Summary

Published: Apr 11 2024 by Yggnire, initial guide by Yggnire Last documented edit: Aug 16 2024 by

This guide will teach you how to create your own overlay tattoo for either of the texture frameworks, or how to convert a tattoo for a different body mod.

Wait, this is not what I want!

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

Level of difficulty

The ability to read: mandatory, because I'm not gonna lie — this is gonna be difficult otherwise. Knowing how to use a drawing software : recommended, because this guide will not cover it. Knowing how to use WolvenKit.

Estimated Time:

<5 minutes to set up everything 5 minutes - as long as it takes you to create a tattoo that you like <5 minutes for the import/install

Prerequisites

• You have

• A drawing software like Clip Paint Studio, Photoshop or photopea.com

• Some time and patience to create tattoo

Step 0: Setup

1: Create a Wolvenkit Project

2: Add the right files to your mod

You have two ways of getting the correct files:

• download the modders' resources from the framework's page

• add the files to your project from the framework you have already installed

The tutorial will walk you through the second:

2. Find the name of the texture that you want to edit on the Overlay textures by framework page.

4. Add the files to your project by double-clicking on them.

Optional: Add the base body texture as a reference

The tattoo frameworks will have the base body texture in the same folder as the overlay files.

1. Right-click on your overlay file in Wolvenkit's Project Browser

2. Select Copy Relative Path from the context menu

4. Delete the file name from the path: you just want to search for the folder

5. Add > .xbm to the end of your search (with a space!) to limit your search to texture files.

6. Hit Enter and browse through the files inside the folder: one of them will be the base body texture.

3: Export the textures

1. Use the Export Tool to export the .xbm files to .png.

2. You can right-click on one of the png files to open it in the Windows Explorer

4: Edit the textures

It's image editing time! This guide will only give you a rough outline, but make sure to read the red box below.

You can use an image editing software of your choice, as long as it supports alpha transparency. If you don't have one, use photopea.com – it's free and in your browser!

1. Optional: Import the body texture as reference

2. Import the overlay texture that you want to edit

Resizing the textures

1. Create a new layer above the skin texture and start drawing your tattoo :

Making changes

You can now draw on the transparent layer (again, do not draw on the body texture).

If you are converting a tattoo, you will have move individual parts around instead.

Exporting from your graphic editor

When your tattoo is complete, uncheck the eye on the skin layer

Your project should look like this: Your tattoo and no background

Let's export the tattoo. A detailed tutorial can be found under #editing-a-texture.

5: Reimporting the texture

Now you need to import your file back into Wolvenkit. You have two ways to do that:

Import Tool

1. Overwrite the png that you created in step 3.1

2. Open the Import Tool and import your png

3. You're done

Texture View

1. Save your new tattoo anywhere on your PC as a .png file.

2. In Wolvenkit, open the .xbm file by either double-clicking the file, or clicking the blue icon

4. Switch to the "Texture Preview" tab

5. Right click on it and select Replace Texture. Choose the file you have saved.

Time to test!

Summary

Published: Feb 03 2024 by manavortex Last documented edit: June 14 2024 by LadyLea

This page collects information on making custom skins, tattoos and scars for V and NPCs.

Please check the nested pages in the Wiki's browser for more information, or click the "Next" button at the bottom of the page.

If you want to sign up and edit, you are more than welcome!

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

Supported overlays

KS-UV Femme path:

Head : base\4k\common\overlays\wa_head_overlay_d01.xbm

Body : base\4k\common\overlays\fullbody_overlay_d01.xbm

KS-UV Male path:

Head: base\4k\common\overlays\wa_head_overlay_d01.xbm

Body: base\4k\common\overlays\ma_fullbody_overlay_d01.xbm

VTK Femme path :

Head:

base\characters\head\player_base_heads\player_female_average\h0_000_pwa_c__basehead\textures\h0_001_pwa_c__basehead_overlay.xbm

Body :

base\v_textures\body\v_overlay.xbm

Arms :

base\characters\player\femme\body\arms\textures\femme_arm_left_01_overlay.xbm base\characters\player\femme\body\arms\textures\femme_arm_right_01_overlay.xbm

VTK Male path:

Body: base\v_textures\body\v_masc_overlay.xbm

Arms:

base\characters\player\masculine\body\arms\textures\masculine_arm_right_01_overlay.xbm base\characters\player\masculine\body\arms\textures\masculine_arm_left_01_overlay.xbm

Summary

Published: Feb 03 2024 by manavortex, 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.

Summary

Published: Feb 29 2024 by Yggnire, initial guide by Yggnire Last documented edit: June 15 2024 by LadyLea

Level of difficulty

The ability to read: mandatory, because I'm not gonna lie — this is gonna be difficult otherwise. Knowing how to use a drawing software : recommended, because this guide will not cover it.

Expected time to complete

<5 minutes to set up everything 5 minutes - s long as it takes you to create a scar that you like <5 minutes for the import/install

If you want to know how to make scars, I advise you to take a look at the tutorial "How to make a scar (tips for drawing)

Prerequisites

• You have

• A drawing software like Clip Paint Studio, Photoshop or photopea.com

• Some time and patience to create scars

Step 1 : Settings up

1.1 Create a and give it a name

KS_UV project name should be 005_modname

VTK project name should be 000_modname

1.2 Add the correct files

1. Head to the Overlay textures by framework page and find the correct files for your framework (VTK or KSUV).

2. Add them to your project by double-clicking on the entries in the Asset Browser

5. Save the files in a new folder.

6. Open all of them on a drawing software like photoshop, clip studio paint or photopea.com

Step 2 : Scar creation

This part is explained in this tuto : How to make a scar (tips for drawing)

Step 3 : Replacing and Importing

Check the corresponding step-by-step instructions here: How to create an overlay tattoo -> #id-5-reimporting-the-texture

Do this for all of the files. If you install the mod, you should now be able to see your new scar!

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 05 2024 by Yggnire, initial guide by Yggnire Last documented edit: Feb 05 2024 by Yggnire

This guide will teach you how to create scars by replacing vanilla one. In this guide, we'll replace #4 in the Character Customization.

Level of difficulty

The ability to read: mandatory, because I'm not gonna lie — this is gonna be difficult otherwise. Knowing how to use a drawing software : recommended, because this guide will not cover it.

Expected time to complete

<5 minutes to set up everything 5 minutes - s long as it takes you to create a scar that you like <5 minutes for the import/install

Prerequisites

• You have

• A drawing software like Clip Paint Studio, Photoshop or photopea.com

• Some time and patience to create scars

Step 1: Settings up

1. Create a and give it a name that you can remember. Since we're replacing a basegame asset, make sure that it starts with basegame: basegame_my_scars_replacer

2. To create scars replacer, you need the following files (they're shared for both body genders) from this folder:

base/characters/common/character_customization_items/scars/face/textures

1. Add the files to your project by double-clicking

4. Open all of them on a drawing software like photoshop, clip studio paint or photopea.com

Step 2: Scar creation :

Let's start by creating the scar's bumpmap. Open pma__basehead_scars_n01.png (the yellow-greenish one).

The image should look like this :

The vanilla size are 1024x1024, I have upscaled mine to 4096x4096, but that's personal taste.

1. You will need to erase one of the pre-existing scars. Use the pipette tools and take the same color as the background.

1. Add a new layer and paint over this part of the image.

1. Once it’s done, add a new layer and start to draw your scar, I recommend you to use a brush similar to wet watercolor to create « natural scars » if you want to create cyberware scar, use a more consistent brush .

1. To create your scar, take a basic red color, and draw your scar on the new layer you created in Step 2.

2. Copy the entire layer (Hotkey: Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C)

3. In the Layers Palette, select the red channel and paste your scar. The image will now be black and white.

1. In the Layers Palette, select all three channels (or RGB) to see colours again.

2. Now you need to turn your image green. There are various ways to do that, for example Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation.

3. Copy the green scar and paste it into the green channel.

4. Use CTRL + T to select it and shifted the scar a few pixels to the right (you can use the arrow keys). It should now look like this:

Editing the roughness map

1. Now that you have a scar, open h0_000_pma__basehead_scars_m01 (the black-and-white one, your metallic map).

2. On the yellow image, switch to the red channel again and copy everything (Hotkey: Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C)

3. Paste it into the metallic image (Hotkey: Ctrl+V). It should now be on another layer. If not, undo the paste (Hotkey: Ctrl+Z), create a new layer in the layer palette, and paste it again.

4. The pasted scar should automatically be black and white. If not, change that via the Edit -> Image -> Greyscale option.

5. Invert the image (Hotkey: Ctrl+I) so that it looks like the picture below:

1. Now change the contrast of the formerly red channel so that the scar is black (Image -> Adjustments -> Brightness/Contrast).

2. Repeat the process with the green channel from the normal map.

3. Now change the brightness of the formerly green channel to a light grey Image -> Adjustments -> Brightness/Contrast).

4. Set the blending mode of the green scar layer to Difference. This will give you an inverted image, but that's fine.

5. Now, merge the two layers (hotkey: Ctrl+E)

6. Invert it (Hotkey: Ctrl+I)

7. Change the tint of the RED scar to black and the GREEN one to light grey.

Do this for the others png files with appropriate colors.

Replace in your wolvenkit project all the png with the new one, « Import » and then « Install » and enjoy your new scar !

Go to Character Customization and select the scar 4.

Known issue :

Here is the issue that I have had to deal with and you will certainly meet it.

In-game, this kind of issue can happen , nose textures cut and strange square shadow on the neck.

To remedy this problem, create a new project and obtain the 4 file types as seen above and replace them with those that you modified, export, import, install and that's it, the problem should no longer be present. If the problem persists, start the procedure again.

Summary

Published: Feb 03 2024 by manavortex

Overhaul of information & addition of reference pictures: June 16 2024 by LadyLea Last documented edit: June 26 2024 by AllKnowingLion

Why is there a need for Texture Frameworks?

Since CDPR utilizes the same texture paths and texture files for V and NPCs, Texture Frameworks are used to give V separate texture files from NPCs, allowing you to edit V’s skin or tattoos without your edit affecting for example, Judy, River, or crowd NPCs.

The Original Texture Layouts and Paths for V

For clarity's sake, below is also documented V's original/vanilla texture layouts and paths, that are shared with NPCs. In addition to what was stated earlier, the options to create desired looks is very limited using this vanilla way.

Texture Layouts

The original texture UV Layouts CDPR utilizes for Player V:

Texture Paths

Which Texture Frameworks exist?

Unique Arms

The earliest initial texture framework by Halvkyrie for Player Female V. This mod makes the player arms use separate textures, allowing for different custom tattoos on each arm without the former limitation of mirroring.

Texture Layouts

Unique Arms utilizes the following texture UV Layouts for Arms:

Texture Paths

The Unique V Texture Framework

Also known as "UV" or "KS-UV" was created by Zosoab70 and AllKnowingLion, and released by their team account, "KnowSo". The UV Framework was the first full body and arm texture framework. The base version is designed for players to be able to make their character as unique as they'd like while also allowing for modders to easily create their textures for the body and arms from a single file instead of having to use multiple. Following the 4.1 update, however, modders will have the option to utilize alternate layouts for the arms that are formatted more closely to the vanilla structuring.

Supported body mods:

• (F) Lush/SoLush

• (F) Solo Original

• (F) Solo Small

• (F) Solo Ultimate

• (F) Solo Arms

• (F) Solo 2.0 (Unreleased)

• (F) Project Valentine

• (F) Paragon Body (Discord Exclusive release on KS Discord server)

• (F) Nanarc's Flat Chest Body

• (F) Songbird Body

• (F) Songbird Body 2.0

• (F) Vanilla Plus

• (F) Ultra High Poly Body (UHPB)

• (F) Vanilla High Feet (Alternate UV Framework base body file)

• (F) Freyja

• (M) Adonis

• (M) Atlas

• (M) Titan Body (Unreleased)

• (M) Pinkydude's "Better Feet" Body

Texture Layouts

UV Texture Framework's base version utilizes the following Full-Body texture layouts:

Texture Paths

The texture files for UV are separated by body gender. UV Texture Framework resources can be found on nexus - Miscellaneous files Section.

V Texture Kit

Also known as "VTK" created by xBaebsae, is a framework that focuses on giving HD Skin textures and Tattoo textures for the body, feet, arms and head for Player V. It integrates Halvkyrie's Unique Arms paths, and its structure expands for more customizability.

Supported body mods

• (F) Vanilla HD

• (F) Vanilla HD - VTK Big Breasts

• (F) Vanilla HD - VTK Small Breasts

• (F) Hyst's Realistic Butt (RB)

• (F) Hyst's Enhanced Big Breasts (EBB)

• (F) Hyst's Enhanced Big Breasts + Realistic Butt (EBBRB)

• (F) Hyst's Enhanced Big Breasts: Push Up (EBBP)

• (F) Hyst's Enhanced Big Breasts: Push Up + Realistic Butt (EBBPRB)

• (F) Hyst's Enhanced Vanilla Body (EVB)

• (F) Hyst's Angel Body

• (M) Gymfiend

Texture Layouts

VTK FemV utilizes the following texture UV Layouts for Arms:

VTK FemV utilizes the following texture UV Layouts for the Body:

Texture Layouts

VTK Gymfiend utilizes the following texture UV Layouts for Arms:

VTK Gymfiend utilizes the following texture UV Layouts for the Body:

Texture Paths

The texture files for VTK are separated by body gender. VTK resources can be found on nexus - Miscellaneous files Section.

What's the difference?

Primarily, the basic difference is the UV layout of the body/arm textures between the base version of the UV Framework, and VTK. Beyond that other features include:

An example of the UV Layout differences in-game:

Summary

Published: Feb 29 2024 by Yggnire, initial guide by Yggnire Last documented edit: Feb 29 2024 by Yggnire

I will give you some basic idea on how to create scar, I encourage you to use these basics and explore as many possibilities as possible. Don't hold on to what I'm going to explain to you.

Have fun.

Level of difficulty

The ability to read: mandatory, because I'm not gonna lie — this is gonna be difficult otherwise. Knowing how to use a drawing software : recommended, because this guide will not cover it.

Expected time to complete

- as long as it takes you to create a scar that you like

Prerequisites :

• A drawing software like Clip Paint Studio, Photoshop or

• Some time and patience to create scars

• A graphic tablet (hightly recommended)

I use the software CLIP STUDIO PAINT but you can do it with the one you want.

I'm gonna do the scar on the normal map (bumpmap) first.

I take a RED color like this :

Handmade scar :

I use a wet watercolors brush for the natural scar

Do the base of your scar :

Then pimp it , you can erase or add some pieces to your scar with your brush

Now copy paste your scar and change the color to GREEN, place the layer below the red one and move it a few pixels to the side you want.

Now copy paste your scar on the skin textures

Use the Pipette tools and take the skin color, use the "Lock Transparent Pixels" parameters OR you can use CTRL+U to modify the color as you wish, do the same for the GREEN layer, personally I use a lighter color for the red layer and a darker color for the green layer

Good job, you have your first scar ! Now do magic with wkit and go see your scar in-game

In-game appearance

Baked Normal map scar

In this part of the tuto I will show you a different way to do a scars (with better in-game results)

To begin you will need the diffuse map :

Draw your scar : I know this is not a simple scar if I have done this one, it's to show you what we can do with baked normal map.

Save your scar as a .PNG.

Download it and when you are in , click on "Open photograph from file".

Choose your png file of the diffuse map.

Choose a shape, personally I will pick the right one

Make those sliders slide the way you want and then "save normals to file"

Now you will need to go on WolvenKit, replace with "Replace Texture" your normal map with the new one you just baked.

The image should turn green, if not, go in the "import tab" and select "TEXG_Multilayer_Normal"

OR "TEXG_Generic_Normal" and import it, it should fix the problem.

You can now "Save" the image

You can now open the saved file with your drawing software, and select the scar.

Copy and paste it on the normal map of the game

You can see that the copy paste isn't smooth and have created rough edges, you will have to erase them with a smooth brushe.

When you are done with this part, you can save your file as a .PNG, keep it for later.

Now that the diffuse and the normal map are done , there remains one map to do, the roughness map.

Note that the roughness map is not really necessary for creating the scar BUT it brings more realism to it.

With a roughness map, you can give differents textures just by changing the colors you are using, see the examples :

You will have to copy the scar made on the diffuse map and paste it on the roughness map.

Now you have to change the colors to make them match with their elements

You can now replace all the textures by your textures in Wkit. Export and Import and then see the result in-game.

This guide was originally written by Halk and imported with their permission. You can find the original .

This will help you from Step 6 and forward from NCT’s guide.

With WolvenKit

1. After your tattoo is where you want it, and you’ve turned off all the other layers, flip your file vertically - do not just rotate, you gotta use the Flip Canvas Vertical option. Save your file as a .png on a transparent background. From: To:

2. Open WKit and , name it as you want your mod’s .archive to look like in the mod folder. Or not, I’m not your dad. Do not save your WKit projects in the Cyberpunk folder.

3. Your Project Explorer tab will look different, this is just how I like to organize my tattoo making by putting all my files in the same place. (Anything you put in the RAW folder will not make it to the game mod!) I’m replacing a Masc V body tattoo, so I need the original .xbm file of it to make my import. This is where the “Help with file Names” document from NCT’s guide comes handy. I’m replacing the Tattoo 1 in the Character Creator. The guide tells me that the name of its file is tattoo_body__customisation_01. Since it’s for Masc V, I need the _d01 variant. As you can see, I already have the file I need extracted and ready to use down there. Assuming you don’t, head over to the Asset Browser and look for the file you need. Again, refer to the document in NCT’s guide. Double click to add it to your project. Your Project Explorer tab will now look like this!

3. Once everything is correctly set up, just click Install on the upper menu so it packs and installs your replacement to the game, then test it! (I am not sure if you need to do anything else to use it as a REDmod, but I don’t use REDmod so I won’t guarantee it works if you just use “Install as REDmod”.)