To beable to view/edit the files you want, you first need to download two programs. The first is called GCFScape and can be found here:
http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=26
This allows you to find the files that you need to modify which are stored in VPK (Valve Pack File) files. The second program you need is called VTFEdit and can be found here: http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=41
This program allows you to see the texture files and export them into a format which you can edit, then convert back into a VTF (Valve Texture File) file.

Near the end of the installation the programs will ask what file types to associate with. For GCFScape you need to have VPK selected and for VTFEdit you need VTF selected.

Once you have downloaded these programs they should allow you to now view/edit the needed files and you can now proceed to Step 2.

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Now that you have downloaded GCFScape and VTFEdit. You will now beable to find the texture files. To find them you will need to go to your Insurgency2 then Insurgency folder. If you associated GCFScapeto the VPK files you should beable to scroll down and see a file called insurgency_materials_dir If you can't see this file then fear not because you can find it using GCFScape. Launch GCFScape then click File/Open and find the Insurgency Folder then scroll down till you find insurgency_materials_dir . Once you have opened the VPK you should in the GCFScape screen see a folder called materials, click that then click models, then weapons. Now your address path for GCFScape should look like this: root\materials\models\weapons and you should also see a list of folders with the names of weapons like the below screenshot.










Now inside those weapon files are the VTF files which contain the images used by the game to make the gun look like a gun. So lets have a look inside a folder, the AKM for example. You should see 6 files like this.











The files ending in VMT you dont need to concern yourself over, and also ignore the files ending in nm.vmtf. The only 2 files for a weapon you do need to concern yourself with are the ones ending with dm.vtf This screenshot should illustrate the point.











The weapon_akm_dm.vtf is the texture you see when you in first person view, so either actively playing or spectating someone in first person. The weapon_w_akm_dm.vtf is the texture that is in the world, so basically sitting on the ground or in someone elses hand.

Now that you have located the files it is time for Step 3.



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Now that you have located the files and know which ones you want to modify. You can open the file using VTFEdit. The easy way would be to double click the VTF while in GCFScape or if that doesnt work use the open function in VTFEdit. Once you have double clicked the weapon_akm_dm.vtf file it should automatically open up VTFEdit. Otherwise use the Open option in VTFEdit and find the file.

Once you have opened the weapon_akm_dm.vtf file you should see something that looks like this:










That is the texture of the AKM laid out in all its glory in 2 dimensions (Unfortunatly since my resolution is only 1600x900 i cant see it all at once, but if you are lucky enough to have bigger screens you might beable to see it all without scrolling). All those items you see are all the different peices of the gun. Some are pretty obvious and some not so much because you might not even see those ingame. If this is your first time doing this I would suggest just editing the wood parts of the gun because it still looks cool and you can enjoy your texture easier as you know where the wooden parts are.

Now to actually turn the file into something meaningful, click File then Export. You should now have a dialog box asking you to save the file (For the sake of simplicity please leave the name as weapon_akm_dm so that when I refer to the image I know what I am talking about and you know what you are looking for.) Depending on what image editing software you have you might choose a specific format, but in this guide I will tell you to pick png format because thats what I used. Now where ever you exported the file to you should have a picture called weapon_akm_dm unless you decicded to change the name.

In Step 4 I will tell you how to edit the texture then convert it back into a VTF file

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You should from the previous section have a image called weapon_akm_dm . Now you should beable to open up the image into what ever image editing software you have, I had Paint Shop Pro X2 but you can use what ever is best for you. Since I have no idea what program you will be using I cant tell you how to texture the weapon but I can give you a general guide. In this case we will only edit the wood because in my examples thats all I have changed. Be careful not to color any of the extra parts near the wood or else you may see some weird stuff in game like half the magazine colored or maybe some floating colors. Using Paint Shop Pro X2 the easiest way I have found to do this is to load the weapon then paste the camoflauge as a new layer and erase that layer till all the uneeded color is gone. Once you have edited the image to your liking. Re-save it as weapon_akm_dm If its gone acording to plan it may look something like this.

















Now repeat the process for the weapon_w_akm_dm image and it should look something like this.









Important Note: You have to edit both the weapon_w_akm_dm and weapon_akm_dm image or else when you look at the gun on the ground it wont be colored, it will have its default color. I learnt this the hard way and now have 4 items in the workshop that I cant update because at the time of writing this guide the developers of Insurgency have not added an option for updating.
Important Note End:


Now open VTFEdit, click Import and find your image. It should now show up in the VTFEdit window, now click Save As and name make sure the names of the files you are saving match the name of the images you imported. Now you should have two new VTF files called weapon_akm_dm.vtf and weapon_w_akm_dm.vtf
In the next section I will show you how to convert your VTF's back into VPF files and where to put them to activiate them.

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To lift your spirits I am going to tell you this is the last step. But be warned, this part is tricky, well it was for me because there was no guide at the time so I had to read short guides from other games and piece together people's advice and such. So if I have done a good job this should be easy.


You should now have two VTF files from the previous section called weapon_akm_dm.vtf and weapon_w_akm_dm.vtf. From here on you will need to read really carefully and spell everything absolutely correctly or else all your work will be for nothing. We are now going to convert your VTF files into VPF files. To do this, we have to think back to when we first opened up the VPF files. It was in a series of folders. First folder you need to make is the one that will hold your custom textures. So for example we will call it My First Texture (you can call it whatever you want but substitute your name in the place of mine) now inside that folder create one called materials then inside that models then inside that weapons then inside that AKM (since we modified a AKM in this guide but when you are doing this name the folder after the gun you have modified, if you can't remember the exact writing of the weapon open up the insurgency_materials_dir and find your weapon). Now put the two VTF files inside the AKM folder. Once that is done go to your Insurgency2game folder then bin, near the bottom should be a application called VPK. Drag your My First Texture folder onto the application, a command line box should show up, or not depending on how fast your computer is. Now a VPK folder called My First Texture should have been created. Like in the screenshot.










Now go inside Insurgency2, then Insurgency, there should be a custom folder, if there isnt, create one. Now copy your VPF file My First Texture into it.











The workshop folder in the screenshot is where all workshop items you subscribe to go.

Now you can launch Insurgency and equip the AKM and see the new textures on it. If it doesnt work, check the file locations are correct and file names are correct. If in doubt. Look in the other VPK files to see what the files are called.

If there are any problems with the section please note the section number when you are commenting so I can find the problem easier.

I may have lied when I said Step 5 was the last Step. I forgot that this guide was also to teach you how to modify gun scope sights. The process is fairly similar to gun textures except instead of looking for a gun you find the folder called optics and do the same process of converting the VTF to an image then editing it and concerting it back into a VTF then convert into a VPK then putting it into the custom folder. A warning is needed here as well, if you dont centre the texture, so if you decide to turn the kobra sight into a circle instead of those 3 lines, you need to make sure the circle is centered or else your aim will be off.

I hope this guide has helped you create fun custom textures for your guns and hopefully the quick ending has helped you with your gun sights.

Important Note: I would advise customising the Kobra Sight as it is hard to use at long range, even if you like the 3 lines just maybe move them closer together so its easier or something along those lines. Also make sure that you keep the area around the centre of the sight transparent, or else your vision will be blocked.
Important Note End:

Also to upload to steam workshop, launch Insurgency, and in the main menu is the option for the Workshop, once you click that it will show a list of files you have subscribed to and a list of your custom files in your custom folder. To upload your file select it then click Publish Addon and follow the screen and there you have it. A guide on how to create custom gun textures and how to even share it so that many people can enjoy what you enjoy seeing.

If anyone can tell me if this guide works for MAC's that would be appreciated.

I would like to thank this forum topic https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/workshop/discussions/-1/540743757017252732/?appid=222880 for helping me get my textures working and the guy whos name is ||.||.|| cant tell it those are the correct dots but i'm sure he'll get the idea.


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