I got bit by a project bug and can't make a decision

[hat_plays_sims]

I want to make a double apron (also called a midwife's apron). But I am conflicted! See, I just completed some top-only kirtles to be worn with bottom-only gowns (well. Nearly completed, I need to replace textures with fresh pngs Body Shop hasn't eaten, and slave ages together) and I'm torn.

Floor-length bottom-only aprons in this style (that won't really be compatible with the top-only shifts and placket shifts I've made, but like Sims in horrifying separates combos is new or unusual) on Cynnix's bottom-only trained gown...

OR

Mid-calf full-body-outfit aprons in this style on I'm not sure what mesh-- the Frigg dress,] maybe, I've got a child conversion for that (and it would work just as well for a floor-length apron), or the old Dark Project layered dress, which has good skirt dimension but I hate the sleeves. (Not a fan of the tight top but that's an issue with separates, too.)

Pros for a bottom-only apron, I'd only feel like I had to do eight linen colors (... maybe also dirty/bloody recolors. It's a midwife's apron). Cons, the skirt mesh I like for that big massive apron has Maxis heeled shoes. (Potential solutions, use a different skirt, or work out how to make a heeled mesh look like wooden pattens.)

Pros for a full-outfit apron, I can guarantee a loose-fitting torso on the Frigg dress, and show more color of the dress underneath since I don't have to go all the way to the hem, whether or not I use the layered dress. Also, could make for interesting maid/Uni cook/BV housekeeper defaults. Cons, I'd feel like I had to do all 82 colors I work with to go under the linen; also there are those sleeves on the layered dress.

Comments

[hat_plays_sims]

Looking good so far! Is the whole bluish area alpha editable? Which skirt mesh is underneath?

The only real feedback I have is stuff that you may already have planned to tweak-- the hem seems to abruptly tuck in rather than falling naturally to the floor, and it's hard to tell, but the... upper chest area (neck, shoulders, decollete) looks like it might be a little high up off the body underneath. I know it can't be right up against the 'skin,' but I'm a little worried apron strings and shoulder straps would noticeably hover, as-is.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes it's fully alpha-editable - in fact it has inside separate so surcoat can have different lining
bottom skirt is part of the mesh - so you could add skirt texture to the top mesh and it shows on skirt
I did tweak it
it now sits closer to the body(i'll see maybe i can move it a little more) and hem issue was caused by bad normals
Still have to tweak some clipping tho
I have some in game pics : http://s102.photobucket.com/user/Oeselian/library/Alpha%20overlay%20Mesh?sort=3&page=1

[hat_plays_sims]

Oooh okay now that I see some in-game shots, I'm both very impressed and revising my plans a little bit. (Usually I add stockings to my tops, but I can see about six different ways this could be very useful, including for outerwear-- Underdress on the body plus fur-lined surcote plus contrast sleeves and maybe gloves from the top, that sounds cozy!)

This is VERY exciting, I can't wait!

[oeselian]

I did test with all the top meshes You gave me - they fit(had to remove row of faces around the arm to archive this.Hope it's not a problem)
only one that wasn't compatible was fancy sleeve one
also i did add UV map image to the album - does it looks ok?
i also moved vertices closer to the body around chest
if thats okay,all is left to do is to add morphs and conversions
can't do screenshots right now - greenshot is throwing tantrums
EDIT: added some in-game pics

[hat_plays_sims]

That's not a problem, and the fancy-sleeve one causing difficulties isn't a surprise (and I don't use it, anyway). The UV map looks very logical-- what are the pointy rows of faces down at the bottom?

It looks great! I'm impressed it looks so good doing the Meditate animation, that is not a skirt-friendly animation right there. I can't wait to start messing with it. Thank you so much for doing this, and so fast!

[oeselian]

It's inner bottom of the alpha hem,must have left there from the early stage
It can be removed now

I could give You a tryout mesh(no morphs for now)+recolour template
(second option is vital) and just to know that it works in your game too
beside i could possibly not detect all animation glitches

If mesh is good all around i'll add morphs and teen conversion

[hat_plays_sims]

Feel free to send it along, but I'm having trouble getting houses to load today and I don't know why. I may not be able to test for animation glitches until I work that out.

[oeselian]

Here You Go: https://app.box.com/s/9odf4d2kfz9c0szkelfnifzvkzfky1ws
I tried to add morphs too but my Milkshape doesn't like them for some reason
so i couldn't add them but don't worry i give them a second try

By the way thanks for subscribing!

[hat_plays_sims]

Grabbed, thank you! I'll let you know when I can test the things. Good luck with the morphs, and you're welcome-- if you make more goodies, I don't want to miss them!

[oeselian]

Had success with the morphs - give me some time for them
Also i did uploaded mesh with wrong GMDC(my bad - sorry!) so if You if encounter some clipping it will be fixed with morphed edition

[hat_plays_sims]

I'll keep that in mind! I should have some feedback tomorrow or Friday, and I apologize for the delay.

[oeselian]

Have morphs almost done - some tweaking and in-game testing needs to be done
new shots with morphs in album

[hat_plays_sims]

*peruses album* ... That does need some adjustment, doesn't it? But other than the patch of clipping on the fat-and-very-pregnant shape, it looks awesome. And I'm constantly impressed it looks that good while meditating-- the other skirt mesh I use a lot does this in meditation, and it cracks me up.

[oeselian]

Yeah i saw this pic in gos and wondered You might like comparison
Morphs(and AF/EF mesh)will be ready tonight,I'll update the post with the link when time comes
Well here we go:
https://app.box.com/s/3a9w2ko8nxipbyd1c6maxh80a0j5nywx
Replace old mesh with the new one
Let me know does it still clips
Plus lower skirt UVs now match Your bottom only placket skirt textures

[hat_plays_sims]

Grabbed! I'm about to start my game so I'll get to see it in action. (Got to look at the first mesh in Body Shop. The overall shape is really nice, I can't wait to see it in motion. ... Also I just made six beards. Do you like beards?)

[oeselian]

Nice,there few good ones out there.
Regardless of the mesh,is it good enough?
I'd like to upload it officially

[hat_plays_sims]

I spotted your comment just as I was coming back this way to offer some feedback!

So far I've only just started testing, and checked out the fat morph in CAS, but I did notice a problem while the Sim walks. There's kind of a lot of clipping with each step, front and back, which would be an issue if there's a contrasting skirt under the alpha layer.

Looks good jumping on a sofa, climbing stairs, being attacked by a spellbook, or playing with a toddler, though! There's no clipping at all that I could spot on the stairs, which is pretty impressive.

[oeselian]

ahh, i see,thanks for the feedback
Will work on it(hmm,narrower lower skirt a little bit)

[hat_plays_sims]

That might do it! I've put her through some more of her paces, and all the clipping I've seen has been from the knees down-- most of it, not even that high. The only issues that went as high as the knee were some extreme conga dance moves I tried out when I finally remembered I have Squinge's Hula And More pack installed.

[oeselian]

i think i chewed through the clipping issue
Hold on,fix is coming

[hat_plays_sims]

Take your time! I've got a few things to take pics of and a few things to relocate in the catalog.

[oeselian]

I'm almost there
Screenshots updates in album too(featuring some very extreme posing plus walking)

[hat_plays_sims]

Those pics look about like what I saw-- punching bag roundhouse kick worked fine, smustling worked fine, but the clipping turned up when walking, descending stairs, or doing the conga (which I've never seen a Sim do in-game, so it might be a DJ booth thing). And then my computer crashed overnight sometime, so I've spent all day running assorted 'are you okay, computer?' programs.

[oeselian]

Thats too bad,I hope things are fine now
I solved clipping issues so it's matter of time getting good working mesh,well if you still want it after all that fuss

[hat_plays_sims]

Computer's working fine, I think I just learned a little lesson about not leaving Sims 2 running on a night I KNOW my antivirus is going to run a deep-system scan. Thanks for asking!

I do indeed still want the mesh if you're still willing to share! I have plans for that mesh, yes I do.

[oeselian]

Okay I think it's done now
There one spot i can't fix tho
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m97/Oeselian/2015-03-03%2018_37_55-The%20Simstrade%202%20Mansion%20and%20Garden%20Stuff_zpsuifuofag.png
Lower skirt pokes through when relaxing on bed
Is that a major issue?I didn't detect any other clipping

[hat_plays_sims]

No, I think that's only clipping because she's got her ankles crossed, which isn't a thing that can be helped (long dresses can get awkward). That doesn't bother me, and it's small enough that if I wanted to take a pic of a lady relaxing on her bed in her sideless surcote, I could creatively angle the shot to obscure it. The clipping while walking was the big deal, to me. Sims walk all the time.

[oeselian]

In this case I'll get You a mesh right away
Update:morphs exploded without any reason,need to start over

[hat_plays_sims]

Take your time! I'm in no rush.

[oeselian]

I'm so done with this mesh!!!
Let's hope no more issues will raise
https://app.box.com/s/8xva68hj8um34vuygkt8wuj310jgi5q7
As usual,replace old with new

[hat_plays_sims]

Grabbed! (Sorry for the delay.) I'll check it out next time I open my game-- thank you so much! Are you still willing to do a Teen conversion, or are you super-done?