# Formats

{% hint style="info" %}
These are not the only ways to customize a skin. You can innovate as always. If you feel you made a discovery feel free to share it in the Discord server!
{% endhint %}

## Formats:

## 2 kinds of skins (VTF format and DDS format)

### VTF format

VTF is the first found custom gun skin method. VTF custom skins take editing a path in a .mdl file to use the skin and script in the `client_mp_common.bsp.pak000_000.vpk` vpk or creating a vpk patch; `client_mp_common.bsp.pak000_228.vpk`.

* Unshaded textures
* Up to 4k skins
* Animated skins (VMT options)
* Viewed from afar
* Works on low graphics
* Can use transparency

### DDS format

DDS is the 'best' custom skin method. DDS custom skins takes injecting skins into the games `pc_stream.starpak` file.

* Properly shaded skins
* Distance based visibility; viewing from up close.
* Community made tools
* high quantity high-quality skins
* Most commonly used

## Format's possibilities

### Static, Single frame

Static skins are skins that don't move in any way. Compatible with VTF and DDS format. Simple and at times, most elegant. DDS formats only skin style.

### Moving texture, Single frame

Only available with VTF format. Moving skins are skins that have a code group in their `.vmt` that moves your vtf texture to your desired parameters. The code block to move your textures is below; note this goes into your models `.vmt` file:

```
"Proxies"
    {
        "TextureScroll"
        {
            "texturescrollvar" "$baseTextureTransform"
            "texturescrollrate" "-0.03"
            "texturescrollangle" "180"
        }
    }
```

Change `"texturescrollrate" "-0.03"` to change speed of movement.\
Change `"texturescrollangle" "180"` to change direction of movement.

### Animated texture, Multiple frames

Only available with VTF format. Animated skins are skins that create a moving affect or active scene by using multiple frames. You wont need multiple vtf's as VTFEdit creates one file with every frame inside. Mind that this increases size; which can have affects in recompiling. Note you can use Add-ons on your image editors to help with making animated skins. You need this code group in your models `.vmt` to activate animation; found below.

```
"Proxies"
    {
        "AnimatedTexture"
        {
            "animatedTextureVar"	"$basetexture"
			"animatedTextureFrameNumVar"	"$frame"
			"animatedtextureFrameRate"	"2"
        }
    }
```

Change `"animatedtextureFrameRate" "2"` to change framerate in game.

### Transparency

Only available with VTF format. Transparency can be enabled in the the model's vmt. Example.

```
$translucent 1
```

### Refract Shader ('mirror')

Only available with VTF format. The refract shader can be apply to give the model a "refracted" look. Documentation here: <https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Refract>)

```
Refract
{
	$normalmap ...
	$dudvmap ...
	$refracttint "[1 1 1]"
	$refractamount .2
}
```