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From HalfLife 2 Knowledge Base

Hello, today's lesson is going to be about re-skinning HL2 models. I assume you have basic knowledge on how to draw and use a computer.

UPDATE: The link for the VTF to TGA is down. I'm searching for another link. Oh yeah, and by the way, if you look for vtf to tga on google, you'll find this link here. I'm so proud.

--Senji 11:42, 22 Feb 2005 (EST)

Step 1: Get GCFScape. You can google it or you can download it from this site.

Step 2: Navigate your explorer to *your steam directory*/SteamApps

Step 3: Open up GCFScape and open "source materials.gcf" with it.

Step 4: Navigate withing GCFScape to HL2/Models/Alyx.

Step 5: Create a folder on the desktop called Alyx.

Step 6: Extract every file from the Alyx folder in GCFScape into the Alyx folder on the desktop.

Step 7: Use vtf2tga in your SDK Bin directory to convert

Step 8: Open up your trusty Photoshop or GIMP and edit alyxfaceandhair.tga (or other files if you like) to your heart's content.

Step 9: Save the file(s) and exit out of the program.

Step 10: Use the vtex tool to convert tga to vtf

Step 11: Go to your HL2 folder which is in *steam directory*/SteamApps/*your username*/half-life 2

Step 12: Navigate to HL2

Step 13: Go to your materials folder (if there isn't one there, create one)

Step 14: Make a folder called Alyx in there.

Step 15: Copy all of the files in the desktop Alyx to the folder Alyx in the materials folder.

Step 16: Load up HL2 and you're done. Have fun.

--Senji 13:52, 17 Jan 2005 (EST)

NORMAL MAPPING: First, create a normal map, if you don't know how to, search for Nvidia's plugin. Then, convert to vmf and put "$normalmap" "*nameoffile*" Tada. You're all finished. Enjoy your normal map.