Have you ever tries using Gimp's VTF Plugin to make textures?
You might have noticed that the export screen has no text, or that it doesn't actually export the image you made, because it merges the layer stack upside down, so that the background layer is the foreground layer. Or what about the fact that the alpha channel layer gets deleted when you use it for export?

In short, Gimp is a messy tool when you wanna use it for Source Engine modding, but it is fixable.
In the video below, i'll show you how to do just that.

Gimp: https://www.gimp.org/
VTF Plugin: https://github.com/Artfunkel/gimp-vtf/releases

There ya have it. A very annoying, but usable tool to make textures, without getting photoshop.

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Should you need help with this process, join the "Dead 4 Mods" Discord Server[discord.gg].
There's a few members, including me, who can help you out.
If you join and immediately DM me, i'll ignore you. Use the designated channels.

I have my own Discord Server[discord.gg] if you'd like to hop in and chat.
I sometimes post WIP images of what i'm doing, but it's mostly memes.

I also got Paypal[paypal.me] for don't-ations.