Need Major help!

[goblin2ten]

 

Ok her it goes... i just started getting into the modding stuff and im having some major problems... First i downloaded the game and downgraded it to the 1st edition. Next i installed SAMI and inserted some cars. I got that part so far. But now I wanna change the rims and i keep messing up the game to where i need to re install it. Also ive bein watch ing videos on youtube on how to change the paint jobs and how to make my logos on the cars...(I am into old school cars with big rims FYI) but I keep watching videos on youtube on how to do it but everyone does it differently. Is there someone who has master the car/rims/paint modding and that can please help me out. I thought that saving the data before i do anything will help but it never works for me. Im really tired of feeling like a dumb ass and having to reinstall the game everytime i mess up somthing. also everytime i do that i have to play all over again to get to where i can go to the paint shop to do anything to my cars..... PLZ PLZ PLZ SOMEONE HELP ME OUT WITH THIS. I really enjoy the game and i respect everyone who puts the effort into making the mods, i just wanna enjoy them. If you can please reply to this or send me an e-mail... [email protected] ,thnx... (oh and also can someone tell me what programs they use and how to use them)

Edited March 15, 2010 by goblin2ten

[RanxeroX]

Here are some general tips that will help out with your modding efforts... First of all, and most importantly, BACK UP any of the data files that you plan to change! This way if you screw something up, you can simply restore the original file(s) without having to go through all the hassle you just mentioned. Create a backup folder and put your originals in there and don't ever mess with them. Do this and you'll avoid a lot of headaches...

 

When changing rims, from a mod pack most likely, follow the instructions that come with it to the letter. Any omissions will cause trouble. If there aren't any with the pack (unlikely but...), look for another that does have them.

 

For tools, get ImgTool or similar. This will allow you to edit/extract .dff (model) and .txd (texture) files , and other types, from the game's .img files. To work on textures, get Txd Workshop - it'll allow you to edit individual images within .txd files. I personally prefer to use tools like this instead of SAMI because I want full control to eliminate error and have maximum flexibility.

 

Good luck and happy modding!

 

[goblin2ten]

Thanks for the help.... but for the tools u said to use IMGtool... could Spark also be used? Is that the same thing

[RanxeroX]

 

Thanks for the help.... but for the tools u said to use IMGtool... could Spark also be used? Is that the same thing

Yes, you can use Spark. That's why I said,"ImgTool or similar". It's another program that will work on .img files.

 

[goblin2ten]

OK cool thnx.. i got to install the cars and rims but do u know how to mod the paint jobs.. i kinda figured out how to change the paint for the lowrider cars but only the in game cars... how can i customize the paint for the cars i downloaded. I keep watching the cars that they do on youtube, they completly chane the car color and even color the rims. Can u help me figure this out...?

[RanxeroX]

 

OK cool thnx.. i got to install the cars and rims but do u know how to mod the paint jobs.. i kinda figured out how to change the paint for the lowrider cars but only the in game cars... how can i customize the paint for the cars i downloaded. I keep watching the cars that they do on youtube, they completly chane the car color and even color the rims. Can u help me figure this out...?

Only certain vehicles can take new paintjobs. Unless the vehicle comes with its own textures or provides a template texture for doing so can you change or make your own. For changing those that don't, it requires editing the .dff in a modelling program and that's not something for the inexperienced.

 

If however, you simply want to change the overall available colors, you can simply plug new numbers into 'carcols.dat' for the vehicle. This may not be what you're after though.

 

To change the rims' colors, you would also need to edit the .dff in a modelling program to set things up right.

 

To learn more, you can check out the Tutorials forum where there's at least one by DexX that explains how to do paintjobs.