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HOW TO MAKE VTF CROSSHAIRS
posted in Customization
1
#1
0 Frags +

Lots of people have been asking me to make these for ages so i decided to make it out of crappy step by step gifs

My VTF Crosshair Pack http://www.teamfortress.tv/35367/vtf-crosshair-pack (i recommend you download and install this first and just add your own crosshairs to it)

THINGS U NEED

VTFedit: http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?c=178 (get the installer)

GIMP: https://www.gimp.org/ (download at the top in red)

We're just gonna make a simple cross with an outline for this tutorial

STEP ONE
Open GIMP and make a new image that is 64x64 and transparent background > http://imgur.com/tOIrNvj

STEP 2
Zoom in and find the centre of the image by using the ruler thing along the top, you need to get the triangle to 32 on both sides
http://imgur.com/a/2Awap (i hope you understand what im getting at here, those squares are center of the image)

After finding the center using the pencil tool set to black and smallest size draw a 4 pixel square (N is the hotkey for pencil [ and ] change sizes - set it to smallest)
(because it is 64x64 it won't have a single pixel as the center)

Like this http://imgur.com/RzqWQmy This is now the center of our soon to be crosshair

STEP 3
Now we draw the crosshair, again using the pencil tool set to smallest size and black we will draw the outline of the cross then fill it in with white. it must be in white so we can change its colour ingame.

Show Content

STEP 4
After drawing the crosshair export it as a .png in GIMP with these settings > http://imgur.com/a/fRhHU

Then open VTFedit and import that .png file > http://imgur.com/T0QqBBX
USE THESE IMPORT SETTINGS > http://imgur.com/a/B55CT

STEP 5
Now do File > Save As and save it as crosshair.vtf
now we need a .vmt file to go with the vtf
create a new text file and paste this information in

Show Content
"UnlitGeneric"
{
"$translucent" 1
"$basetexture" "vgui\replay\thumbnails\crosshair"
"$vertexcolor" 1
"$no_fullbright" 1
"$ignorez" 1
}
The part highlight in bold needs to be the crosshairs name. for crosshair.vtf it is just crosshair.
Now we have a .vmt and a .vtf file now

STEP 6
Now to install the crosshair we just made.
Go to Team Fortress 2\tf\custom\custom_stuff\materials\vgui\replay\thumbnails
if you do not have a materials folder with the other folders in just make them.
then put the .vmt and the .vtf in the thumbnails folder
DONE

Now you have made a vtf crosshair that you can assign to a weapon, which i presume you know how to do from my other thread listed at the top, there you can download my VTF crosshair pack and get the weapon scripts files. Some of the gifs are messed up abit for me atm i hope they are okay for others.

Now you are free to experiment making your own crosshairs and stop asking me.

Lots of people have been asking me to make these for ages so i decided to make it out of crappy step by step gifs

[u]My VTF Crosshair Pack[/u] http://www.teamfortress.tv/35367/vtf-crosshair-pack (i recommend you download and install this first and just add your own crosshairs to it)

[u][i]THINGS U NEED[/i][/u]

VTFedit: http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?c=178 (get the installer)

GIMP: https://www.gimp.org/ (download at the top in red)

We're just gonna make a simple cross with an outline for this tutorial

[u][i]STEP ONE[/i][/u]
Open GIMP and make a new image that is 64x64 and transparent background > http://imgur.com/tOIrNvj

[u][i]STEP 2[/i][/u]
Zoom in and find the centre of the image by using the ruler thing along the top, you need to get the triangle to 32 on both sides
http://imgur.com/a/2Awap (i hope you understand what im getting at here, those squares are center of the image)

After finding the center using the pencil tool set to black and smallest size draw a 4 pixel square (N is the hotkey for pencil [ and ] change sizes - set it to smallest)
(because it is 64x64 it won't have a single pixel as the center)

Like this http://imgur.com/RzqWQmy This is now the center of our soon to be crosshair

[u][i]STEP 3[/i][/u]
Now we draw the crosshair, again using the pencil tool set to smallest size and black we will draw the outline of the cross then fill it in with white. it must be in white so we can change its colour ingame.

[spoiler]
6 steps when drawing the crosshair
1 > http://imgur.com/PMxMD7I
2 > http://imgur.com/CRjiQDr
3 > http://imgur.com/VPDA00n
4 > http://imgur.com/zdrpxlQ
5 > http://imgur.com/O9xZG9d
6 > http://imgur.com/9WtIWow
[/spoiler]

[u][i]STEP 4[/i][/u]
After drawing the crosshair export it as a .png in GIMP with these settings > http://imgur.com/a/fRhHU

Then open VTFedit and import that .png file > http://imgur.com/T0QqBBX
USE THESE IMPORT SETTINGS > http://imgur.com/a/B55CT

[u][i]STEP 5[/i][/u]
Now do File > Save As and save it as [b]crosshair.vtf[/b]
now we need a .vmt file to go with the vtf
create a new text file and paste this information in
[spoiler]
"UnlitGeneric"
{
"$translucent" 1
"$basetexture" "vgui\replay\thumbnails\[b]crosshair[/b]"
"$vertexcolor" 1
"$no_fullbright" 1
"$ignorez" 1
}
The part highlight in bold needs to be the crosshairs name. for crosshair.vtf it is just crosshair.
Now we have a .vmt and a .vtf file now
[/spoiler]

[i][u]STEP 6[/u][/i]
Now to install the crosshair we just made.
Go to Team Fortress 2\tf\custom\custom_stuff\materials\vgui\replay\thumbnails
if you do not have a materials folder with the other folders in just make them.
then put the .vmt and the .vtf in the thumbnails folder
[u]DONE[/u]

Now you have made a vtf crosshair that you can assign to a weapon, which i presume you know how to do from my other thread listed at the top, there you can download my VTF crosshair pack and get the weapon scripts files. Some of the gifs are messed up abit for me atm i hope they are okay for others.

Now you are free to experiment making your own crosshairs and stop asking me.
2
#2
5 Frags +

i'm pretty sure you don't need gimp to make a vtf crosshair, you can also use paint.net or any other image editor

i'm pretty sure you don't need gimp to make a vtf crosshair, you can also use [url=http://www.getpaint.net/index.html]paint.net[/url] or any other image editor
3
#3
5 Frags +

Ye well thats what i use and thats what the tutorial goes through

but it is true you can use stuff like paint.net and even photoshop

Ye well thats what i use and thats what the tutorial goes through

but it is true you can use stuff like paint.net and even photoshop
4
#4
2 Frags +

I don't see the flags you should check when saving a VTF. Should include those in case they're not in this guide. I might just be dumb and have read over them though :)

I'd also like to add that there is a VTF plug-in for both paint.net and gimp.
I used to use gimp for making VTFs but after installing the plug-in I switched to paint.net.
Haven't tested it on gimp but I'm assuming it works the same way.
It allows you to make VTF files without the need for VTFedit and you can open VTF files directly into paint/gimp

If you save something as a VTF a window pops up: http://puu.sh/ss3z9/2952eedf25.png
I always made the template Generic (Default). Leaving it empty made it very blurry if I recall correctly.
Then go to Flags and make sure these are checked: http://puu.sh/ss3Ee/af6ea5eab2.png
I always check Point Sample as well if the crosshair only has straight lines. Point sample is the first flag in the list. It prevents them from looking a tiny bit blurry (best way to test this is by making the crosshair scale very big and compare between the 2 flags).
I don't use point sample for crosshairs with curves (like wings) because it makes them slightly less pixelated on low resolutions and I prefer playing TF2 with 640x480 because I'm a disgusting individual. It's mostly preference with Point Sample but that's how I decide.

Point Sample (optional, good for crosshairs without curves)
No Mipmap
No Level Of Detail
No Minimum Mipmap
Eight Bit Alpha (Format Specific)

credit to dolphin rider for the flags

There's no best way to make VTF crosshairs though so use VTFedit if you don't feel like installing the plug-in. In the end if all flags are checked correctly you should have the same end product with VTFedit or the plug-in

I don't see the flags you should check when saving a VTF. Should include those in case they're not in this guide. I might just be dumb and have read over them though :)

I'd also like to add that there is a VTF plug-in for both paint.net and gimp.
I used to use gimp for making VTFs but after installing the plug-in I switched to paint.net.
Haven't tested it on gimp but I'm assuming it works the same way.
It allows you to make VTF files without the need for VTFedit and you can open VTF files directly into paint/gimp

If you save something as a VTF a window pops up: http://puu.sh/ss3z9/2952eedf25.png
I always made the template Generic (Default). Leaving it empty made it very blurry if I recall correctly.
Then go to Flags and make sure these are checked: http://puu.sh/ss3Ee/af6ea5eab2.png
I always check Point Sample as well if the crosshair only has straight lines. Point sample is the first flag in the list. It prevents them from looking a tiny bit blurry (best way to test this is by making the crosshair scale very big and compare between the 2 flags).
I don't use point sample for crosshairs with curves (like wings) because it makes them slightly less pixelated on low resolutions and I prefer playing TF2 with 640x480 because I'm a disgusting individual. It's mostly preference with Point Sample but that's how I decide.
[quote]Point Sample (optional, good for crosshairs without curves)
No Mipmap
No Level Of Detail
No Minimum Mipmap
Eight Bit Alpha (Format Specific)[/quote]
[url=http://www.teamfortress.tv/30866/guide-weapon-specific-custom-crosshairs]credit to dolphin rider for the flags[/url]

There's no best way to make VTF crosshairs though so use VTFedit if you don't feel like installing the plug-in. In the end if all flags are checked correctly you should have the same end product with VTFedit or the plug-in
5
#5
0 Frags +

How can I anti-alias the crosshair on Photoshop if i'm using a font crosshair without using the typing anti alias since it makes it kind of blurry and not a solid white color.

How can I anti-alias the crosshair on Photoshop if i'm using a font crosshair without using the typing anti alias since it makes it kind of blurry and not a solid white color.
6
#6
0 Frags +

how can i get vtfedit to recognize opacity volume lower than 100?

how can i get vtfedit to recognize opacity volume lower than 100?
7
#7
-3 Frags +

idk if anyone will respond but ive been trying to get this to work about a week and it still wont work i use rayshud idk if that changes anything but pls help me out i did everything the tutorial said and it still wont work maybe make a video on it? that help alot. But thanks if you respond

idk if anyone will respond but ive been trying to get this to work about a week and it still wont work i use rayshud idk if that changes anything but pls help me out i did everything the tutorial said and it still wont work maybe make a video on it? that help alot. But thanks if you respond
8
#8
-1 Frags +

can someone tell me how to make a dot with an outline with gimp? Appreciate it

can someone tell me how to make a dot with an outline with gimp? Appreciate it
9
#9
0 Frags +
iodinecan someone tell me how to make a dot with an outline with gimp? Appreciate it

theres already a dot with an outline in the newest pack leth released

[quote=iodine]can someone tell me how to make a dot with an outline with gimp? Appreciate it[/quote]
theres already a dot with an outline in the newest pack leth released
10
#10
1 Frags +
iodinecan someone tell me how to make a dot with an outline with gimp? Appreciate it

1) Use a canvas size that is a power of 2 (for example 32x32, 64x64). I recommend 64x64
2) Make your dot
3) Save as VTF if you've installed the gimp plug-in for VTF editing
If not: Save as png or tga, then open image in VTFedit. Save as VTF with the flags that are posted in this thread above

4) Make a VMT for the VTF (very easy. copy and open any VMT in notepad, edit the crosshair name in the file, save)
5) Make sure the weapon text files have the correct VTF name in the crosshair section and you have the x and y values to be correct (32 and 32 if you used a 32x32 image for exmaple)

[quote=iodine]can someone tell me how to make a dot with an outline with gimp? Appreciate it[/quote]
1) Use a canvas size that is a power of 2 (for example 32x32, 64x64). I recommend 64x64
2) Make your dot
3) Save as VTF if you've installed the gimp plug-in for VTF editing
If not: Save as png or tga, then open image in VTFedit. Save as VTF with the flags that are posted in this thread above

4) Make a VMT for the VTF (very easy. copy and open any VMT in notepad, edit the crosshair name in the file, save)
5) Make sure the weapon text files have the correct VTF name in the crosshair section and you have the x and y values to be correct (32 and 32 if you used a 32x32 image for exmaple)
11
#11
0 Frags +

"You don't have permission to access /index.php on this server."
Website down?

"You don't have permission to access /index.php on this server."
Website down?
12
#12
1 Frags +

The website's been down for a long time already. There was a page on the site that was still accessible w all the downloads but I can't seem to find it atm. Might've gone down too by now

I've tried looking for plug-ins instead. I used a plug-in for gimp in the past which could save images directly as VTFs so VTFedit wasn't needed. Some sites went down, but maybe this works? I do not have gimp downloaded atm so I can't test it
gimp plug-in github (untested atm)
paint.net plug-in I use this for making crosshairs

The website's been down for a long time already. There was a page on the site that was still accessible w all the downloads but I can't seem to find it atm. Might've gone down too by now

I've tried looking for plug-ins instead. I used a plug-in for gimp in the past which could save images directly as VTFs so VTFedit wasn't needed. Some sites went down, but maybe this works? I do not have gimp downloaded atm so I can't test it
[url=https://github.com/Artfunkel/gimp-vtf/releases]gimp plug-in github[/url] (untested atm)
[url=https://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Plugins/VTF-Plugin.shtml]paint.net plug-in[/url] I use this for making crosshairs
13
#13
3 Frags +

vtflib (and VTFEdit, which is based on vtflib) is open-source and available on github. You can download compiled versions from the release tab.

https://github.com/NeilJed/VTFLib

vtflib (and VTFEdit, which is based on vtflib) is open-source and available on github. You can download compiled versions from the release tab.

https://github.com/NeilJed/VTFLib
14
#14
0 Frags +

you can also find a mirror here

you can also find a mirror [url=https://gamebanana.com/tools/95]here[/url]
15
#15
1 Frags +

guys is there a cap to how high a res i can make the crosshair before it breaks or something

guys is there a cap to how high a res i can make the crosshair before it breaks or something
16
#16
3 Frags +
dongguys is there a cap to how high a res i can make the crosshair before it breaks or something

vtfs in general usually have a max size of 4096x4096 (u can make them bigger but they often won't work right). unless there's something in tf2 that specifically limits the crosshair dimensions (not likely), the cap shouldn't be lower than that.

[quote=dong]guys is there a cap to how high a res i can make the crosshair before it breaks or something[/quote]
vtfs in general usually have a max size of 4096x4096 (u can make them bigger but they often won't work right). unless there's something in tf2 that specifically limits the crosshair dimensions (not likely), the cap shouldn't be lower than that.
17
#17
3 Frags +

just tested, you can indeed go up to 4096x4096. not sure about anything higher, but also not sure why one would need anything higher

just tested, you can indeed go up to 4096x4096. not sure about anything higher, but also not sure why one would need anything higher
18
#18
1 Frags +
turbochad69just tested, you can indeed go up to 4096x4096. not sure about anything higher, but also not sure why one would need anything higher

thanks5a

[quote=turbochad69]just tested, you can indeed go up to 4096x4096. not sure about anything higher, but also not sure why one would need anything higher[/quote]
thanks5a
19
#19
-7 Frags +

how to make croshair change to other at shotgun when norandomspread 1 is active?
to make me easyier to shot when norandomspread is inactive and if it is norandomspread 0 change to default circle?

how to make croshair change to other at shotgun when norandomspread 1 is active?
to make me easyier to shot when norandomspread is inactive and if it is norandomspread 0 change to default circle?
20
#20
12 Frags +
termiantorhow to make croshair change to other at shotgun when norandomspread 1 is active?
to make me easyier to shot when norandomspread is inactive and if it is norandomspread 0 change to default circle?

What the fuck

[quote=termiantor]how to make croshair change to other at shotgun when norandomspread 1 is active?
to make me easyier to shot when norandomspread is inactive and if it is norandomspread 0 change to default circle?[/quote]
What the fuck
21
#21
2 Frags +
termiantorhow to make croshair change to other at shotgun when norandomspread 1 is active?
to make me easyier to shot when norandomspread is inactive and if it is norandomspread 0 change to default circle?

you can't do that!

[quote=termiantor]how to make croshair change to other at shotgun when norandomspread 1 is active?
to make me easyier to shot when norandomspread is inactive and if it is norandomspread 0 change to default circle?[/quote]

you can't do that!
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