[Tool] TFMV 1.5 - Easily preview TF2 loadouts, take screenshots, test paints, create backpack icons, item clipping..

This tutorial shows you how to use TFMV (for Windows), a tool created to make it easier to load items and attach them to a TF2 character in HLMV (model viewer), test workshop items, paints and combinations etc for workshop artists or TF2 players who want to preview loadouts.

TFMV will manage Valve's model viewer "HLMV", easily load models/materials, workshop items, vpk, qc, mdl, test paints, clipping, take screenshots, generate a chart of all the paints for items etc

Download & Installation

• Click here to download the TFMV 1.5 Installer [www.dropbox.com]

Download and install TFMV, you should find a shortcut to start TFMV in your desktop and start menu.

Using TFMV

Select a class and an item slot in the ITEMS section to load the list of items for that category, then select items from the list to be added into the Loadout section, once you have selected the items click "Loadout to HLMV" to load into the model viewer.

HLMV should open with your loadout and TFMV will switch to the Skins section where you can switch the team color and change the paints for each item.

Here's an example of using TFMV, first we pick some items then click "Loadout to HLMV" to preview it.

You can find advanced settings on a hidden tab, click the button [>>] to show the adv settings, when in the Skins section, the advanced settings will switch to the advanced tools.

Paints Chart Tool

This tool lets you generate a chart of all the paints, you'll find it in the advanced settings tab once you have a loadout in TFMV, click the button >> to open the advanced settings tab.

Set the character pose and framing in HLMV then click "start" in TFMV, do not touch the mouse or keyboard while TFMV is taking the screenshots, as it needs to focus on the HLMV window to refresh the paints, you can cancel at any time if needed.


Untick the box "merge screenshots into a mosaic" if you prefer to have separate images for each paint.

The image(s) will be saved in the screenshots folder, click the folder icon button to open the folder:

Using HLMV

This part of the guide only covers some basics of what you need to move a bit around HLMV.
For information on how to use HLMV see the SDK wiki article:
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Model_Viewer

Camera controls:

LMB drag in the center of the viewport will orbit the camera.
LMB drag on the edge of the viewport will roll the camera.
Ctrl+LMB drag will orbit the light source.
RMB drag will dolly the camera back/forward.
Shift+LMB drag with pan the camera left/right up/down.

Hide/Show bodygroups
In HLMV the original hat of the character still appears and is clipping with the hat I loaded.

TF2 player models have "bodygroups" which let you toggle on and off the visibility of certain parts, such as the hat, feet etc depending on the classes.



Go to the "Model" tab then click in the drop down box on the left to select the bodygroup, in this case "Hat" and then select the submodel to toggle on or off the bodygroup visiblity.


Changing the character animation:



1- Go to the Sequence tab.
2- Select the animation.
3- Set the animation play speed.
4- Scroll through the animation frames and stop at a frame.

Troubleshooting / FAQ

• TFMV crashes when I start it!
  Make sure you have NetFramework 4[www.microsoft.com] installed.
  
  
• Can't download the schema
  If you have an antivirus or firewall make sure its not blocking TFMV to download the schema.
  
  
• How can you load Unusual effects?
  Unfortunately its not possible, Valve's HLMV model viewer, doesn't support particle effects aka unusual effects.
  
  
• Problem/Solution is not listed here?
  Check the comments to see if your question has been answered if not ask there.
  
  If you found a bug and you see that it hasn't been already pointed out in the comments, post about it too!

[BANG!]

Ah well, no idea how to fix HLMV in that case, sorry :/

[[LDT] IFerPe01]

Both open. But instantly after, stops working and closes.

[BANG!]

Does HLMV open when you run the .bat or hlmv.exe?

[[LDT] IFerPe01]

Even if it didn't open'd for me, it's still a good tool ;p.

[[LDT] IFerPe01]

I dunno what is happening, I did all you told me to do but still nothing.
Maybe a missing .dll?
Welp, thanks for the help anyways.

[BANG!]

Thanks, well its loading fine for me: http://puu.sh/nOJZW/1475b092db.jpg

My guess is its just HLMV failing to load, so its not related to TFMV or the items you selected.

Go to the folder "Team Fortress 2\bin\" then try running "hlmv.exe", see if it crashes.
If it crashes, try running "HLMV.bat".
If it still crashes, try running "set_sdk_env.bat", then try to run HLMV.bat again.

If it still crashes, I honestly don't know what to do there, its probably HLMV isn't setup or working in your case, and that's Valve's tool so there isn't much I can do other than trying to guess.

Eventually, you could try to "Verify integrity of game cache" for TF2 on steam (see here: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335), always worth a try.

[[LDT] IFerPe01]

Also, clicking it opens a white window wich stops running and says: hlmv.exe stopped working. (I have framework 4 and tf2 closed)

[[LDT] IFerPe01]

I choose Sniper with: "Your Worst Nightmare", "Dead Of Night" and "Breakneck Baggies" with "Festive Jarate".
Before clicking Loadout to HLMV: http://imgur.com/WbZuEum

[BANG!]

Also, try running TFMV while TF2 is not running, its possible HLMV cannot access the game files while TF2 is running.

[BANG!]

@[LDT] IFerPe01
Can you show me what items you are loading from TFMV? if you can take a screenshot of the TFMV window before you click "Loadout to HLMV" that might help me determine if the TFMV setup or HLMV that's failing, thanks.