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//How to create a CS: Source menu background by J2K!
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This tutorial will teach you everything about turning your favorite picture into a CS: Source menu background.
I will cover things such as programs needed, dimensions of your image & file format prerequisites.
Note: All screenshot links are attributed with "_blank" to make them open in a new window so don't worry about losing this page if you click on the links (:
First of all, you will need to download Source SDK.
To do so, open Steam and select Tools from the menu.
Source SDK will be on the list, right click it and select Install game...
Once it is installed and updated, right click on it and select Launch game...
You should now be in a steam window called Source SDK.
From the Current Game: drop down menu at the bottom of this page, select Counter-Strike: Source.
You can leave this running in the background for the rest of this tutorial, do not close it.
You may also need Adobe Photoshop. I will leave it up to you to get that :P
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//Part 2 - Create the necessary folders.
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Now we will need to create some folders. It is important all these folders exist before you continue.
Navigate to:
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\UserName\sourcesdk_content\cstrike\materialsrc
Create a folder named Console
Navigate to:
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\UserName\Counter-Strike Source\cstrike\materials
Create a folder named Console
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//Part 3 - Prepare your image.
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Counter-Strike Source's menu background is a .vtf file. Vtf files have to have square dimensions, divisible by 8 as far as i know.
To create a .vtf file we must first make our own image abide by .vtf rules.
Open your image with Adobe Photoshop.
From the menu, click Image > Image size...
Untick the Constrain proportions check box. Resize your image to the nearest of these settings:
640 x 640
800 x 800
1024 x 1024 <--- I use this.
1280 x 1280
1600 x 1600
It is normal for it to go out of proportion. When we convert it to a .vtf file it will look like it did before the resize.
Now go to File > Save as... from the menu.
For the File name: put Background01
For the Format: put Targa (*.TGA)
Save it to the folder:
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\UserName\sourcesdk_content\cstrike\materialsrc\console
When prompted, choose 32 bits/pixel then save the file.
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//Part 4 - The conversion.
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To convert the file, open the following two folders, and resize the windows so they are side by side:
Simply drag Background01.tga onto vtex.exe from the other folder.
If you have done everything correctly, a black command prompt will open up showing you the conversion process. Once this says Press a key to continue, press whatever tickles your fancy and you are done!
Open up Counter-Strike Source to see your background in action! :D
If anything went wrong, start this tutorial again :P
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