Graphics with Skin and Eye Enhancements

One of the things I did yesterday was install a default skin replacement. I chose Kurasoberina Primer, just the SD version since I don't have any HQ/HD mods. I didn't really want a big change anyway. The effects are subtle, but I can tell the difference.

Here are a couple of screenshots showing the new skins.
Roy woke up last, and the leftovers were gone, so he had to make his own waffles. Holly did dishes next to him.


Riley was already outside playing on the swing.


__________
The main thing I've been doing the last couple of days is comparing default skin and eye replacements in game--while doing a little of this and that with sim lives.

First off, I couldn't tell much difference (if any) between Kurasoberina Primer SD (1K face & body) or HD (1K face & 2K body), nor could I see that the specular Realistic Shine add-on changed anything. I think I'd need to tweak my graphics ini file or install a HD mod to make use of higher skin resolutions, and I don't want to do that. My game runs smoothly, and I think I'll keep it that way. Knowing me, I'd change one thing, then another, and pretty soon my game would be borked!  Sims 3 is too demanding to run. Of all my games, it's the worst.

Franco is standing by a lamp here, so lighting is stronger. He's using specular Realistic Shine and HD skin. Ignore the crazy werewolf eyes.


Here he has HD skin without the specular. The eyes are Ephemera MS93, but still have that werewolf gleam. He's standing in a darker spot, but I still don't see a noticeable change, besides the lighting. 


For comparison, here are Roy and Holly with SD skin, no specular. They have Sarhra's V2 eyes, which I later changed out for Ephemera MS93. The lighting is much brighter. Personally, I think lighting makes a bigger difference than the skin resolutions in my game. If I have to look this closely at texture to check for changes, then there's not much difference, I don't think.


Next, why is the resolution of the necklace and dress better in this first pic than the others? Rona was standing outside by a torch light. Her skin is HD (eyes default EA), but skins don't effect outfits.


Here she is indoors with HD skin, specular Realistic Shine, and Ephemera MS93 eyes. Notice that the clothes do not have the same level of detail.


And here, Rona is just using SD skin with the Ephemera eyes. The necklace and dress still don't show as much detail. So was it the lighting in the original screenshot? Couldn't have been the change in eyes. So...not sure what the deal is.


BTW, here is a pic of her with SD skin and Sarhra's V2 eyes. I didn't like these eyes as much as the Ephemera ones.


__________
Reporting back on graphics. I put Sim Detail on Very High and Light and Shadows to High. Then I put in the HD skins and the specular shine. There was a difference, but it was with the game settings, not the skin replacements.

I can tell that the clothes are much more finely drawn with the Sim Detail on the highest level. The skin looked exactly the same to me though.


Rona's dress detail was better, but I also realized that the green texture I'd chosen was too busy.


I could see more detail with a plain color pattern. This is HD skin and specular.


This is the same outfit with only SD skin and without specular. No difference even with the highest game settings.


I was also listening to my poor computer spinning its little heart out trying to draw these details.  My GPU was doing a lot of work. So, I decided I definitely will not be trying any additional skin maps. Nor will I be using the HD stuff. Maybe I'll raise the graphics settings with my new computer. 

I loved the clothing details though. And I really liked how the higher setting for Light and Shadows added more contrast to the world. I'd love to sim in "high style," but I'll have to see how it goes. The computer did seem to settle down a little after I removed the HD files.

I checked out the base game nightie with the lace. It looks very nice with more detail.


I liked the pink better on Rona though.


Wearing the nightie in game. Just using the lower SD skin. Sim Detail on Very High.


__________
Last night, I was back in Rinn Fada, mainly worked on converting the stable to an enclosed building for the wedding. I didn't take pics of it yet because I have to furnish it. A full moon came up too, so the coloring is off.

But I did get a few pics of the household with the new skins and eyes installed. They look like themselves, but with subtle differences.

Piers




Hera finished this painting and I think it would go well with the manor's decor. I'll hang it up somewhere instead of selling it.


The new eyes I put in have less lashes and liner. I may give the ladies a bit more eye makeup.




Bunter




Caprice was dreaming of marriage.