Store Page
Team Fortress 2
All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos Workshop News Guides Reviews

Team Fortress 2

Store Page
Team Fortress 2 > Guides > lonestar's Guides
336 ratings
Custom Menu Backgrounds! (2020)
By lonestar
This guide will show you how to change boring background(s) in main menu to your own one!
3
2
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Created by
lonestar
Offline
Category: Modding or Configuration, Multiplayer, Secrets
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
18 Sep, 2018 @ 8:15am
26 Sep, 2021 @ 5:41am
20,290 Unique Visitors
433 Current Favorites
Guide Index
Overview
Introduction 
Instruction 
How to remove characters in the main menu? 
Conclusion 
Comments
Introduction
This guide will show you how to set up custom backgrounds in main menu!
Instruction
  1. First of all, you need your pictures to be in the same resolution as your screen is.
    For example, 1920x1080, 2560x1440, 1280x720, etc.
  2. Secondly, your backgrounds must be in .vtf format.
    To convert pictures into .vtf, you have to download & install VTFEdit[nemesis.thewavelength.net].
    Since the official site is down for some reason check this archive (2021): Gamebanana[gamebanana.com].
  3. After installation, open the program and press «File - Import».

  4. Choose your picture and VTFEdit settings window will appear.
    Make sure that settings are same as are in the following picture and press «OK»

  5. Then, press «File - Save As» and save your converted background anywhere you want.

  6. After this, make «custom» folder in the «tf» folder. And then make «wallpapers» -> «materials» -> «console» folders there. It should look like this...
    ...\tf\custom\wallpapers\materials\console\..
  7. Put your backgrounds or background in the «console» folder. Make copies of your converted picture(s) and name each of your copies on of the following names:
    • background_2fort, background_2fort_widescreen.
    • title_fullmoon, title_fullmoon_widescreen (moon event)
    • background_xmas2011, background_xmas2011_widescreen (for smissmas event)
    • title_team_halloween, title_team_halloween_widescreen (for halloween event)
    • background_gravelpit, background_gravelpit_widescreen.
    • background_mvm, background_mvm_widescreen.
    • background_upward, background_upward_widescreen.
    It's important to have all of these names to make your backgrounds work. Use the following scheme made by me to understand what I mean:

    Notice:
    If you have a hud, you should replace the huds' backgrounds with your custom ones, that usually are located in hudname/materials/console.
  8. If everything is done right, your custom background(s) will work perfectly.
    For example, i'll show you my menu:

    (I am using ToonHud[toonhud.com] and I removed characters on the right side)
How to remove characters in the main menu?
  1. Firstly, download this modification[gamebanana.com].
  2. Then, move the .vpk mod to your custom folder.
  3. Kapow! Annoying characters are removed!
Conclusion
If you have any problems use the comments section.

Check my other TF2 guides:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1511463814
173 Comments
< >
DODOGO 11 May @ 1:43pm 
RimuruNava thanks , your method worked BUT also instead of export i choose save as file
Bebé 14 Nov, 2024 @ 7:07pm 
Have a weird problem. I followed the instructions, had my image set to my native resolution before converting to VTF too. The background is replaced just fine when the game loads up, but as soon as the UI loads in, the image gets stretched a bit downward, making my background look off! Anyone know why this happens?
Xito 14 Nov, 2024 @ 1:32pm 
I use toonhud too, what background do i remove because i dont see the console file under materials in my toonhud folder
Sandless Apprentice 19 Oct, 2024 @ 6:23pm 
I'm trying to re-add my custom background after the new scream fortress update broke budhud and despite me changing the budhud backgrounds it doesn't work anymore what do I do
Sandless Apprentice 12 Jul, 2024 @ 10:18am 
Is it possible to have multiple custom wallpapers and switch between them or can you only have one
( ￣ω￣.) 12 Jul, 2024 @ 12:05am 
@Ace No Spades You prob already found out but loading screen is
"background01_widescreen"
"background01"
Ace No Spades 1 May, 2024 @ 12:11am 
hello how can i change the loading screen?
Lightning 23 Mar, 2024 @ 4:19pm 
so im trying to make a custom one for my hud with title blu but its not working any ideas y i already have 6 other custom images
Lightning 16 Mar, 2024 @ 9:05pm 
guide for better resolution backgrounds please
Jvzz 4 Mar, 2024 @ 2:30pm 
For those who are having low resolution issues, you have to un tick the "Generate Mipmaps" check box in VTF options. That should fix everything!