I am glad u are taking this over..it was getting too much for me..

Thanks for taking over Ameenah! Awesome!

Yay! I don't think I could've lived without Dach's HQ Mod in my game! I'm glad you took this over too Ameenah!

OMG. I love you, Ameenah.

I personally used Dach's as in CAS it also increased the textures, whereas aWT's for me only seemed to do it in live mode. Now that there is 4096 available for both...JUST. O.M.G.

<3333333333

:D :D

You're welcome, guys! I know a lot of simmers use Dach's mod - especially Mac users, so I didn't want it to disappear.

Wanted to let you know i link to this in my blog...

http://dachssims.blogspot.com/2013/02/starting-fresh-and-over.html

I have deleted all my content there and am starting creating fresh in a few weeks....but i will keep a link to here for anyone wanting this mod...

I'll be excited to see what you come up with when you start back up with creating! <3 Thanks for posting a link back here! :D

OK, I'm relatively new to this whole modding thing. I followed the instructions and replaced my original graphicsrules file. Opened my game, and saw no difference. I may be missing something? Idk.
*stressed*

Ok, I installed the very first file (4096x4096 CAS + Lower Detail Increased *), and I saw a slight difference in CAS. Definitely the eyes, skin, topical details, and hair.




But I saw no difference in game, which is what I really wanted to improve to take sreenshots.
Which file should I be using?
Can someone please help me out on this, I feel like I'm getting closer to what I want to achieve.
Thanks.

Hi! Thanks so much for posting CAS Screenshots!

First of all, I know this is silly to ask, but what are you game's settings? You will only see an improvement if you have Sim Detail set to "Very High", texture detail set to "High", and you must enable "Advanced Rendering." Basically, to see an improvement with HQ Mod, you need to have all your graphic settings that are related to Sim rendering set to max.

You're using the correct file, which I have double-checked, and I can confirm that RenderSimTextureSizes is set to 4096 for both LOD0 and LOD1. Since you are seeing a difference in CAS, it doesn't appear that your cache simply wasn't updated, and the game IS recognizing the modified GraphicsRules file.

For some the difference is more pronounced than others. Is this your first time using an HQ Mod or have you used one in the past? If you've got a high-spec GPU, you might be happy enough with in-game graphics without a mod, on the flipside, if your GPU is underpowered than HQ Mod may be too much for the machine to handle and your textures will simply render blurred. Have you taken in-game comparison screenshots?

Also, this might be helpful, PixelPixies has written an excellent guide about installing/using HQ Mods here: http://pixelpixies.tumblr.com/post/42590789639/pixelpixies-hq-mod-tutorial

Thank you very much to dachshundsr4me for originally creating the graphicsrules.sgr!! Also thank you so very much Ameenah for continuing it! I originally really needed this mod because I was using a Macbook, though now I have bootcamp and still prefer to use it compared to aWT's! I really freaked out after I updated to 1.50 and couldn't find Dach's hq mod on google haha. May I suggest, adding a link for an original graphicsrules.sgr file? I think that'd be really helpful as well. Thanks again!

I will share this on Google, so it can be 'hopefully' easy to locate.

Edit: Also, thanks for mentioning looking for it via Google! I have NO clue why I have not thought to do this for many of the mods and other creations that come through here. (Cstyles) You know that little emoticon...this was me a few seconds ago!! Lol!

We do get bots from Google, Bing and another one...can't remember right now, so that would make sense to make things a tad easier for fellow simmers!

VioletAndIndigo - you're very welcome! I apologize if the mod was difficult for you to locate. Thank you for the suggestion - I've added copies of the original GraphicsRules files for both patch versions!

Thanks Cece for sharing this on Google - and also for renaming the section to "Mods and Misc" - makes much more sense!

Lol just updated to 1.50! SO glad to have this in my game @__@ I forgot about it and I can easily tell the difference when I play I went in-game and looked at my sim and went ".....Hmmmm something isn't right here...why is everything so blurry?"

:D :D :D Hahah. HQ Mod definitely makes a big difference! I wish EA in general had a better way of handling textures, so we could up the res without worrying as much about taxing our PCs, but what can you do.

You are more than welcome Ameenah!! How sweet of you to even notice such a tiny detail!! Thank you!

I'm confused :/ Do I download the one for CAS or the other one or both? I want both hd in game & in CAS.

Sorry about the confusion! The versions with CAS in the title have improved resolution for BOTH In-Game AND CAS, the versions without CAS in the title don't touch CAS.

You only need one file!

So, if you want to get the 4096 version, you need to download "4096x4096 CAS".

The reason I'm offering versions that don't touch CAS resolution is because I know some older computers run CAS very slowly, and increasing resolution also increases the loading time.

Thank you for maintaining this mod! I almost died when I saw that Dach wasn't continuing with it anymore. I was a little lost at first as to which one to choose until I finally noticed which one it says is identical to dach's original mod

Thanks again!

You're welcome!! :D

I apologize if the options have been confusing - just trying to provide as many options as possible so hopefully everyone is able to find a version that meets their needs.

By the way, if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can revise the original post to make information more clear-cut, I'm happy to make changes!

This is really great! Thanks for the in-depth explanations, as well as putting into point form the differences between yours and aWT's. I never knew what it was exactly.

I just edited my comparison post to link it to this topic of yours here. Since modification made on the original post does not change reblogs, the link to Dach's page on the reblog of simsfaq will be broken unfortunately.

By the way, as someone who runs the game with all settings to maximum, I was wondering if I'll see any difference between your file and aWT's. I'm especially curious because of the whole LOD 0-1 part which I have zero knowledge about. Of course, I'm only talking about in-game, not in CAS.

I'm currently still using aWT's because I don't have any plans on patching away from 1.42 XD

Mura wrote:

I'm currently still using aWT's because I don't have any plans on patching away from 1.42 XD

LOOOLLL 1.50 gave me no problems Mura

KosmoKhaos wrote:

Mura wrote:

I'm currently still using aWT's because I don't have any plans on patching away from 1.42 XD

LOOOLLL 1.50 gave me no problems Mura

I wish it was the case with me, well I mean with patch 1.48 which borked a few make up I was using. This also happened to a friend of mine who used the same contacts XD Blah.

EDIT: Patch 1.50 fixes that issue I was having of CCs disappearance.

1.48 actually broke one of Wojtek's accessory-removed hairs for me (one originally from the India Inspirations set) - and even after trying to clone the hair, it still was invisible. I deleted it, but I guess I can maybe add it back if 1.50 addressed some of those issues.

Thanks for linking back to this thread! I edited the link to your guide so it goes directly to your Tumblr instead of the reblog through SimsFaq.

Anyway...as for HQ mod, I don't have any direct comparison pictures right now ( I need to take some and do a more official test) but I was able to get slightly clearer zoomed-out full body screenshots by upping the resolution for LOD 1. The fact that LOD 0 and LOD 1 share the same texture resolution (2048,2048), and with detailed hair meshes often have the same polygon count, made me think it made sense that for the sake of pictures both LOD 0 and LOD 1 should have the texture size increased (4096, 4096) instead of the (4096, 2048) that is generated by S3HQ (Which I used to use). That's why I ended up manually editing the file - not because S3HQ didn't work on my system, because I previously used the S3HQ tool with no problems.

This is of course, without tinkering any settings in your GPU Panel - because upping Anisotropic filtering for one, etc would also lead to cleaner textures.

Ah I see, so higher resolution for LOD1 is to allow better picture from a far, not upclose. That's extremely useful.

Thanks for the explanations!

Hi. I can't get any of these to work for me every time I load up my character's world to take pictures it crashes the game. It only happens when I load the worlds... Can anyone tell me whats wrong? I have 1.50 and I used the 1.50 HQ mod so I don't get it... All of the settings I wanted for pictures (everything except mirror and water, lot detail and anything that doesn't have to do with my sims) is at very high.

Hi!

I'm sorry you haven't been able to get it to work.

Are you absolutely certain that you don't have another mod in your game that may be causing the crash? Are you loading an old save that might possibly have issues? Have you used an HQ mod before? This is a simple edit to a game file.

Ameenah, your knowledge is awesome I want to hug your brain. Lol that sounds creepy but I do

Hahah. You guys are awesome. I just obsess over tiny details of the game a lot. :p

I think if you hugged my brain right now you would be mobbed by a million thoughts about ice cream and cake. *looks around*

No, I've never used an HQ mod before but I do have other mods in my game but they are ones like pose player (and the list won't work now either for some reason...) NRaas's animator, MTS animator, Pose player add on, etc...things like that.
I did use a game I had before HQ mod...I'll try a new one.
I cleared game cache too.
Also which version should I use? I downloaded 3584x3584

Ameenah wrote:

Hahah. You guys are awesome. I just obsess over tiny details of the game a lot. :p

I think if you hugged my brain right now you would be mobbed by a million thoughts about ice cream and cake. *looks around*

Mmmm cake and ice cream

FunnyFlower wrote:

No, I've never used an HQ mod before but I do have other mods in my game but they are ones like pose player (and the list won't work now either for some reason...) NRaas's animator, MTS animator, Pose player add on, etc...things like that.
I did use a game I had before HQ mod...I'll try a new one.
I cleared game cache too.
Also which version should I use? I downloaded 3584x3584

If your Pose Player list is not working, that makes me have a feeling you've got a conflict somewhere in your game. If you are using the Pose Player Add-On, it will always required the Pose Player, so make sure you have both files in your game whenever you use it. Also, make sure you have the latest version of the Pose Player Add-On - double check that you have this version.

What is "MTS Animator"? I'm unsure what that is. Double check that your other NRAAS Mods are updated for your current patch level.

You can use whichever version you like, but if your computer specs are lower, you might want to opt for a lower resolution.

Ameenah wrote:

FunnyFlower wrote:

No, I've never used an HQ mod before but I do have other mods in my game but they are ones like pose player (and the list won't work now either for some reason...) NRaas's animator, MTS animator, Pose player add on, etc...things like that.
I did use a game I had before HQ mod...I'll try a new one.
I cleared game cache too.
Also which version should I use? I downloaded 3584x3584

If your Pose Player list is not working, that makes me have a feeling you've got a conflict somewhere in your game. If you are using the Pose Player Add-On, it will always required the Pose Player, so make sure you have both files in your game whenever you use it. Also, make sure you have the latest version of the Pose Player Add-On - double check that you have this version.

What is "MTS Animator"? I'm unsure what that is. Double check that your other NRAAS Mods are updated for your current patch level.

You can use whichever version you like, but if your computer specs are lower, you might want to opt for a lower resolution.

yeah I have both the add on and pose player, but I'll check and see if its up to date.
and lol I meant Mod the Sims's Animation Player by cmomoney

(would a pose that's not up to date make everything act weird?)

An actual 'pose' itself shouldn't have any affect on your game play. I'm just curious...so you have the Nrass animator...cmoney pose player and the pose add on?

cecesaun1 wrote:

An actual 'pose' itself shouldn't have any affect on your game play. I'm just curious...so you have the Nrass animator...cmoney pose player and the pose add on?

Yes but I removed Nrass's animator so now I only have the pose player and add on (I think what was wrong with the pose player list was maybe the add on, I just updated it and it works now.) I also updated my NRaas mods, so I'm gonna see if HQ mod works now.

FunnyFlower wrote:

I also updated my NRaas mods, so I'm gonna see if HQ mod works now.

If you played for any length of time with outdated mods, that's most likely what caused the crashing.

You should make sure to always always always update your mods after patching. If you saved at all during this time period, I would revert to a back-up.

I will keep my fingers crossed that everything works this time.

Ameenah wrote:

FunnyFlower wrote:

I also updated my NRaas mods, so I'm gonna see if HQ mod works now.

If you played for any length of time with outdated mods, that's most likely what caused the crashing.

You should make sure to always always always update your mods after patching. If you saved at all during this time period, I would revert to a back-up.

I will keep my fingers crossed that everything works this time.

It still won't work.
I don't know what else to do, I've tried all I can think of.
I have no idea what the age was of the oldest computer it worked on but mine is 3 years old and it's a desktop. no idea if that helps.
Maybe you could give me a checklist of all the things I should do to get it to work? I already followed the one by Sims Addict.

I had a conflict with the add on and the pose player so those could be causing some trouble. Check for any new updates on both of those items. Also, give details of where you place your mods within your game. And if you can list them altogether...list all of your mods/hacks so we can see if we can spot any conflict. I bet it's something very simple that is just being possibly overlooked. We will figure this out! ;)

Otherwise...your game works fine minus all mods/hacks?

cecesaun1 wrote:

I had a conflict with the add on and the pose player so those could be causing some trouble. Check for any new updates on both of those items. Also, give details of where you place your mods within your game. And if you can list them altogether...list all of your mods/hacks so we can see if we can spot any conflict. I bet it's something very simple that is just being possibly overlooked. We will figure this out! ;)

Otherwise...your game works fine minus all mods/hacks?

I've tried it without the pose player and add on and they are up to date also and so are my mods.
yeah my game works fine with/without mods.

These are what I have:
Pose Player
Add On
NRaas Animator
I have the Grow mod(and all of the mods in it. (Height slider by Bloom, ConsortModGrowBirthdayCakeMod, ConsortModGrowMod, ConsortModGrowTuningMod,) found at MTS, Buhudain's Invisible Lights, cmar's Pregnancy Controller, cmar's Outfit Changer, Gardener_service_NPC_v1.6, Jynx's rabbit holes, NRaas no CD.
any of these the problem?
Would it be no CD? or maybe Jynx's RH? or perhaps Grow mod (I wanted to remove that one but since it's tied to one of my games, I wasn't sure if it would mess it up.)