User:AlexT/demonstration thumbnail

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This page contains directions to create thumbnails for demonstration videos with Affinity Photo from Serif. Affinity Photo used in this guide are version 1.8.6 running with macOS, directions also apply for other versions including Affinity Photo 2, minor difference may apply.

Last updated: May 25, 2023

88x31.png

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

  1. Configure your HLMV using existing guides in this wiki.
  2. [in Windows...] Set your display zoom to 100%, anything higher will cause lower resolution and blurry previews in HLMV, check this especially when have a small but high resolution display, like on laptops. Right click your desktop > Display settings > scale > 100%. Remember to maximize HLMV window as well.
  3. Use File > (Steam) load model… > players and load the used class’s model.
  4. If applicable, Use File > (Steam) load weapon… > workshop > players and find the taunt’s folder and load the used props by the taunt inside.
  5. Resize and position the model use your mouse, click Help > About and there will tell you how to control.
  6. Click Sequence tab in the bottom of HLMV, choose matching taunt sequence, move the slider on the bottom called “Frame” to a position the taunt is in the repeating idle animation.
  7. Use the same method mentioned in the previous guide, take 3 lossless screenshot with any software, with different background color. Don’t reposition the model during the process, only change background color when taking 3 screenshot.
  8. [in macOS] Open Affinity Photo and assemble the background first.
  9. File > Open… and Load 3 screenshot separately into Affinity Photo.
  10. Copy the black background image to the top of white background image.
  11. Change the black background layer to “Difference” mode, in the layers panel.
  12. you should see a black silhouette of the taunt if you did correctly. If it looks wrong, you may repositioned the model when taking 3 screenshots.
  13. Right click the black background layer, click “Merge Visible”, it will create another layer with only back and white silhouette of the taunt.
  14. Choose the silhouette layer, go to adjustment panel, give it a “Invert” effect. Back to layers panel, make sure invert effect is under the silhouette layer, if not, drag it under it.
  15. Copy this silhouette layer to the grey background image,
  16. Select the silhouette layer, go to Channels panel, if you don’t have Channels panel, open it in View > Studio > Channels, right click on any Composite channels, and choose “Create Spare Channel”
  17. Back to layers panel, and select the grey background layer, go back to Channel panel, right click the “Spare Channel” in the bottom, Click “Load to Background Alpha”.
  18. Delete the silhouette layer now, if you did everything correctly, you should see transparent background of the model, crop the image use crop tool.
  19. Use Rectangular Marquee Tool to select all the model image, copy and paste to the thumbnail background, reposition and zoom the model to correct size. File > Export… as PNG.
  20. Done, upload the thumbnail to wiki.