Under construction.
¶ Introduction
Using texture mods, you can totally change the appearance of the game - basically it lets you create custom textures for existing and custom blocks and items.
The limit is your imagination (and maybe the download speed of the player).
¶ Building Your Mod
- To get started, you’ll want to download the base game texture files. Extract these textures to a folder you can easily access and don’t touch the files besides copying them; you can copy/paste the files you need later, keeping the originally extracted textures as they are.
- ModWork is an easy and fast way to see your mod locally as you work. Its biggest pro is that you don’t have to restart your game every time you author a new texture. Just save the texture and alt-tab back into the game for instant updates!
- Trackmania textures are based on the PBR workflow. The way the textures are comprised is very common in other recent video games.
For Trackmania mods, texture formats are stored as.ddsfiles - if you use Photoshop, the free tool NVIDIA Texture Tools Exporter is perfect for authoring.ddstextures; it also automatically creates mipmaps!
Technically.pngfiles are supported as well, but it’s strongly recommended to stick to.dds-.pngdoes not support mipmaps, which significantly improve how textures are shown/filtered at a distance.
To get started, drag the texture you want to edit from theModWorkfolder into an image editor of your choice and do your magic.
Check out the Texture List for a quick reference of the different texture formats.
If you’re looking for creative commons-licensed textures to use, check out this list of texture sites (compiled by BigthirstyTM).
¶ Applying And Hosting Your Mod
Mods are not contained in the maps they’re associated with - instead the players will automatically try to download the mod when they open the map. To make sure it all goes smoothly, you’ll want to make sure your mod is accessible and referenced correctly.
As a side note: Keep in mind players with slow connections may take a while to get the mod. If they’re playing on a server, there’s a chance they won’t get the mod until they reload the map. So it’s worth testing the map without the mod and making sure it’s playable.
Once you’re happy with your mod, check out the mod hosting guide to see how you can make it available for other players.
¶ Troubleshooting
Texture mods can be a challenge - there’s lots of things that can trip you up.
For answers to the most common questions, see the mods troubleshooting page.
¶ Folder Structure
In order for the mod to work properly, your textures need to be placed in the proper directories.
ModName.zip: A zip folder named however you choose.
- Image: The majority of your textures go here.
- Moods: Contains ambience textures, like the skybox.
- Car Effects: Modified car textures sit directly in the zip, they don’t have a subfolder.
¶ Texture List
¶ Suffixes
| Suffix | Format | Filetype | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _D | Diffuse | DDS (BC1) DDS (BC3 if transparent) |
Base image/texture | |
| _H | DDS (BC1) | Height | Grey (128,128,128) is levelBlack (0,0,0) lowers elevationsWhite (255,255,255) raises elevation |
|
| _I | Illum | Self-illumination, texture glows but doesn’t emit light | ||
| _L | Color of lightbulbs/LEDs | Displaced by _H |
||
| _M | DDS (BC1) | Mask (black/white) | Color is determined by DecalPaint_D |
|
| _N | Normal | DDS (BC5) | Texture that stores a direction at each pixel | |
| _O | Texture overlaid on top of glass (grayscale) | |||
| _R | Roughness | DDS (BC5) | Roughness (matte/shiny) Metallic |
Can be kept as greyscale (BC1) if not used. |
| _T | Glass colour | |||
| _X2 | DDS (BC1) | Large overlay for color values | Upscaled texture for CustomMaterial projection |
¶ Hue Masks
- _HueMask
- _HueMask2
- _HueShiftMask
These textures determine what is tintable and what isn’t - they use the RGB channels.
Red and Blue are kept black, Green follows these rules:
- White pixels determine what is colorable.
- Black pixels determine what isn’t.
- Greyscale can be used to blend with the corresponding material’s
_Dcolor.
¶ Image
| Name | Used For | _D | _H | _I | _L | _M | _N | _O | _R | _T | _X2 | _HueShiftMask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ad1x1Screen | “Default” 1x1 Sign | |||||||||||
| Ad2x1Screen | “Default” 2x1 Sign | |||||||||||
| Ad4x1Screen | “Default” 4x1 Sign | |||||||||||
| AdScreenOff | “Off” Sign | |||||||||||
| Canopy | Canopy | _D | _N | _R | ||||||||
| CanopyGlass | Canopy Glass | _D | _N | _R | ||||||||
| CanopyStructure | _D | _H | _I | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| Chrono | _D | _H | _I | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| ChronoCheckpoint | Checkpoint Appearance | _I | ||||||||||
| ChronoFinish | Finish Appearance | _I | ||||||||||
| CustomBricks | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomConcrete | _D | _N | _R | _X2 | ||||||||
| CustomDirt | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomGrass | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomIce | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomMetal | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomMetalPainted | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomModColorize | _D | _N | _R | _HueShiftMask | ||||||||
| CustomModDecal | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomModOpaque | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomModSelfIllum | _D | _H | _I | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| CustomModTrans | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomPlastic | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomRock | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomRockPxz | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomRockPy | _X2 | |||||||||||
| CustomRoughWood | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomSand | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| CustomSnow | _D | _N | _R | _X2 | ||||||||
| DecalCurbs | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalLogo4x1 | _M | |||||||||||
| DecalLogo8x1 | _M | |||||||||||
| DecalMarks | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalMarksItems | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalMarksRamp | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalMarksStart | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalObstaclePusher | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalObstacleTube | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalObstacleTurnstile | _N | _R | ||||||||||
| DecalObstacleTurnstileLeft | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalObstacleTurnstileRight | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalPaint | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalPaint2 | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalPlatform | _D | _N 1 | _R | |||||||||
| DecalPlatformDirt | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalPlatformGrass | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalPlatformIce | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalPlatformPlastic | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecial | _N | _R | ||||||||||
| DecalSpecialBoost | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialBoost2 | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialCruise | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialFragile | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialNoBrake | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialNoEngine | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialNoSteering | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialReset | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialSlowMotion | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialTurbo | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialTurbo2 | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSpecialTurboRoulette | _D | |||||||||||
| DecalSponsor1x1BigA | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecalSponsor4x1A | _M | |||||||||||
| DecalSponsor4x1B | _M | |||||||||||
| DecalSponsor4x1C | _M | |||||||||||
| DecalSponsor4x1D | _M | |||||||||||
| DecoHill | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecoHill2 | _D | |||||||||||
| DecoHillDirt | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecoHillDirt2 | _D | |||||||||||
| DecoHillDirtPy | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecoHillIce | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecoHillIce2 | _D | |||||||||||
| DecoHillIcePy | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DecoHillPy | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| DirtPy | _D | _N | _R | _X2 | ||||||||
| GlassWaterWall | _N | _O | _R | _T | ||||||||
| Grass | _D | _N | _R | _X2 | ||||||||
| GrassFence | _D | |||||||||||
| IceMarks | _M | _N | _R | |||||||||
| IcePy | _N | _R | ||||||||||
| ItemAd1x1ScreenSmall | _I | |||||||||||
| ItemAd1x1ScreenSmallB | _I | |||||||||||
| ItemAd1x1ScreenSmallC | _I | |||||||||||
| ItemAd1x1ScreenSmallWrongWay | _I | |||||||||||
| ItemBase | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemBorder | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemCactus | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemCherryTreeBranch | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemCherryTreePetals | _D | _N | ||||||||||
| ItemCypressBranch | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemFallTreeBranch | _D | |||||||||||
| ItemFallTreePetals | _D | _N | ||||||||||
| ItemFirBranch | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemFirSnowBranch | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemFlag | _D | _R | ||||||||||
| ItemInflatableFloor | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemInflatableMat | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemInflatableTube | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemLamp | _D | _H | _I | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| ItemLampB | _I | |||||||||||
| ItemLampC | _I | |||||||||||
| ItemObstacle | _D 2 | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemObstacleLight | _D | _H | _I 2 | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| ItemObstaclePusher | _D 2 | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemPalmTreeBark | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemPalmTreeBranch | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemPillar | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemRamp | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemRoadSign | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemSpectator | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemSpringTreeBranch | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemSupportConnector | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemSupportTube | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemTrackBarrier | _D 3 | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ItemTrackBarrierB | _D 3 | |||||||||||
| ItemTrackBarrierC | _D 3 | |||||||||||
| ItemTreeTrunk | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| LightCells | _N | _R | ||||||||||
| LightCells2 | _D | _H | _L | _N | _R | |||||||
| LightCells3 | _D | _H | _L | _N | _R | |||||||
| LightSpot | _D | _H | _I | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| LightSpot2 | _D | _H | _L | _N | _R | |||||||
| OpenDirtBorders | _D | |||||||||||
| OpenGrassBorders | _D | |||||||||||
| OpenIceBorders | _D | |||||||||||
| OpenTechBorders | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| PlatformGrass | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| PlatformIce | _D | _H | ||||||||||
| PlatformTech | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| Pylon | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| RaceAd6x1 | ||||||||||||
| RaceArch | _D | _H | _L | _N | _R | |||||||
| RaceArchCheckpoint | _I | |||||||||||
| RaceArchFinish | _I | |||||||||||
| RaceScreenStart | _I | |||||||||||
| RoadBump | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| RoadDirt | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| RoadIce | _D | _H | ||||||||||
| RoadTech | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ScreenBack | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| ScreenPusher | _D | _H | _I | _L 2 | _N | _R | ||||||
| SpecialFXBoost | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXBoost2 | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXCruise | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXFragile | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXNoBrake | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXNoEngine | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXNoSteering | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXReset | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXSlowMotion | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXTurbo | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXTurbo2 | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialFXTurboRoulette 4 | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignBoost | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignBoost2 | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignBoost2Down | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignBoostDown | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignCruise | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignFragile | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignNoBrake | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignNoEngine | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignNoSteering | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignOff | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignReset | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignSlowMotion | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignTurbo | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignTurbo2 | _I | |||||||||||
| SpecialSignTurboRoulette | _I | |||||||||||
| Speedometer | _D | _I | _N | _R | ||||||||
| Structure | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| Technics | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| TechnicsSpecials | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| TechnicsTrims | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| TrackBorders | _D | _H | _I | _L | _N | _R | ||||||
| TrackWall | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| TrackWallClips | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| TrackWallPxz | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| TrackWallPy | _X2 | |||||||||||
| Underwater | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| WarpGlass | _D | _N | ||||||||||
| Water_SxSySz | ||||||||||||
| WaterBorders | _D | _N | _R | |||||||||
| WaterFog | ||||||||||||
| Waterground | _D | _N | _R |
- DecalPlatform has two _N textures, one DDS and one TGA.
- Add a second suffix depending on type of obstacle:
- Pink: _DiscontinuousLevel0
- Violet: _DiscontinuousLevel1
- Indigo: _DiscontinuousLevel2
- Yellow: _Level0
- Orange: _Level1
- Red: _Level2
- ItemTrackBarrier_D uses _HueMask. ItemTrackBarrierB_D and C_D use _HueMask2.
- SpecialFXTurboRoulette_LightColor exists.
¶ Moods
| Name | Used For |
|---|---|
| AmbCube | |
| AmbCubeP | |
| Clouds | Cloud shadows moving on top of the map |
| EnvCubicHdr | Cubemap reflections on the car (DDS BC6U) |
| Fresnel | |
| IconMoodSmall | |
| Mood.MoodSetting.xml | Determines parameters for the mood. For more info see this forum post |
| SkyClouds | Cloud textures |
| SkyColor | Skybox texture (DDS BC6U) |
¶ Car Effects
| Name | Used For |
|---|---|
| CarAsphaltMarks | Skidmarks on road. |
| CarDirtMarks | Skidmarks on dirt. |
| CarDirtSmoke | Smoke while skidding on dirt. |
| CarGrassMarks | Skidmarks on grass. |
| EnvLayerDirt_D | Unknown |