I'm n00b to this whole thing so sorry if I missed something from the stickies.

I have Jed's HL Model Viewer and I know almost nothing. I know how to extract the models from the .gcf file and how to view them, that's it. What I am interested in learning though, is specifically how to alter the garand model's color.

Basically I just want to make it gold, with chrome plate, and I also want to put someone's name on the butt of the rifle in shiny silver lettering, and above the name I want to put an image of a pimp hat.

I know I could ask someone else to do this for me in the request forum but I figured it would be a good learning experience.:cool:

I have read this (http://www.wunderboy.org/tutorials/half-life-primer.php) so I know a little bit about it, but not a whole lot to do what it is I wish to do.

I am willing to learn, but I may be a bit slow at it so I will ask alot of questions.

First of all, its skinning. Not modeling :)

And ok. Do you have Photoshop? Paint shop pro?

If you have, keep reading
Open the model with Jed's, then extract the textures you want to alter. Then open the textures in PS, PSP?

Transform them into RGB or just use the rectangular tool copy & paste the texture into a new one, alter it and then save it as an indexed coloured bitmap.

Note: It has to be the same size aswell.

Then apply your skin. Thats it :PARROT:

Hope you understood.

Understood perfectly, now I'll just have to try it and see what happens. Thanks for the help.:cool:

Originally posted by Gellyfishh
First of all, its skinning. Not modeling :)

And ok. Do you have Photoshop? Paint shop pro?

If you have, keep reading
Open the model with Jed's, then extract the textures you want to alter. Then open the textures in PS, PSP?

Transform them into RGB or just use the rectangular tool copy & paste the texture into a new one, alter it and then save it as an indexed coloured bitmap.

Note: It has to be the same size aswell.

Then apply your skin. Thats it :PARROT:

Hope you understood.

1. There are 4 models with the garand name in it. (p_garand, p_garand_l, v_garand and w_garand) Which one do I open to get the textures from?

2. How do I "extract" the textures I want to alter?

3. Once I have it opened in PhotoShop, how do I transform them into RGB, and can I insert text/photos onto the texture?

1.

If you want to alter the textures of the gun you shoot with its the v_garand, if you want to change the textures of the garand you see on the ground its w_garand model, and p_garand stands for player, the one you will see on the playermodel.
Well, I'll just presume that you want to change the wood on the garand you see when you change your class as a rifleman and play with it bla bla bla..

2.

To get these textures, open the v_garand.mdl with Jed's and go to "Textures" tab, there you will see all the textures, use the dropdown menu to select the texture you want to alter and press Export texture, browse where you want to extract and press "Save".

3.

Open the .bmp file with Photoshop and on the top bar (where you see File, Edit, Image) select
"Image"
"Mode"
"RGB Color"

It's now RGB and you can alter it all you want.
You can change it in anyways you want.

Then save the image as an "indexed bitmap".

Go to the
"Image"
"Mode" and now select Indexed Color.

After this, you must save the file as bitmap, select "Save As" and select bitmap.

Apply your texture.

Have fun!

Ok, thanks for that. Now of course after you save it as a bitmap, how do you turn it into a v_/w_/p_ model?

Ermm.. do you mean how do you apply the skin to the weapon?

Well, for example.. Ff you have the p_garand and have changed it so it's green ( :D ) and saved it as an indexed bitmap, you go to Jed's again, open the p_garand and go to the Textures tab.. then just press "Import Texture" and browse the texture you have made, then on the select
"File"
"Save Model As"

In this case when I have altered the p_garand.mdl
I save it as p_garand.

Hope it helped you. :p

Ah ok, thanks for the help man.:cool: