Author Topic: Question about HL2 Textures  (Read 11776 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

QuentinTehPie

  • Grub
  • **
  • Jun 2014
  • Posts: 5
Question about HL2 Textures
« on: June 10, 2014, 08:26 AM »
I have never tried modeling or making textures for a Source game, but I want to practice doing so, because I eventually want to contribute to this mod. First off, where are the textures for this game located? I have GCFscape and I have searched everywhere and so far I have come up empty. Also, how do you actually apply these textures in-game? (Sad questions, I know. But I really am interested in this and I need to start somewhere.)

Glitchvid

  • Technical Lead
  • Admin
  • *
  • Feb 2014
  • Posts: 99
  • 8...9...
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2014, 09:57 AM »
Half Life 2 moved to VPKs a time ago, so you will need to find the hl2_textures VPKs.
They can be found in "steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2\hl2"
You will need to open (with GCFScape) hl2_textures_dir.

From there you will see


You can then open up folders and drag textures and materials out.

Source uses 2 (or more) files to create materials, a texture: .VTF and a material .VMT.  The texture is an image, and the material defines how it looks (is it shiny?  does it sound like wood? does it have a normalmap?)
You can read more about it here: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Creating_a_Material

Once you've created a texture and material, you need to create a new folder in the Custom directory in "steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2\hl2\custom"
Example:


Inside there, you'll create a folder named materials (similar to what you see in the main hl2 folder)

From there you can create a folder (for example: "fluffybutts") and put your material and texture in there.
Note, you'll need to modify the VMT so that it references the folder you created:


You will then need to open Hammer, and create a level to test your texture on; but that's more complex and the VDC can cover it better than I can.
« Last Edit: June 10, 2014, 09:58 AM by Glitchvid »

QuentinTehPie

  • Grub
  • **
  • Jun 2014
  • Posts: 5
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2014, 10:57 AM »
This. This is really helpful. Thank you. What are the _Normal files?

Glitchvid

  • Technical Lead
  • Admin
  • *
  • Feb 2014
  • Posts: 99
  • 8...9...

QuentinTehPie

  • Grub
  • **
  • Jun 2014
  • Posts: 5
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2014, 11:49 AM »
Okay.  Once again, thank you. This all helps a lot. I just have 3 more questions about things I have ran into so far, and then I think I can handle myself.

1. I can't find any VMT Files. Just .VTF's. Should I be looking somewhere else?
2. How do I export pictures for further editing and then put them back in?
3. Are there any other programs for editing that you would recommend?

Glitchvid

  • Technical Lead
  • Admin
  • *
  • Feb 2014
  • Posts: 99
  • 8...9...
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2014, 11:56 AM »
1. The VMTs are inside the VPK "hl2_misc_dir"
2.Use a program like VTFEdit to export and import the textures.
3.Any image editing program would work, I personally use Photoshop CS.

QuentinTehPie

  • Grub
  • **
  • Jun 2014
  • Posts: 5
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2014, 12:20 PM »

Glitchvid

  • Technical Lead
  • Admin
  • *
  • Feb 2014
  • Posts: 99
  • 8...9...
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2014, 12:22 PM »

QuentinTehPie

  • Grub
  • **
  • Jun 2014
  • Posts: 5
Question about HL2 Textures
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2014, 12:26 PM »
oh. I read that wrong. Im sorry.