Frequently Asked Questions

The Questions

• I don't understand the download menu, how do I use it?
• How do I download your items?
• What are .zip and .rar files, and what do I do with them?
• Where do I extract the files?
• Why aren't the items showing up in my game?
• The maternity skins don't show up.
• What do I need to make custom content, and where can I get them?
• What are your usage terms?
• How do I become an affiliate?
• Why aren't the meshes included?
• Where did you get...?
• I've seen that same texture!
• I can't get the mesh from TSR!
• What happened to some of the downloads?
• Why do you have a donation button on your site?

The Answers

• I don't understand the download menu, how do I use it? [back to top]

You will notice that the category (main menu, male, female, and other) you're currently using is the darker purple color. The male and female categories are disabled until you click the button for one or the other, and then you can choose from the sub-categories following. Certain sections have further sub-categories such as casual, which will have tops, bottoms, and full outfits. It was done this way for better organization.

The "other" category however, is enabled from the beginning as you will not need to choose from genders.


• How do I download your items? [back to top]

Below each image of the file, there will be one or two links. The first link will be to the download .zip. The second will be a link to the site the mesh came from (if there is one required, that is). When downloading something that has the mesh link below it, you must download the mesh or it will not work!

Please Note: Some downloads will require an expansion pack. Look for the icons on the preview image to see which one is needed. If there are no icons, then you only need the original game to use it.


• What are .zip and .rar files, and what do I do with them? [back to top]

.Zip and .Rar are file extensions for a collection of compressed files. It makes the files you are downloading smaller, and therefore faster to download.

You will need an extracting program such as Winzip or Winrar to get the files out. The rest depends on what you downloaded.


• Where do I extract files? [back to top]

Clothing, hair, makeup, accessories, and objects are to be extracted to My Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Downloads.

Walls, floors, houses, and complete sims are packaged differently. They must first be either extracted anywhere of your choice and double click the file; or you can simply double click the .zip file itself and then double click the file inside.


• Why aren't things I downloaded showing up in my game? [back to top]

Some files may require an expansion pack, so of course unless you have it, you aren't going to see it. You could have also put the file in the wrong place, forgotten to download the mesh, or the creator could have posted the wrong .package file.

Please note that if you see a big rabbit head in place of your sim's head, it means you are missing the needed hair mesh.


• The maternity skins don't show up. [back to top]

This could be a number of things:

Did you download either of the hacks from MTS2? If not, go here if you're currently using any of the expansions before OFB. If you're using OFB or Pets, get this awesome hack that works automatically, and doesn't seem to be buggy!

The clothing rack or ofb hack will enable your sims to wear almost any outfit of their choice. On the clothing rack however, you can not choose everyday wear, so you may need to recategorize clothing to PJs, altheticwear, or undies. All of our maternity wear is already categorized, so there's no need to.

2.) Not all clothing will work. 2 piece outfits tend not to work at all, and it depends on one piece outfits. Some meshes have been altered around the waist and will not even appear fat when your sim gains those extra pounds, so of course they wont if your sim falls pregnant. Just cycle through your skins and you'll find what works and what doesn't.

3.) Speaking of meshes... you did download it too, didn't you? Nothing will work without its required mesh.

4.) There's a chance the hack might have conflicted with one already present in your game. Check the MTS2 thread for the two hacks, and see if there's any noted problems with other hacks.


• What do I need to make custom content, and where can I get them? [back to top]

First off, you can't edit the skins or anything else without a graphics program like Photoshop or Paintshop Pro.

Seeing as you have the game I am sure you have The Sims 2 Bodyshop. With this, incase you don't know, you can export skins, edit them to your liking, and import them back into the game. This way, you can also package individual Sims.

For objects, you'll need something called SimPE, and a 3D modelling program.

If it's walls & floors you want to do, Maxis has finally released Homecrafter.


• What are your usage terms? [back to top]

You May:
1. Use our creations in your game.
2. Use our creations in screenshots (including stories and photoshoots).
3. Package our creations with custom sims for anywhere but the exchange, with a link back.
4. Share our free items with friends via email.

You May Not:
1. Distribute our files as your own work.
2. Mirror our download files on a private website without prior permission.
3. Use any part of our textures on your own creation without prior permission.


• How do I become an affiliate? [back to top]

If you would like to be an affiliate, please send us a message to yuichen@under-your-skin.com.


• Why aren't the meshes included? [back to top]

Our newer files now include the mesh if it is permitted. We recognize how annoying it can be to go to multiple places just to be able to use a skin.

We will update the older files without the meshes at another time.


• Where did you get...? [back to top]

We provide a list of credits on the right side of each download page, be sure to check the sites shown.


• I've seen that same texture! [back to top]

Yes, you probably have seen the same texture many places. This is because a lot of people do what is called photo skinning, meaning that they take images of clothing and manipulate it to work on the sims mesh.

For instance, there is a gold swimsuit that I first saw as a donation gift on the site formerly known as Chic Chica, and for free many other places. I know they didn't steal it and redistribute it, because I saw the same bikini on a clothing store website. We skinners just use the same designers for inspiration I guess. If you look close enough though, you will see small differences between each skin.


• I can't get the mesh from TSR! [back to top]

Unfortunately, sometimes that is the case. The downloads there cycle periodically making items members only one time, and free another.

Often times the meshes there can not be included, though I believe it mostly depends on the creator's terms. Check Mod The Sims 2, there's a chance the creator also posted them there. If you can't find it, try goggling the particular mesh. Sometimes people include the mesh when they're not supposed to. It's probably not the best thing to suggest for wrongful redistribution, but if you really want it... sometimes that works.


• What happened to some of the downloads? [back to top]

Some of our files were retired from the site. They either weren't doing well or were of lower quality, as they were some of our originals. In the end, it frees up more room for better content.


• Why do you have a donate button on your site? [back to top]

Downloading large files can eat up the site's bandwidth. While we are using a larger hosting package now, we have come insanely close to going over the allowed transfer amount. It is simply to help UYS afford the charges should we go over. Donating is not expected though appreciated, but there won't be donation gifts as the site remaining free for everyone is surely gift enough.