Need to provide textures when using custom textures not in Source?

cownaetion

L1: Registered
Feb 24, 2008
32
1
I was wondering if anyone know how custom textures worked with Source. I know back in TFC and even Quake1 you either had to embed the custom texture into the map (increasing filesize) or you would have to provide a separate '.pak' file with the custom textures in it. How does it work for textures not in the Source SDK or any game that uses the Source engine?

So what I'm try to say is would I be able to use the textures from 'Counter Strike: Source'? Also would I be able to download custom textures, use them, and just upload the map and not provide any other files, they'll come embedded in the map or do I have to provide a .pak or .vtf file or something? Thanks for any help.
 

MangyCarface

Mapper
aa
Feb 26, 2008
1,626
1,325
We would highly dissuade you from using any non-TF2 textures, including CSS textures. However, not everyone who owns TF2 will be able to see CSS textures, because only people who own the game will have that content. There is a program called pakrat which can automatically include custom textures into the map, but pakratting in CSS content is illegal. So yes, you can embed textures, but no, you cannot use CSS textures.
 

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
7,135
6,056
You can make your texture files with the PS plugin or VTFedit
Then make your .VMT file with a text editor
Then you're ready to use the texture locally
to give it to players simply use pakrat to embed it into the .BSP

You can download/make any texture you want and stick it in the tf/materials folder for it to work but using textures from other games like Portal CS:S, Episode 2 (not HL2 though) is illigal.
 

cownaetion

L1: Registered
Feb 24, 2008
32
1
Ah, so I still have to embed the textures then. Was so much easier just making them a separate pak file but at least there's still a way. So I can't use it from other games but any textures that are free to download and use I am at liberty to use. Alright, thanks for the info!
 

MrAlBobo

L13: Stunning Member
Feb 20, 2008
1,059
219
So I can't use it from other games but any textures that are free to download and use I am at liberty to use. Alright, thanks for the info!

in theory you can use textures from other games...but either it will not work if the people don't have the game, or it will be not entirely legal...
 

cownaetion

L1: Registered
Feb 24, 2008
32
1
Alright, how about all the textures that are available by default in Hammer when I choose 'TF2' as my current game? Are all those available to use?
 

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
7,135
6,056
Those are all available to use because it only loads the TF2 textures and the base SDK textures which everyone who has a single source game has.
However most of them look terrible when combined with tf2 textures so use other ones with caution