Racemenu presets: getting it right

[anjenthedog]

I've seen quite a few racmeneu presets while browsing the new mod listings. I've downloaded quite a few as well.

 

However, when I try to use them, they never look like the images I see presented as advertisements on their individual mods pages.

 

Instead, they appear to morph the face of my player, ie, blend their settings with what I've done to my player (this goes for both presets that have the same race as my character (nord) and others. For the other races, I guess I'd understand, (ie a breton preset over a nord character, etc) but I'd think that a nord preset over a nord character should result in duplication of what is shown on the preset mod page.

 

What's the "right way" to load a downloaded preset and get what the preset author intended?

[Algabar]

Getting the exact same look is difficult.

 

First and foremost: A Nord preset will only work on a character, who is already a Nord in Racemenu. The different races have different face geometries, so slabbing a Nord preset e.g. on a Breton won't work (or give at least "unexpected" results).

 

Then there are many, many variables involved. To get the exact same look, you need to have exactly the same mods installed as the person who made the preset: Skin texture, makeup mods, lips, eyes, brows, hairstyle and so on. If presets are uploaded "correctly", these requirements should be listed in the description or under the "requirements" drop down menu. Then there's lighting: weather and/or lighting mod, ENB used... Don't expect to see exactly the same result as advertised on screenshots...

[JimmyRJump]

A preset works best if you haven't already fiddled with the sliders for head, face and other settings otherwise the face you want to use will often adapt to how the sliders are sitting when choosing the preset. People who upload character presets should add the settings of the sliders as they were when they saved the preset. Then there's of course the type of skin you use and hair, and whatever changes the vanilla textures. I personally only use a preset on very rare occasions for reasons of not matching what you see in the uploader's screenshots and then I only use them as a basis and change the outlook to something different.

 

In the end, the 'right way' is to make sure you are using the exact same files for RaceMenu as the creator of the preset did when he made it. And then cross your fingers.

[anjenthedog]

Ok, so then when I presumed "It's just going to modify mine, don't expect a clone" (in my head), I was right. I was hoping I was wrong, but what you two said makes sense, and it's pretty much what I found from my own fiddling...

 

But... as I noted, I *was* hoping I was wrong.

 

Thanks for the replies and confirmations.