Create Custom Textures for Source Games

[pickles]

In this thread I will be trying to explain how to create custom textures for use in your maps and Hammer. For now the tutorial will be Photoshop only. If you know how to do this in GIMP, PM me with the steps and I will post it here. I'm also pretty sure that the steps here will be similar to GIMP.

Non-Transparent Textures

1. Create your Image to be converted into a non-transparent texture.
2. Save your image in .TGA format to the desktop.
3. Download and Launch VTFEdit (Download)
4. Import your .TGA file (File>Import
5. Make sure to have the follow settings and then continue.

6. Make sure Tools>Auto Create .VMT as this will autocreate the other needed file for any texture when you save the .VTF.
7. Save your image as a .VTF file (File>Save As) in your materials directory.
8. Restart Hammer and search for your texture in the Texture Application.

Transparent Textures

1. Create your Image to be converted into a non-transparent texture.
2. Merge all layers into one.
3. Ctrl-Click the layer to select it.
4. Under the channels tab, create a new channel and fill it with white.
5. Save image as .TGA and continue from step 3 in Non-Transparent Texture.

Hope this helps!

 

[Death Injection]

Thank you, very useful guide!!

 

[sscarr]

pickles have you actually tested this yourself?

because VTFEdit wont let you use textures with transparent backgrounds, it just gives them a white background.

 

[3vlNomad]

when I make transparent textures I make them as decals.. "$transparency 1" in the .vmt or w/e file that describes the properties of the texture then all the BLACK (#000000) becomes transparent..

Worked out nicely for some decals/overlays I made


My method for making textures:
1. Create 512x512 image in favorite image editor and save as .png
2. Open the image you just made with GIMP and save as .tga
3. Drag/drop over vtex.exe in ep1/bin
4. Create the .vmt to describe it's properties

Pretty simple.. I only use GIMP because I like using Fireworks and it doesn't support .tga formatting

 

[pickles]

pickles have you actually tested this yourself?

because VTFEdit wont let you use textures with transparent backgrounds, it just gives them a white background.

It does give them a white background, but if you load it up in CS:S it will work fine. Or at least that's what works for me.

EDIT: Maybe I should be more clear, you are supposed to fill the stuff that you want to be shown white in your new layers tab, not the opposite.