How can I add a skin to an existing model?

How can I change the handrail color for models/props_c17/Handrail04_long.mdl and related handrails from white to yellow?

I've got Gimp and GCFScape downloded already.

hmm, i know you can do it with brush entities, im not sure about props. If changing the color is all you want to do, you could switch the render mode to color, then chose a render color and set the render amount to 255. but then again that might only work with brush entities.

decompile the model, make your own skin, recompile.

I don't know much more than that. Might want to ask somebody who knows how to model.

Specifically, how do i make my own skin and recompile?

I'm afraid I don't know full specifics having never done it myself, but
I'll at least try and give the basic process that I imagine you'll have
to go through...

First of all you will need to decompile the model/(s). This should give
you the .smd files used to edit the model itself (not what you are
interested in), and the .qc file used to compile the model (what you
ARE interested in). Now open up the original skin of the model (you
should be able to find it by getting the path and filename out of the
.qc file I'd imagine) in some VMT/VTF tool, and decompile that to get
the .tga or .bmp file from it. Edit away at this to change its colour
or whatever. Now use the VMT/VTF tool you have to compile a new
material using your edited skin - you should be able to just use the
same compile options that the material you decompiled used (eg.
whatever shaders it used and what have you). You will now have to edit
the .qc file you got by decompiling the model to point the skin details
to your new skin material. Once you have done this, recompile the model
(under a different file name - DON'T replace the existing one even
though you are just wanting to add a skin to it) and you should have it
looking exactly the same but using your brand new skin.

So yeah, bit of a long process, but I can't see there being a quicker
route I'm afraid. As I mentioned, I advise you save the result as a new
model file as opposed to replacing the standard one.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Thanks Reno, I will try that. My Windows XP crashed and I had to reformat, so i have plenty of normal architecture to redo. That should keep me busy for a while.

close ReNo, but no cigar. :razz:

an important point is that the qc file only points to the folder that the texture (vmt) is in, and doesn't reference the actual skin at all. (the material name gets embedded in the reference smd when it's exported from the model editor.)

so to use that method you would need to use the same name for the new material as the original had, but it should be in a different folder. it's this folder that you should change the qc to point to.

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i eat paint

I have the completed vtf and vmt files, but where do i put them? And how do I get the model to reference them?

hmm, it's easier than the explaination sounds. in fact, even though i know exactly what's needed, i'm still getting confused thinking about how to explain it.

i uploaded a .zip a while ago that contained all the smd files for a car, and instructions on how reskin and compile it. there's a readme that should explain what you need to know about where to put everything, and if i remember right, the .qc (which opens as a text file) has instructions contained that explain how to reference where you put the texture. i don't know if i got everything right in it as no-one gave any feedback on it, but i think if you give it a try it should help you do what you're doing.

http://www.quantum-physics.co.uk/files/carskinthing.zip

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i eat paint

fishy said:
close ReNo, but no cigar. :razz:

I think we need to forward all model questions to Fish.. Or better yet, create a new Model forum and make him Mod for it.

All in favor, say "AYE"

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The best things in life, aren't things.

"AYE"

nay

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i eat paint

fishy said:
nay

The lamb doesn't get a say-so when its offered as a sacrifice.

/runs giggling

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Thanks fishy, that helped a lot. But how do I get the .qc file from the models/props_c17 Handrail04_long.mdl model?

man, why is everything a file embedded in a file embedded in a flie?

Cause Valve love to get people annoyed!

I say kill them ALL!

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Liquid_55</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Thanks fishy, that helped a lot. But how do I get the .qc file from the models/props_c17 Handrail04_long.mdl model?

man, why is everything a file embedded in a file embedded in a flie?

</DIV></DIV>

decompile the original model with cannonfodders decompiler, and that will give you the .smd's and the .qc file that you need.

http://www.chaosincarnate.net/cannonfodder/cftools.htm
the only downside to decompiling, is that none of the smoothing groups are preserved, which can cause some bad lighting effects on some models. i don't see handrails being a problem though.

habboi said:
Cause Valve love to get people annoyed!
I say kill them ALL!

by wanting to kill them ALL, it seems that Valves desire to get people annoyed is working well on you. you could fight against their evil plan and send them all flowers and happy messages, and they would know that you are too clever for them, and maybe they will stop.

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i eat paint