Backlit UI Portraits

With this mod, UI portraits, pie menu heads, and various dialog (Change Appearance, Plan Outfit, etc.) silhouettes of Sims and pets are backlit.



Usage tips
This mod wasn't designed for normal gameplay. I use it to create thumbnails for my mods. You may find your own use for it.

UI portraits may not update immediately after you have installed the mod. In order to refresh them, change appearance of your Sims or pets by using a mirror, or use a mod to force a refresh, e.g. FFS "Batbox" Lot Debugger by Pescado.

You can refresh lighting settings without restarting the game.
After you make a change in lighting files, e.g. modifying the PieMenu file, use the setlotlightingfile clear (in case the lot lighting settings aren't overridden) or setlotlightingfile [override file name] (otherwise) cheat.

Installation

1. Go to the LightRigs folder, which typically can be found in one of these paths:
   
   • Windows, Ultimate Collection: C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\Double Deluxe\Base\TSData\Res\Lights\LightRigs
     
   • Windows, Double Deluxe: C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\Base\TSData\Res\Lights\LightRigs
     
   • Windows, Deluxe: C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Deluxe\Base\TSData\Res\Lights\LightRigs
     
   • Windows, other: C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\Lights\LightRigs
     
   • (if there is no folder called Program Files (x86), go to Program Files instead)
     
   • Mac: Applications/The Sims 2.app (or The Sims 2 Super Collection.app) → right click → show package contents → Contents/Home/TSData/Res/Lights/LightRigs
2. Make a backup of the PieMenu file by renaming it e.g. to _PieMenu.
3. Extract the zip file simNopke-backlitUIPortraits (which has a PieMenu file inside) into the LightRigs folder.

Uninstallation

1. Go to the LightRigs folder (see in the installation section for how to find it).
2. Remove the PieMenu file.
3. Rename your backup file to PieMenu.

If you don't have a backup file, you can find it in the zip file PieMenuBackup.

Known issues
Even without this mod, UI portraits have broken transparency (of glasses and hair). It's more noticeable when they're dark.

Credits
Ciastko