Contents Installing the Tool

Installing the Tool.................................................................................... 1 To install The Sims™ 3 Create a Pattern Tool:

1. Go to The Sims 3 Community site at www.thesims3.com.
Starting the Tool....................................................................................... 1 2. From the Games pull-down menu at the top of the page, choose The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool.
Key Commands............................................................................................. 2 Your browser brings up The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool page.
General.................................................................................................. 2 3. Select PC or Mac.
4. Click the DOWNLOAD NOW button and follow the on-screen instructions.
Camera Controls................................................................................. 2
Introduction............................................................................................... 2 Note: You must have registered a copy of The Sims 3 to download the tool.
Starting a New Project............................................................................. 3
User Interface Overview..................................................................... 3
Canvas.................................................................................................... 4
Layers Panel.......................................................................................... 4
Layers...................................................................................................... 5
Starting the Tool
Layer Properties Panel........................................................................ 5 To start the tool:
Sticker Library...................................................................................... 6 Games on Windows are located in the Start > Programs (or All Programs) menu.
Preview Mode......................................................................................... 7
Options.................................................................................................. 7
Saving..................................................................................................... 7
Creating Patterns...................................................................................... 7
Creating a Freezer Bunny Pattern.................................................. 8
Creating a Leafy Pattern for Wallpaper........................................ 9
Exporting................................................................................................... 10
Using Your Patterns In-game................................................................ 10
Sharing Your Patterns.................................................................... 10
Hints and Tips............................................................................................ 11

1
 Key Commands Starting a New Project
Starting a new project is easy! Just open The Sims™ 3 Create a Pattern Tool. It automatically starts
General you off with an untitled project. If you want to work on up to four projects at once, you can click the
Options button and then choose NEW to open another untitled project. After you save your pattern(s),
New project CTRL-N its tab shows the file names you gave them.
Open project
Save project
CTRL-O
CTRL -S
User Interface Overview
Save project as CTRL-SHIFT-S
13
Close project CTRL-W
Export CTRL-E
2 1 4
Import CTRL-I
Select all stickers CTRL-A
Cut CTRL-X
Copy CTRL-C
Paste CTRL-V
Undo/redo action CTRL-Z/CTRL-Y
Help menu F1
Cancel/Close/ ESC
De-select sticker
3
Apply/Accept dialogue ENTER

5 9 8

Camera Controls 10 7
11
Right/Left/Zoom in/out Arrow keys 12 6
Tilt up/down HOME/END
Right/Left/Tilt up/Down Left Mouse Button 1 Your canvas 8 Eraser tool—Erase stickers on the
selected layer.
Zoom in/out Mouse Wheel 2 Layers Panel—Click the eye to show/
hide a layer, erase layer contents, toggle 9 Select tool—Move, resize, rotate, or delete
between sticker and stencil mode, and stickers on the selected layer.
more (p. 4).
10 Show/Hide grid—See how your pattern
3 Zoom in or out. will repeat on larger surfaces.
Introduction 4 Layer Properties panel—Adjust the color,
opacity, and more for the selected layer
11 Options—Start a new project, save a
project, or export a pattern, and more
The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool lets you easily use your own patterns in The Sims 3 and displays (p. 5). (p. 7).
your custom pattern in the Create a Style UI panel. Whether you’ve been hankering for a new plaid for
your Sims’ PJs or an exquisite flourish of tiles for their floors, everything you want to create is now 5 Edit mode—Create and edit layers 12 Preview mode—Preview your pattern as
within your grasp! (p. 7). wallpaper, upholstery, art, and more
(p. 7).
Design a pattern quickly using dozens of images available in the Sticker Library or add your own 6 Undo/Redo
images (either bitmaps, jpegs, or pngs) for even more freedom. You can even adjust your images 13 Access the Help Menu.
within the tool. 7 Add a new sticker (p. 6).

2 3
 Canvas
You can view the canvas at 100% or zoom out to see how it repeats over a larger surface. You can
also turn the grid on to view the boundaries of your canvas, or off to see your pattern without the
grid overlay.
Layers Panel
1 Click the eye to show/hide that layer on your canvas.
You can only make changes to a layer when the content
is visible.
2
2 Specular Layer—This top layer lets you add shininess to
your pattern (p. 5). This layer is not required.
3 Base Layer—This layer sets the background color for
your pattern (p. 5). The background color will not change
in Create a Style (in-game).
4 Clear all content from the current layer (p. 5).
5 Toggle between sticker and stencil modes (p. 4)
6 Displays a preview of all stickers in the layer. You can
click and drag the Preview Pane to move the contents to
1
6 the specular layer or any other layer.
3 Note: You can move layers up and down to change their
order on the canvas (which overlaps which). You cannot
move layers to the specular layer, but the contents within
4 5
a layer can be moved to the specular layer by moving the
layer panel.
Sticker Mode
Take stickers (images) and stick them on your canvas wherever and however you want.
Sticker mode is a full color mode. You can change the color (hue-shift) of the stickers while in this
mode. The color change is based on an average value for the entire layer. For example, if you have
two different colored stickers on a single layer, the cursor in the color wheel corresponds to the
dominant color for the layer, but adjusts the color by moving the cursor results in a relative hue shift
for both stickers.
Stencil Mode
Stencil mode turns stickers into black silhouettes that can be filled with a solid color.
When you choose INVERT from the Layer Properties panel, color changes are applied to everything
except your image, as if your stencils were cut out. This is only available in Stencil mode.
4 5
Layers
There are four main layers, plus a specular layer and a base layer.
The base layer is the background of your pattern. You can only change the color of the base layer. You
cannot add any stickers or stencils.
The specular layer is a “shiny” lighting layer that appears on many Create a Sim assets (shirts,
pants, etc.) and Build/Buy Mode objects. This layer is optional, but if you do have one, whatever
shape/content you include in this layer will be reflective on any assets that have a specular layer
in-game. If the object does not have a specular layer in-game, it is not reflective and won’t show up
shiny/reflective in-game. The pattern itself will show up, just not shiny.
For example, if you create a star pattern and then add a specular layer, when you apply it to an
item that by default has a specular layer in-game, the areas that appear in the specular layer will
appear shiny.
Clearing Layer Contents
To remove all content on the selected layer, click the Clear Layer Contents button. This is not un-
doable, but you are warned before it is cleared. If you really want to clear the layer, click OK.
Moving Layers
You can reposition all layers except the base layer and the specular layer, moving them up or down in
relation to the other layers. As you move a layer up, it moves to the top of the canvas and will overlap
any stickers on lower layers. To move a layer, just grab the layer you want to move in the Layers panel
and drag it up or down. You can also grab the Preview Pane in the Layers panel and drag it to a new
location (you cannot move a Layer Preview Pane to the base layer).
Layer Properties Panel
Each layer can be designed separately. You can alter the color of, resize or rotate any stickers,
and more.
1 Choose a color from the pre-set color palette, from the
color wheel, or by entering an RGB or Hex number.
2 Move the slider toward the left for more brightness or
to the right for less.
3 Make this layer more see-through by moving the
Opacity slider to the left or entering a lower number
in the box.
4 When this box is checked, you see how the currently
selected color affects the contents of this layer. When
unchecked, you see the original color(s) of
your content.
2 5 When this box is checked, any color selection is
4 applied to everything except the content. Invert only
works in Stencil mode.
3
5
 Sticker Library Preview Mode
Stickers are images that you can stick on to your pattern. You can resize, rotate, flip, and recolor This is a handy way to take a gander at how your pattern looks applied to various surfaces and
stickers. You can also use them as stencils (see below). representative objects from the game. To preview the pattern, simply click the Preview Mode button
and then apply the pattern. You can switch back and forth between Edit and Preview modes. The
Sticker Categories changes that you make while editing automatically appear in Preview when you go back to that view.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Note: All of the preview objects were created with a specular layer for testing purposes, but
may not have the shiny layer in the game.

1 Basic Shapes—Simple shapes like stars,
circles, squares, hearts, and more.
2 Decorative—Flourishes, scrolls, and more.
3
Note: You can view all of your open projects in Preview mode. Select a tab to make it the active
tab in the preview window. This is great if you want to see how one pattern looks on the sofa with
another pattern for the walls, etc.
To preview your pattern:
1. Click the Preview Mode button and then choose an object from the pull-down menu on which
you’d like to view your pattern. Some objects have more than one part to which the pattern may
be applied.
2. Once you have your item selected, click APPLY.
♦♦ To return the object to its default appearance, select it from the menu and click RESET. If you
5 Nature—Leaves, flowers, and more. leave your pattern applied to an object and return to Edit Mode to make adjustments, when you
return to Preview Mode, the changes will be visible without any additional adjustments.
6 Sims Favorites—Some of your favorites ♦♦ Press CTRL-/CTRL- to zoom in and out on the room in Preview mode. Press CTRL-/ to
from The Sims. pan around the room. You can also use your mouse to adjust the view.

4
Animals—Butterflies, bunnies, and more.
Objects—Fun objects from everyday life.
7 Miscellaneous—More fun stuff that didn’t
fit in the other categories. Options
From the Options menu, choose OPTIONS to enable/disable full screen mode, set your screen size,
change the refresh rate (only in full screen mode), or reset the default graphics settings.

The Sticker Properties panel is beneath the Layer Properties panel. When you have a sticker selected,
it shows you the properties of that sticker. You can alter the width, height, and position on the canvas,
Saving
You can save your file at any time.
flip the sticker, and more. To save a pattern:
Adding Stickers 1. Click the Options button and then choose SAVE.
2. Browse to the location in which you’d like to save your file and click the checkmark. A pop-up
You can also use your own images with The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool. Just import your image files
and use them as stickers. You can use BMP, JPEG, and PNG files. confirms that your file was saved. Click OK.
To add a new sticker:
1. Click the Add a New Sticker button and then browse to the location of your desired file and click
that. If the file is too big, it is automatically resized.
2. Once the file is added, click a custom sticker to bring up the sticker properties panel and you can
adjust the saturation and assign it to a category. Creating Patterns
Deleting Custom Stickers Creating patterns is easy with The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool. Let’s go through two simple examples
You can also delete custom stickers. If you delete a custom sticker, all instances of that sticker will
also be deleted from any saved projects when you re-open them in the tool. A prompt reminds you to see how it’s done.
of this.
To delete a sticker:
1. Choose a custom sticker from the Sticker Library.
2. Click the delete icon in the bottom right of the Sticker Library.
3. At the prompt, confirm that you want to in fact delete this sticker.

6 7
 Creating a Freezer Bunny Pattern
Let’s create a funky Freezer Bunny pattern that will work great on young Sims’ clothing.
To make a Freezer Bunny pattern:
1. Open a new project by pressing CTRL-N (or z-N on Mac) or choosing NEW
from the Options menu.
2. Choose the Freezer Bunny sticker from the Sims Favorites category and
place it on your canvas.
(canvas 1)
3. Add another Freezer Bunny sticker and rotate it by clicking the circle on the
sticker boundary and dragging until it is rotated as much as you want (or
using the controls in the Sticker Library.
♦♦ You can cut and paste stickers already on your canvas by selecting one
or more and then pressing CTRL-C (z-C) and CTRL-V (z-V).
♦♦ To select more than one sticker, use CTRL-click—or z-click on
Mac—or simply click-drag your mouse to lasso them all.
♦♦ You can also flip stickers by using the two flip buttons in the Sticker
Properties panel.
(canvas 2)
4. Now, click another layer and then add more Freezer Bunny stickers to it.
5. Add more Freezer Bunnies to the third and fourth layers too.
♦♦ When you have your stickers all placed as you like, it’s a good idea to
zoom out to see how your pattern repeats.
6. Let’s make the second layer of Freezer Bunnies a different color. Click that layer
and then move the cursor on the color wheel to a new spot (we used light blue).
You can make it a darker (or lighter brown) by moving the brightness slider.
(canvas 3)
7. Click the third and fourth layers and move the cursor on the color wheel to
change those stickers to a different color as well (we chose green and purple).
8. Are you happy with the pattern? You can click on any of the layers to adjust
sticker placement, color, or brightness. When you’re happy with your work,
from the Options menu choose SAVE if you want to be able go back into
your Create a Pattern files and tweak them or EXPORT to package the files
up so that you can install them in-game.
9. Now let’s add a specular layer. Copy one of the layers by clicking the
Preview Layer in the Layer panel and dragging it to the top (or Specular)
layer (we used the original pink Freezer Bunny layer).You’ll notice that it
appears gray in the tool, but when you use it in game, the pink Freezer
Bunnies will have a shine to them. Fancy!
(canvas 4)
8 9
Creating a Leafy Pattern for Wallpaper
If a floral pattern just seems too feminine, but you want a touch of nature, how about a nice leafy pattern?
To make a leafy pattern:
1. Open a new project by pressing CTRL-N (or z-N on Mac).
2. Let’s first change the background color to something warmer. Click the
background layer in the Layers panel and then move the cursor on the
color wheel towards a nice, soft yellow.
3. Choose a leaf sticker from the Nature category and place it on
your canvas.
(canvas 1)
4. Add another leaf sticker and rotate or flip it.
5. Continue adding stickers, placing them as you like.
(canvas 2)
6. Now, click another layer and then choose another leaf sticker (we chose
the thin twiggy one with small berries on it). Place those as desired on
your canvas.
♦♦ When you have your stickers all placed as you like, it’s a good idea to
zoom out to see how the pattern repeats.
(canvas 3)
7. Let’s make the first leaf layer a bit more autumnal. Click that layer and
then move the cursor on the color wheel to a spot in the yellowish-brown
area. You can make it a darker (or lighter) brown by moving the
brightness slider.
(canvas 4)
8. Click the second layer and move the cursor on the color wheel toward the
reddish-brown area.
9. Are you happy with the pattern? You can click any of the layers to adjust
sticker placement, color, or brightness. When you’re happy with your work,
from the Options menu choose SAVE if you want to be able go back into
your Create a Pattern files and tweak them or EXPORT to package the files
up so that you can install them in-game.
 Exporting
Once you’ve got your pattern just the way you want it, you can export it to The Sims 3 and use it
in-game!
To export your pattern:
1. Click the Options button and choose EXPORT. The Export pop-up appears.
2. Type in a name for your pattern, assign it to the appropriate in-game Create a Style category,
add a description, and then click the checkmark. A pop-up confirms that your pattern was
successfully exported.
3. If you have the game installed on the same computer, the packaged file appears in The Sims 3
Game Launcher Uploads panel. You can now share the pattern on the exchange (see Sharing Your
Patterns, below).
Hints and Tips
♦♦ For a continuous pattern, make sure that some stickers overlap the border. If you keep everything
within the main part of the canvas, you end up with more blank space.
♦♦ Before you start, think of the theme you’d like to create. Want a nature pattern? Mix and match
leaves and plants.
♦♦ The grid shows you how the pattern tiles in the game. You can turn the grid on and off by clicking
the button.
♦♦ Even photographs can be used to create cool patterns.
♦♦ Advanced users may want to prepare their custom stickers by editing them with an image program
(like Paint and Photoshop) prior to bringing them into the tool.
♦♦ Get crazy! Even mismatched graphics can be brought together to create a cool and unique pattern.
♦♦ Use basic shapes to build lettering or intricate designs by adjusting and layering the images.

Using Your Patterns In-game ♦♦ For specular layer stickers, the lighter the sticker is (original image), the better the shininess shows
up in game.
♦♦ For optimal results, the desired (but not mandatory) custom sticker size is 256X256 or smaller.
Once you’ve exported your patterns, you need to install them the next time you start The Sims 3
to use them in Create a Style. You must have a registered copy of the game and be logged in to ♦♦ Use Preview mode to quickly get an idea of how your pattern will look in-game.
upload content.
To install your pattern(s):
1. Find your exported pattern files in C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\My Documents\
Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports and copy them into C:\Documents and Settings\{user
name}\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads folder.
2. Start The Sims 3 game launcher. Click DOWNLOADS. The Downloads screen appears.
3. Select the items that you want to install in your game by clicking the appropriate boxes and then
click INSTALL. A confirmation appears to let you know that your files were successfully installed.
4. Start The Sims 3 and look for your new patterns in Create a Style.
♦♦ You can also install the pattern to your game by going to \My Documents\Electronic Arts\The
Sims 3\Exports and double-clicking the file you want to install.

Sharing Your Patterns

Show off your creations to Sims fans around the world. Upload your stuff to the community site and
your patterns may end up in other players’ games around the world!

Note: You must be logged in and have The Sims 3 or The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition to share
your patterns.
To upload your pattern(s) to the community:
1. Find your exported pattern files in C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\My Documents\
Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports and copy them into C:\Documents and Settings\{user
name}\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads folder.
2. Start The Sims 3 game launcher. Click INSTALL. The Uploads screen appears.
3. Select the items that you want to upload by clicking the appropriate boxes and then click UPLOAD.
A confirmation appears to let you know that your files were successfully uploaded.

© 2010 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, the EA logo, The Sims, and The Sims 3 logo are trademarks of
Electronic Arts Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

10 11
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