is there a way to convert overlays into textures?

[Werewolf]

But I don't know how to do that, it look like a console command.

I get the feeling you are assuming this is some vastly complex task that you are unable to do. This isn't true. When people are saying you "Simply do X" we really do mean 'simply'!

But to add to what others have said, there are two parts to every texture. The .vtf and the .vmt

• The .vtf is what the image looks like. Most often you'll use VTFEdit to open these files and to import (convert) image files to the .vtf format.
• The .vmt is a text file that provides instructions on how that texture behaves. You can open these files with any text editor though the 2 most commonly used would be VTFEdit or Notepad++, though you could open them in Windows own Notepad.

The only thing you might want a tutorial on is all the different types of instructions that can included in a .vmt file as there are many that do a wide variety of things. As a bare minimum though, all textures will need 2 things:

1. A shader, here defined as "LightmappedGeneric"
2. The path to where the file exists in your game files, defined by the "$basetexture".

In my example below, I also have a "$surfaceprop" which would tell the Source engine to treat it like brick, meaning it will play the appropriate sounds when walked on or hit, and will apply appropriate decals when shot.

Example vtf:

"LightmappedGeneric"
{
    "$basetexture" "map_name/material_name"
    "$surfaceprop" "brick"
}

I'll leave some links to some light reading, but I encourage you to just try things yourself. Mess around with different shaders and options, see for yourself what does what.

• https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Creating_a_Material
• https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/LightmappedGeneric
• https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:List_of_Shader_Parameters
• https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Material_surface_properties

 

[Izotope]

The .vmt is what the image looks like.

The .vtf is a text file

Woopsies, you mixed them up.

 

[suber36g]

????

 

[Werewolf]

????

Maybe you could say what has confused you instead of just ????

Woopsies, you mixed them up.

Fixed

 

[suber36g]

where do i find the vmts?

 

[Dr. Orange]

The vmts can be found in the tf_misc_dir vpk.

 

[Werewolf]

The .vtf's are found in the tf2_textures.dir.vpk file, while the .vmt's for those are in the tf2_misc_dir.vpk. They will be in the same folders, just in different directories.

So for example, the white 'Mann Co' logo will be in materials\overlays\mann_co_logo_001 for both the textures_dir.vpk and the misc_dir.vpk

 

[suber36g]

How do I copy the vmts (and maybe the vtfs) into notepad++?

 

[Werewolf]

How do I copy the vmts (and maybe the vtfs) into notepad++?

Right click on the file you want and click 'Extract'. Pick where you want to put them and click ok.

 

[suber36g]

Do I have to change the name and do I have to extract the vtf too?

 

[Werewolf]

Do I have to change the name and do I have to extract the vtf too?

If you extract the vmt you'll probably have to edit it to remove the $decal parameter.

You don't actually need to extract the .vtf at all. Just extract the .vmt, rename it and remove the $decal parameter. Put that .vmt in the same folder the original was found in and it should work as you want it to.

View: https://youtu.be/lJ3oCs-52_U

 

[suber36g]

what about
"$decalscale" .25
"$translucent" 1
"$vertexcolor" "1"
"$vertexalpha" "1"
"%keywords" "tf"

 

[Viemärirotta]

what about
"$decalscale" .25
"$translucent" 1
"$vertexcolor" "1"
"$vertexalpha" "1"
"%keywords" "tf"

Ignore them, if you only want to remove the decal parameter.

 

[suber36g]

what about DECALscale?

 

[Viemärirotta]

what about DECALscale?

I don't really know, should be fine to leave it be. As long as you aren't using the decal tool (aka cheaper and strict verwion of overlays).

 

[suber36g]

How do I put it back into the tf2_misc_dir.vpk and is right-clicking and then renaming enough ?

 

[Werewolf]

How do I put it back into the tf2_misc_dir.vpk and is right-clicking and then renaming enough ?

You don't. You put it in the same folder it would have come from. If it came from materials/overlays/bob in the vpk, you put it in the same folder within Windows.

 

[suber36g]

so... /tf?

 

[Werewolf]

so... /tf?

If it came from materials/overlays/<file_name_here> in the vpk, you put it in the same folder within Windows. Look at where it came from, and put it in the same place.

 

[suber36g]

Did you mean the same folder that tf2_misc_dir.vpk is in?