The UV map is an exact guide for recoloring. This tutorial explains how to improve your recolors through extracting and using UV maps. UV maps help align texture at mesh seams precisely, place buttons, belts, and pockets exactly where you want them, and more. Learning about UV maps is also beneficial if you want to learn about mesh creation later.

These instructions cover both LithUnwrap and UV Mapper Classic.
(This is an update of an earlier tiptorial written by HystericalParoxysm.)

mesh (left), texture (right)



texture applied to mesh (left), UV map (right)



If you're recoloring a Maxis mesh, check this thread to see if someone has already exported the UV map you want.


Level 3 - Intermediate

This tutorial assumes you know how to create clothing recolors using BodyShop and a graphics program (Paint, GIMP, PhotoShop). It does not assume prior use of SimPE, LithUnwrap, nor UV Mapper Classic, but you need to be able to install them.
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