNINE]

Revive with new info

 

The latest version of Nif Optimizer lets you click the head parts only box and port SE mesh back to LE and Le to SE

I have not had a problem with the wierd eye glicth using thsi