Can you add a texture to a model without recompiling?

[raptornx01]

I have a model and i want to make small bits of it glow. Ofcourse adding selfillum just makes the entire texture glow. I tried making a texture with the bits I want to light up, then adding "selfillumtexture" to the vmt, but nothing. I don't want to replace the entire texture, just add to it.

[76561197967862282]

Hey Raptorn,

Recompiling the model does not add to the texture of the model, that is done by editing the .vtf and the .vmt files.

From the stuff I've been doing lately I find that the .MDL file just calls the models .VMT Files, which in-turn call the associated .VTF Files.

So, reskinning and adding to the textures must be done through these. (To test effects, save any changed file to your proper usermod materials folder. This will override any existing game textures. Run the command mat_reloadallmaterials in console, then come back to the viewport, move to playhead just to ensure your new textures have been applied.)

[Sarsour]

Take the vtf color texture of the model you want to add self illumin too.
get VTF plugin for photoshop :http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=39

1.import it into photoshop.
2.next to the layers tab on the right is a channels tab, click on it
you should see the color tones/layers of the image RGB, R,G,B and depending on the texture, there will probably be an alpha layer at the end of the list (if not click on the add new layer at the bottom of that tab, it will add an alpha layer) .

the self illum in the VMT file works so that it illuminates the white parts of the alpha of the model's image texture and no self illumination on the black parts.

3.so copy the RGB image into the Alpha layer to use as your reference.
4.paint the parts of the texture you want to self illumin white.
5.paint the rest of the texture black.
6.export it out with the VTF plugin checking the alpha button so it keeps that information in it.Put it back where it was in the materials folder.
7.add the '$selfillum 1' to the vmt and put the vtf you just edited back in its same place.

If you want Ill do it for you.

[raptornx01]

i've just been restarting sfm. i knew there was a way to reload the stuff but i forgot the command. XD

(btw so how to you hex a model? IE reskin one but have it stand alone)

well, anyway, I can't seem to get this to work. tried selfillumtexture, selfillummask, tried to change the order of the commands in the vmt. (should this be before or after something? )

[Sarsour]

Ah sorry I just read you saying you dont want to replace the enitre texture, well technically your only editing it i guess.

[Sarsour]

if you want you can also make a copy of it and use the one with self illumin using the skin group command, I never did the skin group thing so I dont know what the command for it is.

[Sarsour]

LightmappedGeneric (or VertexLitGeneric) depending on the model.
{
$basetexture props/tvscreen005a
$selfillum 1
}

[Sarsour]

that automatically creates self illumination from the alpha of the texture.

[raptornx01]

what can make a part of a model reflect light from an uberlight who's width and height settings are set to 0? where literal NOTHING ELSE, either on the map or the model will show the light but that one thing?

[Sarsour]

hmm...that sounds like a really tricky one. Intriguing idea...but tricky. Atleast for me
(btw whats an uberlight)?

[raptornx01]

spawn a light, show in element viewer, check the box marked uberlight. it basically unlocks all those sliders that normally do nothing, like width, edgewidth, farzatten, etc. lets you reshape the light, etc.

I mean, i have a model where the eyes do that, and don't know how to make them stop. (having glowing eyes is cool, but only when I want them to.)

[Sarsour]

Only way I can think of is an animated texture, and Im looking that up now.
they seem very possible ( http://www.moddb.com/members/griffjoshua/videos/animated-texture-sample)

but how that would work with illuminating a texture, I dont know ...

[raptornx01]

thats why i was thinking lights. gives you more control. but before i couldn't get them small enough for the spots i need. but I found out how using a light texture. now I got the eye issue.

[Sarsour]

eye issue?

[raptornx01]

eh, see previous post. i edited it before you posted.

[Sarsour]

if they have a self illumin on in their vmt, just set it to 0, if you would like to do it in SFM, you will have to use skin groups, like the one time you showed me about how you have different vmt's for the eyes for changing the pupil matierial/size.