Quite fed up, and need help.

[DreadLord]

I swear to god, Valve needs to release a simple tga to vtf, and vtf to tga program. I can convert things *most* of the time with no problems. It will work perfectly, and i won't change a damned thing, then the next day i go to try to convert something, and it will tell me that it can't find the output directory or some crap. It's almost like it's playing with my head.

Yesterday it worked fine, and i haven't changed a thing, although today it decided it didn't feel like working. It's giving me the "can't find output directory" crap when I try using Fragger's right click method.

I've followed his tutorial through at least 10 times today, to no avail. Everything is exactly as it should be, and yet it doesn't work. I've also tried using the vtex.exe in sourcesdk/bin but that does crap. Not to mention countless re-installs of a vtex folder that won't work no matter where the hell i place it.

I've also tried today, taz00's texture converter. All that did was look like it did something.. then that was it, so if it worked, God knows where the hell my .vtf is. I also just tried the TextureEd whatever the crap and got Run-time error '0".

As you can see I'm fed up beyond belief. If anyone can give me some actual help here, rather than another tutorial that won't help I'd appreciate it much. Or maybe a link to a program that acually works?

Thanks

 

[Limpet]

Well for the TexturEd program you'll have to open config.ini and change all the paths to the proper path on your pc.

Fixed it for me anyway.

Dunno whats going on with the rest of the programs

 

[DreadLord]

Well for the TexturEd program you'll have to open config.ini and change all the paths to the proper path on your pc.

Fixed it for me anyway.

Dunno whats going on with the rest of the programs

I fixed all the ones i could, but i dont have visual studio.. so i have no idea what to do there.

 

[Limpet]

You don't need it, just change those directories to the match where you put those files.

 

[DreadLord]

Ok, did that, so now it works, i can get the file i want to use into the folder etc.. then it just does "unable to convert to .vtf" in the monitor, and only a .vmt is created.

 

[Teddy]

i've found that putting all your tga's in a "materialsrc" folder under your mod's folder (eg. /dystopia/materialsrc) is the easiest way to deal with vtex. alls you gotta do is run it vtex normally ( eg. vtex.exe c:\steam\sourcemods\dystopia\materialsrc\name.tga ) and it'll output it to your mods corrosponding "materials" directroy.

Hope this helps

 

[StardogChampion]

Trouble converting a texture? You should try getting a textured model into the damn engine. It's so annoying that i'm pondering giving up HL2 mapping altogether. Unreal makes this kind of thing so easy (File > Import). I can't wait for Unreal 3.

 

[Ti133700N]

You could try VTEXGUI, it might help. http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56048&page=3&pp=20
I think this thread can be really usefull to learn how to create custom textures.

 

[DreadLord]

VTEXGUI didn't help, all it does is pop up with a Hit any key to continue DOS type window, and does nothing.

The other method Teddy mentioned just gave me the same exact output directory problem i've gotten with my other various 10,000 tries.

 

[Ti133700N]

Does it say something else in the "DOS type window" (wich is vtex by the way) beside the "Hit any key to continue" message? Can you post the content of the Status message in VTEXGUI please?

 

[DreadLord]

Status window doesn't pop up. Vtex says Hit any key to continue. Nothing else.

 

[Ti133700N]

Status window isn't supposed to popup, it's on the main form of VTEXGUI, at the bottom. Fill in all the fields, press the make texture button, vtex will popup, press a key, look at the status windows in VTEXGUI and copy paste the content here please, if you want us to help you you'll have to give us more informations on what you do and what happens.

 

[DreadLord]

I didn't mean a window literally.. i meant the status window is completely blank.. there is nothing in it at all.

 

[DreadLord]

Ok, i changed the VTEXGUI folder to C:\vtex\ where one of my 500 or so vtex folders is. Changed output path to C: and now i get a friggen status thing at least. Here is a screenshot.

 

[Ti133700N]

Ok, first i suggest you to get the latest version of VTEXGUI, it's easier to use. Take a look at this page: http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56048&page=3&highlight=tutorial+custom+texturing
the post with the screenshot, download the file, extract it anywhere on your HD, like C:.

Now, open VTEXGUI, click on the "%use sourcesdk path" button. The textbox "location of sourcesdk_content" should point to your sourcesdk_content folder.

In the location of TGA textbox, you have to put the path to the tga file you want to convert. I suggest you use the browse button (...) to find it.

In the "folder to sort texture into" type in: mytexture (yea just a word)

Don't touch the shader name textbox.

Don't touch the Game combobox (Half-Life 2 should be selected).

Click on save settings.

Open Steam.

Click on the "Make texture !" button in VTEXGUI.

 

[DreadLord]

sub_folder : mytexture\
vtex_folder : e:\steam\steamapps\dreadlord1337\sourcesdk_content\
vtex_exe : e:\steam\steamapps\dreadlord1337\sourcesdk\bin\vtex.exe
tga_sortto : e:\steam\steamapps\dreadlord1337\sourcesdk_content\hl2\materialsrc\mytexture\
tga_location : C:\Documents and Settings\Nick.YOUR-PA86Z1I3G7\Desktop\tex\omgleet.tga
shader_name : LightmappedGeneric
tga_name : omgleet.tga

Copying TGA file omgleet.tga
The folder e:\steam\steamapps\dreadlord1337\sourcesdk_content\hl2\materialsrc\mytexture\ doesn't exist, VTEXGUI will create it
The file omgleet.tga has been copied succesfully

Executing VTEX...
e:\steam\steamapps\dreadlord1337\sourcesdk\bin\vtex.exe -mkdir -shader LightmappedGeneric "e:\steam\steamapps\dreadlord1337\sourcesdk_content\hl2\materialsrc\mytexture\omgleet.tga"
Operation successful!


Ok, that's what i get. Although i can't find my new .vtf anywhere. In the mytexture folder it made, there is a copy of my .tga and a 0kb text file that it claims is the VMT, even though it isn't. Any idea what's wrong? Or where my texture is?

Thanks for the help.

 

[DreadLord]

Nevermind, i found it!!!! It was in my Half-Life 2 folder! THanks so much for all the help.

5 Internet points (redeemable nowhere unfortunatly) to you sir!

 

[Ti133700N]

Yea that's it The vtf is in the Half-Life 2/hl2/materials/mytexture folder. Good job.