Scope
This tutorial will guide you through the steps on how to create your own custom furniture items in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, by editing the textures of existing items. As specific as this is, these steps are also general guidelines for modifying textures in other games, however different games may have different directory structures so some adjustment may be necessary.

What you will need
- Your 3DS, running Luma3DS (version 7.0 or newer) in either A9LH or B9S
- A Windows PC (this will not work on macOS)
- A copy of Animal Crossing: New Leaf (either cartridge or eShop version will work, this supports both the initial release and the Welcome Amiibo revision)
- The latest version of Decrypt9WIP
- PackHack
- Ohana3DS (original version)
- Ohana3DS Rebirth
- Any image editing software you're used to using

We will be using both the original version of Ohana3DS and the remake called Ohana3DS Rebirth because of each version's different functionalities (either that, or I'm not able to properly import textures in Rebirth somehow), although this may change in the future if the functions are merged. Please pay attention to which version of Ohana3DS is mentioned in each part of this tutorial.

It may also be useful to backup your save before attempting any mods. While graphical mods are generally safe and should not damage save data, it is good practice to have a backup archive for your games in case something goes wrong.

Instructions

Part 0 - Initial setup

Spoiler

This step sets up your 3DS and the working environment on your PC and only needs to be done once before starting. You do not need to repeat these steps every time you want to make custom items afterwards.

1. From the Decrypt9 archive, copy the appropriate version to your 3DS' SD card
- If you are running A9LH, copy Decrypt9WIP.bin to /luma/payloads/
- If you are running B9S, copy Decrypt9WIP.firm to /luma/payloads/
2. On the root of your SD card, create a new folder called "D9Game"
3. In /luma/, create a new folder called "titles", then inside it, create a folder whose name will depend on the region and version of your game:
- JPN: 0004000000086200 for the original release, 0004000000198D00 for the Welcome Amiibo version
- USA: 0004000000086300 for the original release, 0004000000198E00 for the Welcome Amiibo version
- EUR: 0004000000086400 for the original release, 0004000000198F00 for the Welcome Amiibo version

4. Inside that folder, create the following folders: romfs/Item/Model/

Your "titles" folder structure should look like this, if you were using the European region original release of ACNL​

6. Insert the SD card back into your 3DS, then hold Select when booting up
7. In the Luma menu, make sure that "Enable game patching" is enabled
8. On your PC, run PackHack and allow it to do its first-time setup (if you have used PackHack before, this step can be skipped)

===Initial setup is now complete===​

Part 1 - Dumping and extracting your game

Spoiler

In this step, you will dump your copy of Animal Crossing into a decrypted .cia file, then extract the romfs contents to your PC. If you have already dumped the game and have a copy of the extracted romfs already saved somewhere, then this part can be skipped.

1. Holding down the Start button, boot up your 3DS
- If a Luma chainloader menu appears, select Decrypt9WIP
2. Depending on the version of your game, you will need to do one of the following:

If you have Animal Crossing on cartridge
- Select Gamecart Dumper Options > Dump Cart to CIA
- Wait for the process to complete, then power off the 3DS

If you have Animal Crossing installed from the eShop
- Select Content Decryptor Options > CIA Builder Options > CIA Builder (SysNAND/decr.)
- Use the D-Pad to navigate to /title/00040000/, then select the appropriate title based on your region and version
- JPN: 00086200 for the original release, 00198D00 for the Welcome Amiibo version
- USA: 00086300 for the original release, 00198E00 for the Welcome Amiibo version
- EUR: 00086400 for the original release, 00198F00 for the Welcome Amiibo version
- Wait for the process to complete, then power off the 3DS

3. Insert the 3DS' SD card into your PC, then navigate to /D9Game/
4. Copy the .cia file from that folder to PackHack's folder
5. Open PackHack, type CE, then press enter
6. Enter the name of the .cia file you just copied (without the .cia part)
7. Choose not to decompress code.bin
8. PackHack will now extract the ROM contents, this may take a while
9. When complete, copy the ExtractedRomFS folder to somewhere safe, the other folders and .bin files are not used and can be deleted

===ROM extraction is now complete===​

Part 2 - Editing the item data

Spoiler

Now that you have a copy of the Romfs contents, make sure that's backed up somewhere in case you need them again in the future.

1. Navigate to ExtractedRomFS/Item/Model/
2. This is the folder where in-game item models and textures are kept, to make things easier you can set Windows to associate the .bcres file format with Ohana3DS Rebirth
3. Now is the tricky part, you will need to find the item you intend to replace, most items have a prefix that defines the item type (e.g., flowers have a flw_ prefix, hats have a cap_ prefix)

The item folder should look something like this​

4. Open items in Ohana3DS Rebirth to see what they look like

Previewing 3D objects in Ohana3DS Rebirth​

5. Once you have found the item you want to replace, Ohana3DS (original version, not Rebirth), drag and drop the .bcres file into the empty window space (do not use the "Open" option), then select "Export all" to a folder of your choice

Use the "Export all" button to export textures using Ohana3DS (original version)​

6. You should see one or more .png files saved to that folder (do not save anything else in that same folder)
7. Typically items in Animal Crossing have textures for different parts stored as different regions of the same image (for instance, the front and sides of a box may be saved in the same image as an unfolded texture), you will need to keep that in mind when editing the textures
8. Edit the textures as desired in your preferred image editing software

Editing the texture file​

9. Save the new texture file(s) under the same name as the original file(s)
10. Open Ohana3DS (original), load the .bcres file of the item you want to edit, select "Import All", then find the folder with your edited .png textures
11. Check the texture(s) displayed and make sure that they are now your edited versions
12. Click "Save"
13. Open the edited .bcres in Ohana3DS Rebirth and see if the edited textures have been correctly applied onto the 3D model

Previewing edited items with Ohana3DS Rebirth​

14. Repeat steps 8-13 if you need to make any adjustments (actually, this is also helpful midway through editing textures, if you want to preview your current progress)
15. Save the edited .bcres to somewhere you'll remember

===Item editing is now complete===​

Part 3 - Importing the edited item into the game

Spoiler

Now that you have edited your item, it's time to insert it back into the game. Thanks to the layeredfs feature of Luma, we don't need to rebuild and reinstall the full game any more, but instead we can just load custom romfs files on the fly.

1. Insert your 3DS' SD card into your PC
2. Take your edited .bcres item file(s) and copy them to /luma/titles/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/romfs/Item/Model/
- The xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx folder name depends on your region and version, as listed in part 0 of this tutorial

Edited items should be placed here, if you were using the European region original release of ACNL​

3. Eject the SD card, and reinsert it back into the 3DS

===Item importing is now complete===​

With the item imported, from now on when you play the game your edited item should be replacing the original item wherever it appears in-game. You can temporarily disable edited items by disabling game patching from Luma's config menu.

Example Items

Spoiler

Neon Nintendo Switch and dock

Nintendo Switch console

Game store shelf

Questionable literature​

And there you have it - you can now make your own custom items to decorate your house with on Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Note that custom items will only appear on your own console, if someone with an unmodded console visits your village online, they will still see the original item. Feel free to post images of your own custom items here, I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone can come up with!

 

[NekoMichi]

SWEET! Is there a site I can go to download custom items like this? Like those sites for splash screens and home menu themes?

Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk

Not that I know of. These .bcres files are essentially archives with 3D models, textures, and animations packed together, even if we replaced the textures the remaining models still count as copyrighted material and can't be freely distributed. That's why I can only upload my own texture files and ask people to insert it into .bcres objects they extracted themselves.

 

[KunoichiZ]

Not that I know of. These .bcres files are essentially archives with 3D models, textures, and animations packed together, even if we replaced the textures the remaining models still count as copyrighted material and can't be freely distributed. That's why I can only upload my own texture files and ask people to insert it into .bcres objects they extracted themselves.

Could you upload the textures you have done so far?

 

[PrincessLillie]

Could you upload the textures you have done so far?

I second this. I'd like them too.

Not that I know of. These .bcres files are essentially archives with 3D models, textures, and animations packed together, even if we replaced the textures the remaining models still count as copyrighted material and can't be freely distributed. That's why I can only upload my own texture files and ask people to insert it into .bcres objects they extracted themselves.

Well, you could make a website where people upload the 3D models, textures, and animations to be put into the .bcres files and then others can download them and inject them into the .bcres files.
That, or someone else could make said website.

 

[Slattz]

Awesome, I've been waiting for someone to finally start making texture hacks again
Alot of people done it for villagers with HANS before Welcome Amiibo but the number of them seem to have drastically dropped, mainly because HANS can't work with the WA update & updates in general.

 

[NekoMichi]

Could you upload the textures you have done so far?

I second this. I'd like them too.

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay.
Later today I will be compiling my currently ready mods. This will include the textures files themselves, screenshot previews, a list of romfs paths for each item's .bcres object, and item ID codes to spawn them with NTR.

 

[NekoMichi]

Custom texture files for the example items have been uploaded, they can be found here.

Items are sorted into two categories: GAME and UPDATE. Items from the GAME folder come with all versions of the game and will work with layeredfs directly. Items from the UPDATE folder were introduced in the Welcome Amiibo update. If you have the new Animal Crossing release that includes the Welcome Amiibo update, then you can use these items with layeredfs. If you have the original Animal Crossing release and installed the Welcome Amiibo package as a separate update, you will need to patch these into the update .cia file using PackHack and then install the custom update package (PackHack will ask for version numbers, the minor version number is 2, the micro version number is 0).

I will also list the internal item ID number, which can be used to spawn the item using RyDog's NTR plugin (this does not support the Welcome Amiibo pre-patched game).

Here are the example items, items marked with a * were introduced with the Welcome Amiibo update.

1. Nintendo Switch Tablet

Just a standard Nintendo Switch tablet section, minus the Joy-Cons. The screen displays the Nintendo Switch Home Menu.

Replaces Box of Chocolates
int_oth_chocolate.bcres
Item ID 2c12

2. Neon Switch (Docked)

A wooden shelf with a docked Switch and Neon-coloured Joy-Cons in their grip.

Replaces Game Shelf
rmk_oth_c_box.bcres
Item ID 2c3d

3. Glass Store Display

A glass-topped display unit with boxes of New 2DS XL consoles and a black boxed New 3DS.

Replaces Ice-Cream Case
int_oth_icecase.bcres
Item ID 2bb2

4. Breath of the Wild Poster

A wall banner showing one of the pre-release promotional posters of Breath of the Wild. Pressing A in front of it will cause the original item's animation to play and that messes with the modded graphics (so don't do it).

Replaces Wall-Mounted Monitor
int_sff_tv.bcres
Item ID 2e4f

5. Trolley of giant Pokéballs

A bunch of beachballs themed to look like Pokéballs.

Replaces Ball Catcher
rmk_sch_ballcase.bcres
Item ID 2b5c

6. Nintendo 3DS Shelf*

Like the default 3DS shelf item, but most of the game boxes have been updated. Includes games like Miitopia, Ever Oasis, and Samus Returns.

Replaces Nintendo 3DS Shelf
int_gms_shelf_3.bcres
Item ID 301a

7. Nintendo Switch Shelf*

All of your popular Switch titles like Breath of the Wild, ARMS, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Super Mario Odyssey are on display. Spare Joy-Cons are also available.

Replaces Wii U Game Shelf
int_gms_shelf_W.bcres
Item ID 3019

8. Nintendo 3DS Station*

Like the original 3DS Station item, but now shows Samus Returns on the screens.

Replaces Nintendo 3DS Station
int_gms_station_3.bcres
Item ID 3018

9. Nintendo Switch Station*

Shows images from Breath of the Wild on the screens.

Replaces Wii U Station
int_gms_station_W.bcres
Item ID 3017

10. TV (Splatoon 2)*

A wall-mounted TV that displays a static image from Splatoon 2 (when turned OFF).

Replaces Wall-Mounted TV
int_oth_wall_tv.bcres
Item ID 2f81

11. Amiibo Shelf*

An update to the existing Amiibo Shelf item, but replaces all Smash Amiibo with ones from Splatoon 2 and Breath of the Wild. The animated video demo on the TV screen now shows the Switch.

Replaces Amiibo Shelf
int_gms_shelf_a.bcres
Item ID 301b

 

[JKM]

does tools like axes,shovels,hammers,fizzy apple juice,etc. work as well?

 

[NekoMichi]

does tools like axes,shovels,hammers,fizzy apple juice,etc. work as well?

Yes, but they may be stored under different locations in the romfs.

 

[JKM]

wym by diff. locations?

 

[Slattz]

wym by diff. locations?

A different folder.

 

[JKM]

Can anyone make a tutorial on custom items instead?

 

[NekoMichi]

Can anyone make a tutorial on custom items instead?

Good news, the models for equipment items are also in the same folder, so this tutorial will work in the same way. The folder path is:
romfs/Item/Model/

The items are:
axe.bcres
jyoro.bcres
net.bcres
pole.bcres
scoop.bcres
sling.bcres
s_axe.bcres
s_jyoro.bcres
s_net.bcres
s_pole.bcres
s_scoop.bcres
s_sling.bcres
g_axe.bcres
g_jyoro.bcres
g_net.bcres
g_pole.bcres
g_scoop.bcres
g_sling.bcres

The s_ and g_ files relate to the silver and gold versions of the items respectively.

---

On a side note, Tomodachi Life also uses a similar file layout so this tutorial can be used to make custom items, clothing, and rooms in that game too:

 

[JKM]

OMG, thank you SOOOOOO much!

 

[Jouzai]

Nice work, I will try this out on my ACNL.

 

[JKM]

what's a jroyo? idk what that item is.

 

[KunoichiZ]

what's a jroyo? idk what that item is.

Axe = Axe
Sling = Slingshot
Scoop = Shovel
Net = Net
Pole = Fishing Rod
Jroyo = Watering Can

 

[JKM]

Oh, thanks.

 

[JKM]

So, this custom item thing New 3DS accessible? (Sounds like a dumb question)

 

[NekoMichi]

So, this custom item thing New 3DS accessible? (Sounds like a dumb question)

This will work on all 2DS and 3DS models, so long as you are running Luma CFW.

 

[JKM]

I'm keep getting an error on Ohana3DS and Rebirth, it ksays, Could not load/assemble Microsoft.DirectX, Version 1.0.2902.0