Tutorial: Custom Crosshairs
<div align='center'><!--sizeo:6--><span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Custom Crosshair Tutorial<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
I thought I'd write up a quick custom crosshair tutorial for those of you interested in making your own.
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 1: <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Go to your /naturalselection2/ns2/ui/ folder and make a copy of the crosshairs.dds file. You'll be
overwriting this so it's good to have a backup to quickly revert back.
If you ever accidentally overwrite you can 'verify the cache' on steam and it will redownload the file, it
takes a while though so it's easier just to make a backup.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/uc5S8.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 2:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Right-click NS2 in steam and click Run Launch Pad. Once it's opened you'll need to "create a game" to tell
it where you want your files to be saved. Click Create Game, call it NS2 and for the output directory use
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\natural selection 2\ns2
Make sure it's selected in the launch pad drop down box.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/s0I6w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 3: <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Now create a folder on your desktop and call it "crosshairsrc". Inside that create a folder called "ui".
This will act as your source directory. Any .PSD files you put in this directory will be built into .dds
files by builder.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/X23nJ.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 4:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
In the Launch Pad click on Builder to open it. Go to File > Settings. Click on source directory and direct
it to the crosshairsrc folder on your desktop. Click OK and keep builder open.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/4zTUx.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 5:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Crosshairs.psd file: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?m31cf322sva0d91" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/?m31cf322sva0d91</a>
Copy the crosshairs.psd file that I've included into your /corsshairsrc/ui/ folder on the desktop. You can
create this file yourself but I've included one as a template to make it easier. If you look at the builder
window it should display a loading bar as it builds the file. (If it doesn't automatically build the file, you can select build>build from the menu)
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/kXHi8.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 6:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Now to see if it's worked. Click on NS2 in the launch pad to start the game. Put it into windowed mode so
that you can tab in and out easy and then create a local game. Join a team and you should now see the new
crosshair.
Now here's the cool part. Any changes you make in photoshop to the crosshair.psd file, will automatically be
built and you can see your changes in-game right away. Just make some changes in photoshop, save the file
and then switch to the game window.
In the crosshairs.psd file I have labelled each layer with the weapon that the corsshair is for. Crosshair 9 is
the hit-indicator, this will flash up on the screen for a moment upon making a successful hit (quick way to
see it, turn on cheats and then shoot your own buildings).
You can also edit other parts of the UI this way. You'll need to download "Windows texture viewer" from NVIDIA in order to open the .dds files. This will let you see the layout and you can then create your own custom files in photoshop. Just make sure you save them in your source directory (e.g. crosshairsrc/UI) and they have the same name.
Have fun. Any questions / problems I'll do my best to answer. If you make a cool custom crosshair, post a pic up and let's see your creations. :)</div>
I thought I'd write up a quick custom crosshair tutorial for those of you interested in making your own.
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 1: <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Go to your /naturalselection2/ns2/ui/ folder and make a copy of the crosshairs.dds file. You'll be
overwriting this so it's good to have a backup to quickly revert back.
If you ever accidentally overwrite you can 'verify the cache' on steam and it will redownload the file, it
takes a while though so it's easier just to make a backup.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/uc5S8.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 2:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Right-click NS2 in steam and click Run Launch Pad. Once it's opened you'll need to "create a game" to tell
it where you want your files to be saved. Click Create Game, call it NS2 and for the output directory use
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\natural selection 2\ns2
Make sure it's selected in the launch pad drop down box.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/s0I6w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 3: <!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Now create a folder on your desktop and call it "crosshairsrc". Inside that create a folder called "ui".
This will act as your source directory. Any .PSD files you put in this directory will be built into .dds
files by builder.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/X23nJ.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 4:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
In the Launch Pad click on Builder to open it. Go to File > Settings. Click on source directory and direct
it to the crosshairsrc folder on your desktop. Click OK and keep builder open.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/4zTUx.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 5:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Crosshairs.psd file: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?m31cf322sva0d91" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/?m31cf322sva0d91</a>
Copy the crosshairs.psd file that I've included into your /corsshairsrc/ui/ folder on the desktop. You can
create this file yourself but I've included one as a template to make it easier. If you look at the builder
window it should display a loading bar as it builds the file. (If it doesn't automatically build the file, you can select build>build from the menu)
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/kXHi8.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Step 6:<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
Now to see if it's worked. Click on NS2 in the launch pad to start the game. Put it into windowed mode so
that you can tab in and out easy and then create a local game. Join a team and you should now see the new
crosshair.
Now here's the cool part. Any changes you make in photoshop to the crosshair.psd file, will automatically be
built and you can see your changes in-game right away. Just make some changes in photoshop, save the file
and then switch to the game window.
In the crosshairs.psd file I have labelled each layer with the weapon that the corsshair is for. Crosshair 9 is
the hit-indicator, this will flash up on the screen for a moment upon making a successful hit (quick way to
see it, turn on cheats and then shoot your own buildings).
You can also edit other parts of the UI this way. You'll need to download "Windows texture viewer" from NVIDIA in order to open the .dds files. This will let you see the layout and you can then create your own custom files in photoshop. Just make sure you save them in your source directory (e.g. crosshairsrc/UI) and they have the same name.
Have fun. Any questions / problems I'll do my best to answer. If you make a cool custom crosshair, post a pic up and let's see your creations. :)</div>
Comments
Photoshop works just fine. It's all i use. Plugin: <a href="http://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-texture-tools-adobe-photoshop" target="_blank">http://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-texture...adobe-photoshop</a>
Usage: With plugin installed, save as DDS. Then set options to:
"DXT5_NM XY 8 bpp | using DXT5"
No MIP maps
Image Options > Highest? Hmm...
Your image should use black for transparent areas and white for fully visible. Use shades of gray for intermediate opacity.
Also depending on the texture you make, if it's not greyscale and therefore uses a alpha channel for opacity, then you may need to save with "DXT5 ARGB 8 bpp | interpolated alpha" but i'm not 100% sure about this type of texture.
Also i think paint.net can open/save dds files.
The crosshair texture can be up to 64x64 pixels big. That should be enough even for the most ridiculously big crosshairs. Transparency is via alpha channel.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
If you save as 8.8.8.8 ARGB 32 bpp format in photoshop the transparency should work fine, I had this problem too until I tried that.
Would be great if someone could put up info on how to create a 64x64 file with the right transparency and how to save it.
Thanks.
my settings, they appear to work fine
[attachment=36172:test.jpg]
I tried to follow these instructions one by one but it seems that this tutorial is kinda outdated because in ''Builder'' from Launchpad seems doesnt have the same features anymore.....
Please help
xxx
I have the same problem. When opening settings in builder, the only box available is the "maximum build units", the rest is missing. I think it's a window's size problem, as seen in this screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/U9YED47.jpg
You can still see the top pixels of the word "Configuration", so it's there, but it's impossible to resize the window vertically. Can anyone help please?
How i do it in paint.net (can open, save and edit .dds files out of the box):
Get the crosshair.dds from the ns2/ui folder as reference(or better just get a simple dot crosshair from the workshop) and open it with paint.net, now create a layer, fill it with black and sent it behind the crosshair layer, so you can properly see the crosshairs and work on them... switch to the front to a new layer (or multiple) create your sexy crosshairs there... remove the original crosshair layer you used as reference and remove the black layer when you are going to save.
Save as .dds DXT5, perceptive.(i have no idea what this stuff means, or really does - all i know is that it worked fine for me so far) Now either just copy your new crosshairs over the original crosshair.dds in the ui folder, or create a workshop mod, and subscribe and activate it.
Photoshop + nvidia dds plugin:
Basically i do the same as with paint.net, tho this time you have to create an alpha layer in addition (so i select all the stuff, switch to the channels tab and create it) problem with this is that its pretty shitty if you want to use transparencies.(so far i usually painted them manually, or just switched to paint.net :P) I bet there is a great and easy way to make it as simple as with paint.net - tho i didnt figure it out yet.
Save as DXT5 as well, etc.
PS: http://steamcommunity.com/id/koruyo/myworkshopfiles/?appid=4920 maybe there is already one you like...
According to the guides, the builder tool is a way of getting the crosshairs up to steam workshop. That's why people touch it.
The technicalities of creating a custom crosshairs in paint.net were explained enough in this thread already.
Just create a folder called "MyCrosshair" or whatever, open it and create a folder "ui" then open that and put in the crosshair.dds etc.
Maybe thats better to understand:
"...MyCrosshair/ui/crosshair.dds"
"...MyCrosshair/ui/crosshair-hit.dds"
v Your Crosshair
v ui
- crosshairs.dds
- crosshairs-hit.dds
Now put this in a nice place, i save mine into my cloudstorage folder (skydrive) but it doest really matter... save it in a place that is not annoying for you.
Start the NS2 Launchpad.
Click create a mod.
Name it how you want to call your crosshair pack on steam.
Under OutputDirectory navigate to the crosshair folder e.g. MyCrosshair on Skydrive for my example.
Kind: Cosmetic.
- Click okay.
Select your mod in the launchpad dropdown menu, then click publisher.
Now put in the title of your mod again (this is the actual place where it takes the naming from for workshop), add a description and image if you can.
Set if you want it to be public, private or only visible to your steam friends in workshop.
Click publish all.
If everything went right it should say publish successful or something like that in the bottom of the window. -> done! (you can just close it)
For updates, just make the changes in the MyCrosshair folder, open the launchpad, select the crosshair in the dropdown menu, publisher, click publish all again!
Kind Sir, thank you for your patience and enlightening the dark. Finally, I made it work, by following your guide.
EDIT: Oh I see, they changed it, now you have to make a new mod or open an existing one with those buttons before the other tools appear.