Difference between revisions of "User:Plutonium/HLMV Guide"

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(Added tips)
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If you are uploading directly, remember to use the {{tlx|classimg}} template when uploading (see documentation on how to use the template.) This will automatically apply the correct categories and license.
 
If you are uploading directly, remember to use the {{tlx|classimg}} template when uploading (see documentation on how to use the template.) This will automatically apply the correct categories and license.
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== Tips ==
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* If you can't find the model you are looking for, find its name in <code>items_game.txt</code> and look for the <code>model_player</code> variable. This tells where it's located.
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* The Pyro's lenses tend to appear white at certain angles. To fix this, adjust the angle of the model, or change the lighting position, by moving your cursor while holding {{Key|CTRL}}.
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** Be careful to not move the lighting too far, as the model may appear too dark.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Template:Painted variants/Tutorial|Painted variants tutorial]] - tutorial on how to make painted variants of cosmetic items.
 
* [[Template:Painted variants/Tutorial|Painted variants tutorial]] - tutorial on how to make painted variants of cosmetic items.
 
* [[Help:Images]] - some extra, helpful information on placing of images.
 
* [[Help:Images]] - some extra, helpful information on placing of images.

Revision as of 18:15, 18 September 2025

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This is a quick tutorial on how to set up HLMV, plus some additional tips. This guide will mainly cover the basics, and serves as an updated version of the Cosmetic Images help article.

For additional tips, see Gabrielwoj's HLMV setup help and tricks..

User Plutonium HLMV++ icon.png

Getting Started

Hello, and welcome to Plutonium's HLMV guide. This guide is a quick demonstration on how to create cosmetic item images for the wiki. For this tutorial, HLMV++ is highly recommended, as the original HLMV requires a bit of tinkering in order for it to work in modern Team Fortress 2. If you are content with this, simply following what's on Help:Model Viewer, and subsequently, Help:Cosmetic Images.

Programs

HLMV++ (optional, but highly recommended)

Download (bundled with Hammer++. If you do not want it, simply delete Hammer++ and keep HLMV++.)

HLMV++ is a fan-made remaster of the original HLMV, that patches long-standing bugs (such as the screenshot feature not outputting corrupted images), alongside other quality-of-life improvements. Its download is slightly different compared to the original HLMV (with TF2's 64-bit update), which will be covered in the next section.

How to install HLMV++

  • Download the .zip, extract it, and then open the HLMVPlusPlus-main folder inside it.
  • Extract the Team Fortress 2.zip within the folder.
  • Place the 2 items (the .exe and its .dll) inside TF2's bin/x64 folder.
GIMP

Download

GIMP is a beneficial tool for cropping images automatically. We will use this later for our images.

Modelling

Now that you have set up HLMV++, open up hlmvplusplus.exe. Congratulations, you are now in HLMV++!

First of all, you need to apply the correct settings to create images. Take a look at the settings in the 'Render' tab at the bottom, and change it to those shown in the image on the right.

Your settings should look like this.

Now, let's spawn in a model. At the top bar, click on File, then (Steam) Load Model.

Pictogram comment.png Note: Do not click on Load Model, as it does not let you access TF2's files, but rather, puts you into a normal File Explorer window.

You should now be seeing a large amount of folders in the pop-up window. These are TF2's files, alongside custom ones from community servers you have visited. Now, look for the player folder, then the hwmfolder.

Pictogram comment.png Note: Do not use the normal models not in the hwm folder. The only exception to this is full-head cosmetics (such as the Chicken Kiev or Kathman-Hairdo), or items that blend with the character's face texture (such as the Vampire Makeover or Make Ogre.)

Now, inside the hwmfolder, select soldier.mdl, then 'Open'. You should now see a Soldier in your model viewer!

Ta-da! A Soldier!

Bodygroups

Now, we will give him the Team Captain. Normally, that hat hides the Soldier's helmet, so we need to remove his helmet first. To do so;

  • Click on the 'Model' tab at the bottom section of the model viewer.
  • In the first-drop down menu, select hat.
  • In the drop-down menu next to that, select Submodel 2.

This will hide the Soldier's helmet. Perfect, we can now give him the hat!

Submodels (cosmetic items!)

Now that we have hidden the Soldier's helmet, we will now give him the Team Captain.

  • In the bottom section of the model viewer, click on the Submodels tab.
  • From there, click on Add (Steam).

Valve-made cosmetics are found in \player\items and community made ones are found in \workshop\player\items In this case, we go to \player\items.

  • Inside \player\items\soldier, then find soldier_officer.mdl, and open it.

Congrats, your Soldier is now wearing the Team Captain!

Posing

Now, we will give our Soldier a pose.

  • Make sure too pick a pose that is not too distracting or one that covers the cosmetic.
  • As an example, we will use taunt01, so our Soldier can mock salute.
  • In the bottom section of the model viewer, click on the Sequence tab.
  • Select the first dropdown, the one currently set to ref
  • In the dropdown, select taunt01.

You will now notice he is standing on the floor. This is the very first frame of the taunt.

  • Now, to get him to stand up, move the Frame slider, and move it until the number on the right of the bar is at frame 60.

Congrats! You should now see your Soldier move into position.

Lastly, you will need to rotate the Soldier for a better view of the cosmetic item. This is done by clicking and holding MOUSE1 in the center of the view and then dragging the model to rotate it.

Face posing

Now that you have gotten the Soldier into a good pose, you will need to pose his face accordingly, as the make the pose more expressive. To do so;

  • Click on the Flex tab in the bottom section of them model viewer.

In the tab, there will be several sliders, each for different parts of the this face. For this tutorial, we will make him smile. To do so, simply locate the left_smile and right_smile sliders, and set it to around the middle of the sliders each (not too high.)

Screenshotting

This step is quite easy, and can be down quickly with HLMV++. Simply click on the Options tab in the top section of the model viewer, then press 'Make Transparent Screenshot'. Save the image wherever you like. Congrats, you should now see your image! But we're not done yet!

Cropping

Now, we will crop our image. This is the final step before we upload our image!

  • Download GIMP (if you haven't already.)
  • Open the application.
  • Open your file in GIMP.
  • When it has opened, right click the image, then hover over the 'Image' drop-down. Select 'Crop to Content'.

You should now see the image being cropped. Now, simply do Shift+Ctrl+E, then 'Export', and then 'Export' again on the second pop-up.

Congratulations, you should now see your final image!

The final image!

Uploading

Now, with your final image, comes the last step; uploading your image to the wiki.

You can do this by uploading it directly, or if the image is an updated version of another, by clicking Upload a new version of this file under the file you want to overwrite.

If you are uploading directly, remember to use the {{classimg}} template when uploading (see documentation on how to use the template.) This will automatically apply the correct categories and license.

Tips

  • If you can't find the model you are looking for, find its name in items_game.txt and look for the model_player variable. This tells where it's located.
  • The Pyro's lenses tend to appear white at certain angles. To fix this, adjust the angle of the model, or change the lighting position, by moving your cursor while holding CTRL.
    • Be careful to not move the lighting too far, as the model may appear too dark.

See also