Custom textures/materials for Source 2009

So things have changed since HL1. I remember there used to be a tool to convert regular images into .WAD files or the like, and now Im trying to do the same for my Titanic map. I've done a bit of searching but now comes the time to board my flight home.

I've found this link https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Material_Creation which explains the whole materials thing and I've installed VTFEdit, converted a texture into a .vtf, but now Im not sure whats the next step. I dont want to do anything fancy, I just want the thing to end up into a format (WAD or otherwise) that I can use in VHE to texture my brushes. The tutorial pretty much leaves me with a VTF file, but doesnt explain what to do next.

In VHE, it appears textures (or materials or whatever) have to be in either .WAD or .PAK files (Tools -> Options -> Materials)

I also noticed that some of the texture files (including VTF files) appear in the steamapps Half Life 2 hl2/materials/ folder appear in the texture editor, but if I copy my file to that directory it doesnt appear in VHE, even after a restart.

Answers much appreciated

to see the textures in hammer, you also copy the vtf/vmt for each texture to your materialsrc directory.

when you are ready to release the map, use PackBSP to automatically embed all your texturs/models/sounds/etc into the bsp. (these can later be viewed/extracted if necessary using GCFScape.

Could you be more specific? I've tried the following directories with no luck:

C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\<steamID>\\half-life 2\\hl2\\materials\\
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\<steamID>\\half-life 2\\hl2\\materials\\SDK\\
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\<steamID>\\sourcesdk_content\\hl2\\materialsrc\\
C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\<steamID>\\sourcesdk_content\\hl2\\materialsrc\\SDK\\

[edit]Apparently the pit doesnt like '' characters

should be the third one down. Whenv i make a texture i copy to:

• sourcesdk_content - whatevergame - materialsrc
• whatevergame - materials

Be sure the the directory you specify in the vmt is the same as the physical location you are placeing your vtf and vmt files.

Hmm maybe that's part of the issue; I don't have a vmt file. The VTFEdit utility only created a vtf file..

Ok, got further. Found these tutorials which were very informative:

http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/categories/wold-members-tutorials/keith_garry/custom-textures-hammer-keithgarry.php

and

http://www.gamebanana.com/css/tuts/2324

The first one was more informative but it was a bit incorrect. The second one had the correct path location for the basetexture parameter in the VMT.

Looks like I now have my textures working. Will let you know after the flight home and a well awaited nap.

Well that valve dev link actually explains the VMT creating process :P
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Material_Creation#Creating_a_material

Also, you can use any VTF file from the materials folder in your VMT script, for example I'm using base texture nature/ground_grass02 in my /trains/grass.vmt file :}