Summary

Published: 18 May 2024 by YoursTrulyBilly Last documented edit: 18 May 2024 by YoursTrulyBilly

This is an optional sub-page for the Merging existing tattoos guide. Only follow the steps here if you want to merge into a clean template — otherwise, you can go on!

Adding the target file

We will merge both of these tattoos into the file that's loaded by the VTK framework. To get that, we'll download the Modding resources from xBaebSae's VTK mod.

1. In the downloaded zip file, open the subfolder xBaebsae_VanillaHD_Body

2. Extract the base folder inside into your Wolvenkit project, subfolder source\archive:

1. You only need v_textures\body, so you can delete the folder characters.

1. Now, rename v_overlay.xbm (for example to v_overlay_0.xbm)

Why am I renaming this?

Tattoo frameworks work by loading certain overlays on top of the regular skin texture. Due to technical limitations, these overlays must be hardcoded.

You want to create a new overlay with the merged textures from both of your .archive mods. Since all these files will change the same .xbm file, we're creating a backup here.

Summary

Published: Feb 03 2024 by , initial guide by Yggnire Last documented edit: 18 May 2024 by YoursTrulyBilly

This guide will teach you how to merge multiple tattoos into one.

For this example, we'll be merging two VTK tattoos from Belly Tattoos Pack and Low Back Tattoo Pack by Yggnire

Wait, this is not what I want!

• If you are looking for the body layouts, check Texture Frameworks for Player V -> #texture-layouts

• For a more detailed guide with illustrated steps, check How to create an overlay tattoo. You can use that guide for reference.

• If you want additional information, check Texture Frameworks for Player V.

Level of difficulty: Easy

The guide is extremely detailed and has screenshots for each step!

Requirements:

• The ability to read: mandatory, because I'm not gonna lie — this is gonna be difficult otherwise.

• Knowing how to edit images: recommended, because this guide will not cover it. If you don't know it, the relevant section will tell you what to Google, though

• The following two tattoo mods (kindly provided by Yggnire):

Expected time to complete:

<1h for total noobs, <15 minutes if you know what you're doing.

Prerequisites

• You have all tattoo mods that you want to merge installed in Cyberpunk 2077\archive\pc\mod

• All your tattoo mods are for the same framework (if not, check the guide about How to create an overlay tattoo).

Step 1: Create a Wolvenkit Project:

Depending on the supported framework, you need to name your project like this:

Step 2: Add the modded files

1. In the asset browser, find v_overlay.xbm inside the first .archive file and add it to your project (right-click or double-click)

1. Re-name the file in your project to e.g. lowbacktattoo.xbm

1. Add v_overlay.xbm from the second .archive file to your project

1. Re-name the file in your project to e.g. skulltattoo.xbm

2. Add the file v_overlay.xbm again — this will be your final overlay.xbm

Step 3: Export for edit

1. You can now find the exported .png files in source\raw\base\v_textures\body. Time to look at them.

Step 4: Photoshopping

1. Open lowbacktattoo.png in Photoshop.

2. Drag-and-drop the second file (skulltattoo.png) into your open tab.

3. Optional: If the pictures aren't the same size, use the W: box at the top of the file to scale it up or down.

1. If your added file has been pasted as a smart object, rasterize it by right-clicking on the layer in the Layers palette

2. Merge the layer down on the base layer

Fixing the transparency

We have one last thing to do before we can import our file back, and that is fixing the transparency. Don't worry, we'll do it step-by-step:

2. Find the Channels palette. It should be right below your Layers palette, but if it's not, you might have to turn it on via Window -> Channels

Exporting

1. Select File -> Export -> export as png

2. Overwrite v_overlay.png

Step 6: Importing into Wolvenkit

2. Find and select v_overlay.png

3. In the sidebar, make sure that PremultiplyAlpha is checked

4. Import!

1. Check the files in Wolvenkit. They should have changed.

2. Delete all files that aren't v_overlay.xbm, since we don't need them anymore.

Step 7: Testing the mod

1. Make sure that no other tattoo mods are installed — or there's a chance that you'll get to see those, rather than your new edit.