Using Simgaroop's Hair Colour Actions

[strangetomato]

I'm new to hair retexturing and using colour actions on them, so I need to ask a probably very obvious question about using those actions. I have some of Neena's textures to work from (someone uploaded them on a thread at GoS), and Simgaroop's colour actions, but I have no idea how to apply them. Is there an order I need to work in? I tried applying the black colour action to the Neena blond hair texture (sort of pale yellow) I used to retexture, and the end result was more like dark brown. I figure I'm definitely doing something wrong. Should I be using a different hair texture to start from? Am I missing a step? Please help!

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help this hopeless beginner.

Bonus question: Are there any meshes out there that haven't already been Neena'd that you'd like to recommend for recolour? I'm trying to find a couple of good options for my secret santa and it seems like most hair meshes already have been given the Maxis-match treatment. Any oldies but goodies or otherwise overlooked meshes out there that you love?

Comments

[simsarenotfood.livejournal.com]

Heh, don't worry I had no idea how to work them in the beginning too x)
You should start with the blond texture by Neena which I uploaded here. I duno if it's the same one as your using but that's the base that I use.
For each colour except grey and black you just apply the actions straight to the blond.
For grey you start with the blond and then press ctrl + shift + u (or go to image-adjustments-desaturate)
For black start with the grey texture and then apply the black action.

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

This is how I re-texture hair (I am actually doing that right now because I'm working on my Secret Santa present! :)) :

1. Re-texture the hair using the blond texture (as long as it is similar to Neena's original one you're fine. I use one with a bit more saturation (5% more) so it looks more sunny.

2. Desaturate your re-texture so it looks light gray.

3. Apply the rest of the actions (the reds, the browns and black) to that gray texture, that's how I originally "designed" them.

4. And that's it!

[skellington7d.livejournal.com]

I'll throw some mesh recommendations out there:

I've seen this one done MM-ish, but in the more "streaky" Maxis Match look rather than the Simgaroop style and colors: www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?topic=14822.0

I know this one's weird, but I love it: http://www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?topic=16745.0

This is an elegant one I haven't seen done:
http://www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?topic=20770.0

I also haven't seen this one yet: http://www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?topic=23857.0

I'm a big fan of updos since they don't clip through the Sims shoulders.

[jyllandrea.livejournal.com]

The only one I can think of is this hair! http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=75187 I forget how I found it. I don't think it's been properly Maxis matched a la Neena/Simgaroop. I never really cared for the original Jeanette Biedermann Maxis mesh, but I think it looks great on guys.