Exclusive Preview: Picture Frame Customization
🕑 Added 2021-02-26 19:25:10 +0000 UTCHey there, I hope you're doing well! Everything's good on our side. Today, we wanted to share a first look at one of the features that Jérémie recently added to the game.
Picture Frame Customization (For Patrons only. Please don't share)
In Paralives, many objects that you can place in your house can be customized. In the past, we've shown how you can change the kitchen cabinet handles, select a different face for your jack-o'-lanterns, etc. Now, you can change the frame of your pictures and paintings that you display on the walls of your home. You can also select the color of your frame among swatches that we made for you or select a specific color using the color wheel.

Select an object and open the frame selection menu to choose a frame. We'll add a larger selection of frames in the future.
Since frames can be resized as you wish, there's an option to either adjust the image so it fills the whole frame or to have it fit the frame by preserving the aspect ratio of the picture.

Use the blue handles to resize the frame.
For any frame, you can also select any image from our library. More and more pictures and painting will be added as we go.

Select an object and click the picture button to select a new image to be used inside your frame.
Also, players can easily add their own images to the game by selecting a picture file on their computer. You can do that by pressing the "+" button in the image selection menu, as seen in the above screenshot.
Yesterday, we asked Patrons on Discord to share pictures of their pets. With the custom image importing feature that players will be able to use in Paralives, Jérémie created this great collection of frames showing the Patrons' lovely pets!

I hope you enjoyed this preview of the picture frame customization features. This is just one of the things we've been working on lately and I'm looking forward to share more about our progress regarding other parts of the game!
Have a great weekend and take care,
Alex
Comments
Can't wait to make a gallery <3
Luther Duncan
I’m so excited for this, a feature long forgotten in current simulation games... great to see it’s been resurrected. The look and feel of the game is so stunning 😍
I absolutely LOVE what you're doing and I think its amazing! I do think that there should be some more "fancy" options. More of the old regal styling, ya know? That way if you want your para to be more of the old classical style, you can have frames that match it.
YourCheezyPatron
Sorry, wrong thread!
Rexi SimsbySky
Love it <3
sm duta
Hello, that really cool 🤩! Just to add to the customization, is it possible, for our imported images, to use a set of filters that change/adapt the picture to a painting style? Like those apps that change a picture to a paiting - like Prisma or others like it?
MayaTheGalaxyPainter
That's looks so cool
Minakie
I've always thought that having an option to customize the frames of your pictures would be perfect for Paralives because, the way I envision it, is the way the building and customization tools work right now will allow us to have a Buy catalog of objects that is cleaner, more organized and easier to navigate because instead of having multiple beds, stoves, pictures, sofas cluttering the catalog, you'd have just one example object that you'd then customize to your liking. So yeah, not gonna lie, I might've dreamt this feature was coming before this announcement. What I didn't see coming, was the next level: "Since frames can be resized as you wish, there's an option to either adjust the image so it fills the whole frame or to have it fit the frame by preserving the aspect ratio of the picture." You guys always go above and beyond in every single little detail you think of, and never cease to amaze me. The ability to import our own photos was a nice touch as well and it reminds me... when Maggie's Christmas video was released, some people were asking if we'd be able to customize sweaters and other clothes with our own stencils that we'd import from our computer. Just food for thought. :)
Yess he said it in the text :)
Rayem
Can we add our own custom images to the library?
Kisica
Oh wow! I love it ♡
Kate, enjoyer of worlds
Yes yes yes, didn't know I needed this but I 100% need it. You all are smashing it!
Jennifer Huber
Absolutely amazing. I love the idea of having a photo wall that really works! It will make it feel more like a real home!
Lergondo
really wanta demo this game so bad, maybe make some preset house blueprints would be fun (that's almost all i did in the sims)
THIS IS SO AMAZING AND A GAME CHANGER!!!
Danica Savic
I love it. And it's so easy to add custom pictures ^^
Twilightbutterflypink
Wow. I love it
Small but mighty steps. Amazing :3
Courtney David
You have undeniably put the Sims to absolute shame. I’ve been wanting picture customization for years!
Desirée Eriksson
heck yeah. finally I can have a collection of photos with some coherence to the design
Wow thats really great and makes for so much customization!
Christine
Hi! We are not offering a test or beta version at this time since the game is still very early in development. Can you tell me more about the test version you mentioned? Also, the game will be available in Simplified Chinese when it's released :)
This is SO GREAT!
ArchitectHaizara
I realize this could be included in the image files that one uses, but perhaps you could add a margin option? Makes it look just a little bit more fancy :) Also, last picture looks absolutely adorable! Great job!!
Hello, I would like to ask whether the member version can provide Chinese. When the test version was released in March, it was only allowed to be used by members, and it was not available in Chinese. A few people talked about this in bilibili. Hope you can reply, thanks for reading.
I'm so excited about being able to put our own pictures in game! I watercolor paint sometimes so it'll be cool to have some of my little paintings in places :) That gallery wall is so nice!
Annamaris
Sorry for spamming the thread but I got a question once again: could this same kind of system be used with rugs?
Daniel Asraf
Aww man, i'm kind of regret that i was too busy in the same day, i have an awsome dog that i love and maybe if i had time i wouldv'e sent a pic of him, ho well, i'm happy for those who got to post their lovely pets in this wall! BTW are you going to put billboards some day in the game?
Layla Atkinson
oop😏
Alex Massé
Yes, the tutorials and hints will be very important!
Alex Massé
Thank you Fran! Yes, we'll add smaller frames that can stand on a desk
Alex Massé
We'll add more and more frame styles, yes! I love your secret hole idea
Alex Massé
We'll add the no frame option, yes! I like your idea of a shiny material option
Emma-Lisa Roux
This is amazing!!! That's something I didn't expect at all. Every update makes me more excited for this game. Thanks for the hard work <3
Maiden Minnesota
Such a little thing, but so impactful! No reason to have every single house, every single room have a painting of the same sunflowers. 😒🥱
LOVE IT! Alex if you haven't thought about it yet, to help new players get to know the building system consider adding "Hints" when starting a new game OR starting to build for the first time :D
Tini
This looks amazing, such relatively simple tools that will make such a huge difference. With this we'll be able to make so many items and customise our homes infinitely.
Zeevryn
Ooh, what a cool detail/feature I hadn’t really even thought about!
I love this I’m so excited
Akasha O'Connell
Y'all never cease to amaze me...seriously...
I love this!!! Being able to easily add photos is going to be fun, exciting and simple! I’m not sure I knew how much I needed this until I saw it! Great work 😁
Mette Askø Stark
Omg I LOVE that you’ve taken something that should be simple.. and made it SIMPLE! (As opposed to other games..)
Fran Smith
These are awesome! I'm totally unsurprised. This type of awesomeness is an expectation now. One that should have long been in that other poorly featured game. One request, though. Is it possible to also add smaller frames for surfaces? For example, a family picture for a desk or a dutchess? You know, with the triangular type of stand thing?
BreakingGaia
As a player who constantly adds family photos to the other game, this is such a welcome addition and something I've always wanted. I can just take random pics in game and then add them with the + symbol...yes, please! And thank you so much for all the customization options. It's the little things that make players so happy!
Mari R.
this is amazing!!i'm just imagining seeing any scene i like with my paras, pausing the game, printing it and then using the screenshot as a picture in the family's house. p e r f e c t.
This is something I never thought of and something I never thought I’d need. I LOVE THIS THOUGH!
Amazing job as always!
JessIsMore
You guys are rockstars, bloody good job well done!
Christina Ozeki
I love the new picture frame idea, especially that we will be able to customise the image to our own. Fantastic! 💜
S&M Gonzalez
I love it! Will we have the options to change frame styles as well? It’d be cool if some picture frames could have lights added to them like a museum affect and secret holes in them if they’re portraits where paras can see through from the other side in another room.
Kayne
Love it! Will there be no frame options? Like on a still life or just flat out on the wall (to mimic a photo or poster?) And maybe filters that simulate shiny glass effects that reflects light, matt options? Would love the same "material options" for all the furniture btw. To decide how shiny or matt they are (don't know if that fits here though)
Annamaris
As a CC-hoarder, this looks very clever solution. My painting section in TS3 literally lags due to all those beautiful CC paintings I can't let go. The vanilla paintings instead, could be exploded in the pixels in my option. In the game-engine-running-wise, I suppose your paintings don't cause as much lag because the player can use just the pics they desire. And customication of the frames... A little detail but still... Finally! Thank you. ☆_☆
Alex Massé
Thank you Coralie and best of luck with your studies!
Coralie Archambault
You guys are doing an amazing job honestly, each time an update comes out I am just blown away. I am studying to become a 3D artist and seeing you guys work on this game makes me dream of being able to be part of such projects in my future. Incredible team and incredible content, love you lots!🔥
ღPark Nikkiღ
This comes great especially for someone who collects idols photos all over her room lol
tey711
Loving it!! ❤
ღPark Nikkiღ
What do you mean?
KittyPara
Could this work with the mirror?
Lovely! Great seeing the Brusio Viaduct in the second picture. That is definitely a picture worth putting on the wall!
KittyPara
It's really perfect <3
Alex Massé
Oh yes, I'd love to make it so Paras can customize and send postcards. Maybe we can add that in the future
Alex Massé
That would be really nice!
Alex Massé
Yes! I was just thinking about that yesterday and we might do something like that
Alex Massé
Thank you! The option to have no frame is something we'll add, yes! A glass frame should be possible, I'll see what we can do
Alex Massé
It's not planned for now but we might add something like that eventually! I agree that it would be great
To blå
I don't know if it would be considered frames but I think it would be cool if these features could also be used to make postcards and maybe those retro/vintage photo frames 😊
I love this, so much better than having to download entire packs of cc to have matching sets in The Sims!
Briony King
Omg, I absolutely love this. This is great guys.
I love this! Speaking of photos i really want a photo album I feel its really important to have that especially if you like family gameplay.
Stermatical
Well done! 🤩 This feature is exactly what the game needs! And I’m very sure that possibilities with this feature will be endless!
Maggie
Absolutely love this!
Jordan Harrison
This is next level, Alex! So cool
julimander
love it!
Miri D
Lovely. Very, very lovely!
Ella Pilchik
our own pictures in the game? looooooooooooove
Leo Munck
this is a really lovely feature to have! i feel like itll make adding photos of paras really nice bc you can just take a screenshot and upload it instead of having to deal with in-game camera mechanics and all that
OBSESSED!!!!!
Sean McDorman
This is SUCH a great feature. I think it’s also crucial to have a photography system at some point in the future so Paras can display their own pets and loved ones. Pictures taken and displayed in-game will have the same art style to increase player immersion, plus have lots of storytelling value. Also... wouldn’t it be cool to have a portrait that swings open with a secret door behind it, like the Fat Lady of Gryffindor Tower!!! I need secret entrances for when I build my eccentric millionaire mansion on the hill!
Have you thought of categorizing the pictures by style for easier browsing? For example: “nature”, “portraits”, “old fashioned”, “abstract art”, “custom/added by player” etc. it would make it easier to pick the right picture for the style of the house.
Monica Johnson
These are so awesome! It'll make decorating much more fun. Is there an option for no frames as well? Kind of like how you can just hang up a canvas on the wall.. And if it's possible, glass frames might be interesting to add!
sofst
YES
Looking really great, and great idea. I'd love to have a passe partout option as well.
You guys should have a contest so members of the community can have their art released with the game as in game pictures!
Ahhhh can’t wait to make family walls this is my DREAM
Jesslynn
Would we be able to take our parafolk out and take pictures of the world with their phone or a camera? It would be so cool if there were film cameras as well.
Stewby
I am so excited about this. Well done Jeremie, it looks great. Love the fact that we can add some of our own pictures to our game. :)
Kiiiwiii
Freaking amazing!👏👏
Lily Tindel
HOLY— 🥺🥺 I -
Absolutely blown away! You guys never seize to surprise this community update after update! Hope you all are doing well and keep up the A+ effort!!!!
Alex Massé
Your floofball is really cute!
Aleksandra Gołębiewska
This is so lovely! I'll be happy with decorating the walls with my pets' cuteness <3.
Alex Massé
Thank you! It's still too early to announce a release date but we'll keep everyone updated about our progress!
Alex Massé
Yes, it was requested a lot! Thanks to you and everyone for the suggestion!
Vanessa Albert
I'm so excited for any update to Paralives. I've never been that excited about any game ever in my life before. Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to getting a release date 😍😍
Zahlea
Yaaay, my floofball made it! (Second painting on the bottom row) 😍 But this looks so good! Such (relatively) simple tools that will make such a huge difference. With this we'll be able to make so many items and customise our homes infinitely. Such a clever design!
Daniel Asraf
I can't believe you listened to me and maybe to others who came up with the idea of uploading their own pictures to the game ... you guys are champions !!
Deborah Aittokallio
That is THE COOOLEST THING EVERRRR
Alex Massé
Oh, that could be useful!
Love it
Alex Massé
Hehe, thank you for the offer! We are not there yet and we still need to decide if there will be an open test phase!
Alex Massé
There will be a main folder and as long as your files are in there, it will work. You can create subfolders as you wish
It’s the simplest things 🥺 this is just how it should be ahh. Gonna be so fun to do family pictures now!! And gallery walls 😩 I’m so excited
Samantha Moore
Omg I love this
Barbara
Amazing!! 😍😍
Amanda
I love that even if we have no photography in game, we can still take screenshots and put em’ on the walls 💙
Yes! Yes! Yes! I frigging love this! Iv wanted this in so many games! 😍
Love this
Sophie Goodman-Merel
Finally we can have any painting we want! I won't skip decor in my houses anymore lol. One suggestion! If there could be a hue wheel for paintings in case the color doesn't match. Like if you have an abstract painting and you want it blue to match a couch but it's red, I think players would appreciate being able to change the hue to make the painting blue.
I am SO ready for this, have you already selected those that will be allowed to test the early development? I am a professional glitch finder, in a good way, I promise... I want this game to succeed!
Will it be any folder for photos or one specific folder in game files? It'd be cool to have a fold with a couple of subfolders for custom content including the photos but also music and videos for example. Maybe also a folder for custom textures but one main place for all the custom content maybe. But that's just me 😂 Edit: thank you for the reply I appreciate it and your team is doing awesome!!!
Christophe Zajac
So simple yet so powerful. You people are Gods and Goddesses.
Hailey Szabo
THIS IS SO COOL!!!!
Julio Saliba
This looks awesome, thank you ❤️
MrPinguv
Cool! I hate when the paintings in the sims don’t match the frame color or width. Loving this 🥰
Anna
This is so so so cool!
This is amazing thank you!!
ParadoxxSims
Very Cool!!
Michael
Can we just talk about how cool the demo art is? Looks like it was taken right out of Artsy
eoghan
oh my god, all these teasers are literally so exciting
Arion Floyd
This is brilliant! In the Sims I’m constantly struggling to fill my house with art work that doesn’t have clashing frame colors or styles
Laura Burchart
Those are sooo cute 🥺
Breoni Hester
Finally an easy way to hang screenshots!!!
Shelby G.
This looks so cool! Great job
Jaxon Mia Escontrias
THANK YOU THIS IS GENIUS!!