*when putting numbers and such on on your sims, like for jerseys, some areas of the Sim will look backwards in SimShow and in the game. Anything that will show up on the front of your Sim should be written backwards on the .bmp so it will show up properly.

*have a wealth of bmp's for patterns. Have ones like the swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, skirt lengths, etc. This will take all your guess work about how far to drawn down or up lines, where necklaces sit on a Sim (it's not where you think!), as well as other things like that. It's always good to have the original bmp that came with the body mesh. Then you can see where all the lines are, specifically for that Sim.

*rename your file before you draw any lines on it! I have ruined so many originals because I forgot to do this and then had to go around the web and find them all over again.

*for softer highlighting and shading, set the transparency on your brush up or down, depending on your program. That way it adds it a little at a time and looks more natural. This is especially useful on the face for adding blush on the cheeks, or defining the cheekbones with out getting a cartooney effect. It takes a bit getting used to, but that way you don't have to rely solely on the smudge tool.

*get to know your graphics program and what all the buttons do. You might not need them all, but then again, maybe you will have a future occasion where you can use it. I discovered the cloning tool is great for patterns on clothes like flower prints, or even on hair. Spend some time with your program and find out what it does. It can only help you, not hurt you. Just start on a "new" sheet of paper and start throwing down colors and trying all the effects.

* zoom is a great feature. For heads, I usually zoom in 3X. Mistakes aren't as noticeable and it's easier in touchy places like eyes and lips. Same with the body. The pressure for accurate lines isn't as great if you have a bigger area to work with.

*if you want to make celebrities or a real person, get a lot of pics. have a good frontal, including the face and one of the rear view. It's alot easier than relying on memory.

*copy and paste away! If you want a pair of jeans, but the base bmp you're using doesn't have them, find one that does and copy them to the one your using. Chyna needed boots so I used the ones from another bmp. Placement can be a bit tricky, so just be careful. Another good reason for a big database of bmp's. Make sure that what you are copying and pasting are wither YOURS or MAXIS'. If you use someone else's .bmps for a base GIVE THEM CREDIT! They did the hard work for you, so its only fair.

*the eyedropper tool is good if you can't find the exact shade you already used in that huge pallete of colors. Just select the eyedropper in your program's toolbar, click on the color you want, and go to your paintbrush. It should be loaded. If it's painting brown and it shoud be red, make sure you have converted into 24 bit color.

*Highlighing and shading is what makes a 2D look 3D. Experiment.

*If you are making custom swimsuits, nudes, and pj's and you try to view them in the game and they don't all show up, this could be the reason: if you are adding the files, from an already existing character, then you will probably have to sit at the wardrobe, change out of the outfit and cycle through al the clothes untill you are back into it for the change to take effect. The character must be "born" with all the files. Also, if you have Hot Date or Sims Vacation, these are now buyables, and must be purchased downtown. Read the "Swimsiut Issue" for more details.

*there is an important note about making custom swimsuits in the game. If you are going to make them, read it.