[Resource] Color Guide Horse/Coat Tutorial (Patreon)

Since I can't seem to find time to do a detailed tutorial on how I make coats/markings, I thought I'd upload a useful coat I painted when I started out. Attached is the extracted 2D map and also the tray file if you want it for some reason (?? I don't know maybe you do). I use it as a guide to visualize where certain markings or blending will be once in game. It works as a nice guide in making stencils, too.

Also a short tutorial on how I make coats/markings:

• 1. Paint the basics in game (what I call a "guide coat"), ie rough placement of markings, approximate color, etc.
• 2. Use TS4 Coat Converter to extract the guide coat. This does not extract whatever EA base is chosen in CAS. This only extracts what is added in paint mode. I choose the first coat, make it a solid color (white or black), and then paint.
• 3. Open the png in a photo editor/illustration software (I use Photoshop)
• 4. Edit the coat/markings in the editing software to make markings crisp and blending smooth and whatever else you prefer
• 5. Save as png and open Sims 4 Studio
• 6. For base coats, I choose "Create CAS Part Swatch"->Horse->Skin Detail, Nose Color->create package->import your png over the "Diffuse" option (clear any shadow or specular file is also a good idea; choose "make blank")->save and run game :)
• 7. For markings, I choose "Create CAS Standalone"->Horse->Hoof Color-->import your png over the "Diffuse" option (clear any shadow or specular file is also a good idea; choose "make blank")->save and run game :)

Note 1: You can paint over Nose Color. You cannot paint over Hoof Color. Therefore, if you want shading/shines/extra details over your white markings, you'll have to add them while you're editing the file. Alternatively, you can make the entire coat (base + markings) as Nose Color to edit over the whole coat once in game. I don't do this because I like being able to swap or alter base coats without changing my white markings.

Note 2: If using my method for markings, you'll need to edit in a hoof color as well or it will be plain white. If just starting out, I advise exporting the EA diffuse for hoof color. This will give you the map placement and then you can either keep it or add a custom one. Needless to say, you can't use custom hoof colors if you choose this way to do it. Personally, I've given each of my horses their individual hoof details be that appaloosa stripes, darker or lighter streaks due to spot markings, etc within their marking file.

Note 3: You can add multiple swatches as Hoof Color. I have one package file with all my markings in it. Nose Color, however, is a single color per package. You'll have to make multiple packages for all your coats (I could be wrong about this but that's what I've done).