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How to Create Workshop Skins
By Dr Ace Misanthrope
This is a guide to help the new and inexperienced, create custom skins and workshop items for their weapons, characters, etc... I taught myself and thought the least I could do was help others too, keeping it simple.
   
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Created by
Dr Ace Misanthrope
Offline
Category: Characters, Classes, Crafting, Modding or Configuration, Multiplayer, Walkthroughs, Weapons, Workshop
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
10 Jun, 2015 @ 9:43pm
6 Dec, 2017 @ 5:58am
3,906 Unique Visitors
163 Current Favorites
Guide Index
Overview
Introduction 
1. Getting Started 
2. Preview Skins 
3. Edit Skins 
4. Uploading & Applying 
Comments
Introduction


Guide by Pacific Gaming League
There is so much more that Pacific Gaming League has to offer! Below are some details if you wish to check us out. We are an open community, based in Oceania who support many games.

Why Am I Making This?
I went online to find a tutorial on how to customise some weapon and player skins. I watched 4 outdated videos and filtered through the hard to understand tutorials of Russians and young kids with speech impediments. Once I figured it all out and made a few to be somewhat proud of, I decided I would help others who are in the same shoes as I was. So here it is, as simple as I can make it.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=401614236
1. Getting Started
===== ONCE OFF INSTRUCTIONS =====

Installations
  1. Download GCFScape[nemesis.thewavelength.net]
    • Exract the "HLLib.dll" and "GCFScape.exe" to any location and you are done

  2. Download GIMP[download.gimp.org]
    • Run the setup file

  3. Download GIMP vtf Plugin[github.com]
    • Select either the 32 (x86) or 64 (x64) version, based on your OS.
    • Extract the "file-vtf.exe" and "VTFLib.dll" to your GIMP plug-ins folder.
      C:\Users\<USER>\.gimp-x.x\plug-ins\
GCFScape
  1. Launch GCFScape

  2. Open "insurgency_materials_dir.vpk"
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\insurgency2\insurgency\

  3. Navigate inside "materials" to "models" then copy "player" and "weapons" to any location (I use the GCFScape folder for ease)

  4. Once they have copied across, close GCFScape
NOTE: The point of this is to access all Insurgency player, weapon and attachment vtf files

Preparing Directory
  1. Create "custom" folder in the Insurgency directory
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\insurgency2\insurgency\custom
2. Preview Skins
Preview Skins
  1. Launch Half-Life Model Viewer
    • 2nd option for HLMV from SDK Launcher, then close the SDKLauncher when HLMV opens
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\insurgency2\bin\SDKLauncher.exe

  2. Open the Light Insurgent model (Eg. File > Load Model > characters > insurgent_light.mdl)

  3. After changes have been made to the current model you are viewing, you must refresh the model every time (F5 or File > Refresh)

HLMV CONTROLS
Zoom: Press & Hold RMB
Rotate X: Press & Hold LMB in circle and move Left or Right
Rotate Y: Press & Hold LMB in circle and move Up or Down
Tilt L or R: Press & Hold LMD out of circle and move Left or Right
Move Object: Press & Hold Shift & LMB and move any direction
3. Edit Skins
Editing Skins
  1. Launch GIMP

  2. Open the vtf you want to edit (eg. Light Insurgent: GCFScape > player > ins_light > ins_light_color.vtf)

  3. Edit to your desire (Remember to save versions along the way to revert if needed and apply layers to separate details. Save as <description>.xcf in any location)

  4. When you make changes, it is good to check it along the way. First make a separate window with the single layer skin (Select > All... Edit > Copy Visible... File > Create > From Clipboard)

  5. Create a folder in the Insurgency "custom" folder to describe your model
    insurgency\custom\LightInsurgentCamo

  6. Create folders that match where you got the GCFScape file from, inside that folder
    insurgency\custom\LightInsurgentCamo\materials\models\player\ins_light

  7. In the new window (File > Export As > *location from previous step*\*the exact name of the original file*)
    insurgency\custom\LightInsurgentCamo\materials\models\player\ins_light\ins_light_color.vtf

  8. Now refresh HLMV to see changes you made, applied to the model

  9. Repeat the "Select > All... Edit > Copy Visible... File > Create > From Clipboard", in the new window "File > Export As > ins_light_color.vtf", and "Refresh" in HLMV for every change you want to check
4. Uploading & Applying
Testing/Publishing your Creation
I was going to provide a basic description, but I noticed someone has already made an in-depth (yet still, easy to follow) guide on this already. It can be found below. If you made it this far, congrats! Please let me know how you found this guide and how I can improve it, by commenting below and sharing!

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=266580040
50 Comments
< >
Mertez1508 8 Nov, 2021 @ 4:34pm 
How do I know what the parts of the texture are?
Stinky_Shadow 23 Oct, 2021 @ 11:20pm 
I'm wanna make a Mexican Army Desert Camouflage Pattern, so, I'll update you guys for see the progress, y'all can contact me via Discord: El Cheidy Flashy#7685.
Gr33nLeaves 21 Jan, 2021 @ 4:55am 
Helping the author:
Just found new GFC Scape link, updated 186 version

Here is the link: https://gamebanana.com/tools/download/26

Have a nice modding day!:steamhappy:
Gr33nLeaves 21 Jan, 2021 @ 4:51am 
@Dr. Ace Misanthrope can you update GFC Scape link, it isnt working anymore...
Trigger 26 Nov, 2019 @ 5:11pm 
Hey friend, that's a great guide. Can you make something similar to fixing skins that already exist in the Workshop?
CHOO_CHOO 12 Dec, 2017 @ 4:15pm 
@Dr. Ace Misanthrope I actually know how to kinda mod now!
Dr Ace Misanthrope  [author] 6 Dec, 2017 @ 5:15pm 
@CHOO_CHOO If I was blunt I apologise, but it's in my nature and in my name. I encourage people to try modding, but I am constantly shocked by the number of people who struggle with basic tasks, despite approaching an advanced one. Start small and learn through trial and error. I'm not referencing you directly here in any way, your question regarding something that others didn't encounter issues with, was just the trigger of previous painful experiences. So I would rather let you figure it out and achieve some personal triumph when you do, than go back through this guide myself, just to discover it still works and frustratedly, type out an additional step for the guide to make it more obvious, despite no others facing this issue. So seriously, good luck and keep at it, you will get there.
CHOO_CHOO 6 Dec, 2017 @ 5:12pm 
@Dr. Ace Misanthrope thank you
Dr Ace Misanthrope  [author] 6 Dec, 2017 @ 5:07pm 
@CHOO_CHOO When I made this guide, it worked and I believe it still does, however I don't offer individual support for this type of thing. I was very new to it even then, having mainly been a coder, but I made this guide to share what I learnt, with others. Just follow the steps like everyone else and please seek help via Google or another source, as I can't answer all of your questions. I hope you figure it out, but not only has it been so long that I would need to follow my own guide to recall how to mod skins, but I simply don't have the pateience to make this guide any clearer than it already is. I DO suggest that people don't mod though, until they learn the basics and troubleshooting. Google is the one true God and holds all the answers. It should be your FIRST stop if you need to extrapolate from any incomplete info, however many seem to be getting by with my instructions, so maybe consider trial and error or a bit more research before you dive into it. Good luck!
CHOO_CHOO 6 Dec, 2017 @ 3:06pm 
@Dr. Ace Misanthrope Do I copy a file through gcf or do i have to extract it then copy and paste somewhere and then rebuild the original file through vpk and then put back into its original location because you copy a file through gcf?