Skin making tutorial

=== To make a custom head skin texture variations for the existing vanilla mesh ===
I assume you have already made a race file for your custom race and added it to a race group (fe humans, shek, your own) and you have installed and opened Gimp.
NOTE: the texture files in the heads folder are wrong. Edit only the files in human_male or human_female etc. folders. 
==== STEP 1 - Create head variation files for your custom race ====
When opening your race file, duplicate all head files you wish to replace with a custom texture. Remove all head files you do not want to be available for your race.
Open one of the variations and copy the texture map path
Open your computer's file manager and navigate to your Kenshi folder (usually C:\Program Filesx86\Steam\steamapps\common\Kenshi)
And edit the path by pasting the copied texture map path at the end of it 
so it looks like: 
C:\Program Filesx86\Steam\steamapps\common\Kenshi.\data\character\skins\human_female\human_female_head_variant6_diffuse_HI.dds
Remove the . away from between the Kenshi and \data 
Then hit enter it takes a while, but Gimp is opening the file. Remove the x from the Load mipmaps and hit OK. 
==== STEP 2 - Removing transparency ====
Now a warning. The image you open has transparency. I am going to show you how to remove it, BUT USE IT ONLY ON VANILLA TEXTURES or TEXTURES YOU HAVE THE CREATOR'S PERMISSION TO EDIT. This a copy rights thing. Do not edit files you haven't got permission to edit.
How to remove transparency from dds files: Open the dds file on Gimp, go to Layer - Transparency - Threshold Alpha - make it zero
I'M SERIOUS DO THIS ONLY TO LEARN. DO NOT ALTER OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK AND PASS IT ON AS YOUR OWN.
==== STEP 3 - Edit the file and add transparency, export as .dds ====
Do your edits and then add transparency back. Make sure it has an active alpha layer (Layer - Transparency). The eye will have 0 transparency, select it and then invert selection. Pick eraser tool, make it 5000 pixels wide and opacity to 90. Move mouse cursor on the characters nose and hit enter. Export as .dds and DTX5 compression, generate mipmaps.
==== STEP 4 - Correct folder path for the file ====
Move the file you made to a heads folder in your mod folder. If you are making alternate faces for vanilla characters the folder path needs to be exact: character - skins - human_female .\mods\yourmodname\character\skins\human_female\filename.dds
If you are making a custom race the path is: .\mods\yourmodname\character\skins\YourRaceName\filename.dds
==== STEP 5 - Replace each variation texture map path ====
Replace each variation texture map path with the correct link referencing where your new texture is. For each variation a different texture map.
Category:Modding
Category:Skin
Category:Race
Category:Custom skin
Category:Custom race