🤎 Behind Dinha: The Programs I Use, What I Pay For & How It All Started

Hello my dears! 🤎

From time to time, I receive messages asking me what programs I use, how I started my YouTube channel, how I created my blog, or what I actually use to create my CC.

So I thought it might be fun to take you a little further behind the scenes of Dinha and share some of the things I’ve learned along the way. Maybe some of this will also be useful if you’re thinking about starting your own creative journey. ✨

And to begin... well, there’s nothing better than starting at the beginning. 😂

🎥 It all started with YouTube...

As some of you already know, my journey began on YouTube around 12 years ago.

Starting a channel wasn’t easy even then, but I honestly think it must be even harder today. There are so many incredibly talented content creators now that getting noticed can feel almost impossible!

I’m Portuguese, and when I first started making videos where I spoke in Portuguese, I struggled to reach a wider audience. Then I started creating Speed Builds with music instead of speaking... and everything changed.

Suddenly, people from all over the world could enjoy my videos because there was no language barrier. That was what worked for me. 🤎

Another thing that helped enormously was consistency. For quite some time, I believe I was publishing around three videos per week — although please forgive my memory because this was a long time ago!

After perhaps one or two years of consistently publishing, YouTube started recommending my videos more frequently. And that was when I really noticed the difference.

So, if I had to choose two things that helped me the most: Removing the language barrier + being consistent.

💻 What did I use for YouTube?

🎥 Icecream Screen Recorder — I used this to record my game and it worked wonderfully for me. Unfortunately, the version/features I used are now paid and I still haven’t found the perfect replacement. If any of you know a good alternative for recording The Sims 4, PLEASE tell me in the comments! My collection of paid subscriptions is already quite large enough!

🎬 Adobe Premiere Pro — this is what I use to edit videos. The individual plan is currently around €26.86/month, depending on the subscription.

🌸 Then came the Dinha blog...

After YouTube, I created my blog. I chose Blogger mainly because it was free, and to this day I still don’t pay for my own domain.

Should I eventually get one? Probably. 😂

Do I completely understand all the advantages of having one? Absolutely not.

I know enough to keep my little corner of the internet working... and apparently that has been enough so far!

And I have a confession: I have absolutely no idea how to design a beautiful blog from scratch. So I bought a Blogger template on Etsy.

It came with instructions explaining how to install and customise it and, believe me, if I managed to do it, it really isn’t that difficult!

For me, it made a huge difference. The blog immediately looked much more polished and professional without me having to learn web design.

🛋️ And then... CC creation!

When I first started creating Custom Content, I began with something much simpler: recolors. Walls, floors and existing objects were a great way for me to start understanding how everything worked before moving into more complicated creations.

I mainly used:

🎨 Adobe Photoshop — I used Photoshop for years to create and edit textures. The annual plan billed monthly is currently around €26.86/month, with other subscription options costing more - I no longer use this one!

🛠️ Sims 4 Studio — FREE and absolutely essential. Seriously. Without Sims 4 Studio... we’re not creating much of anything. 😂

🧊 Blender — also essential for creating and editing 3D meshes. I downloaded it for free and still use Blender 2.76. Yes. 2.76. Yes. I know there are much newer versions. No. I am not emotionally prepared to learn everything again. Blender 2.76 and I are staying together. 🤎😂

🎨 The program that changed everything for me

Eventually, I stopped using Photoshop as my main texturing tool and moved to Adobe Substance 3D Painter. And this was probably one of the biggest changes in the way I create CC.

The Substance 3D Collection costs roughly €50–€60/month, depending on the plan, so it definitely isn't cheap. But for me, it completely changed the process.

Instead of simply “colouring” an object, I can start with a basic texture and work on it — adding materials, fabric effects, wood, ceramic finishes, details and imperfections — until I get something that feels much more unique. I absolutely love it.

Would I say I know everything about Substance Painter? Absolutely not. 😂 I’ve watched lots of tutorials, experimented endlessly and learned a huge amount through good old-fashioned... trial and error. Mostly error.

🌸 For thumbnails and posts...

I also use Canva, mostly for thumbnails and graphics. The free version already gives you plenty to work with, especially when you’re starting out.

And then came my most recent addition...

🤖 ChatGPT

Yes. I finally subscribed. 😂

I currently pay around €23/month, and it has become a surprisingly useful part of my creative process — especially when I’m working on textures, ideas and thumbnails.

But I need to clarify something because AI definitely does not mean: “Press button → perfect creation appears.” 😂 Not even close.

If I don’t explain exactly what I want, I don’t get what I want. Sometimes it changes things I specifically told it NOT to change. Sometimes it decides my furniture apparently needs a complete redesign when all I asked for was better lighting. 😂

And yes... I have argued with ChatGPT several times. I know it’s ridiculous. But I have. 😂😂😂

The real trick has been learning how to explain what I want, what information to give it, what references to provide and, most importantly, checking the result carefully so that what I show you actually represents the CC you will receive.

There can be many failed attempts behind one final image or texture that looks simple when you see it here.

And that actually gave me an idea...

👀 Would you like to see what really happens behind the scenes?

I could make another post showing you how I work with ChatGPT — the prompts I use, what I ask for, some of the ridiculous mistakes we get along the way 😂 and how many attempts it can take before I finally get the result I had in mind. Would that be interesting to you?

And is there anything else about my creative process or other things you would like me to talk about?

Tell me in the comments. 🤎

With love,
Dinha 🤎