How to Bind & Create an L4D Spray

Creating the Spray

• 1

  Open a new document in a photo-editing program. GIMP, Adobe Photoshop and Corel PaintShop Pro all work for editing graphics.

• 2

  Set the size of the document to 256 by 256 pixels. Set the background to transparent. Click "OK" to open and start designing the spray.

• 3

  Copy and paste an image into the new document. The image acts as a base, such as a zombie or favorite character from the game. Since L4D is a post-apocalyptic game, find pictures of old advertisements, movie posters and book covers. If you'd rather create your own, select the paintbrush tool or shape tool to create a design.

• 4

  Erase the edges with the eraser tool in choppy, uneven strokes to make the image look ripped and worn. If your program lets you use a burn brush tool or overlay, lower the opacity and brush dark smudges around areas of the image to show decay.

• 5

  Add words to the spray with a text tool. Type your name, character's name or funny phrases like "BRAAINS!" or use the paintbrush tool to scribble the message. As a bloody color from the game, red stands out as a color for text on many backgrounds.

• 6

  Merge any visible layers within the layers menu of the program. Other programs allow you to right-click the layer in the layers dialog and choose "Merge Visible."

• 7

  Click "File" and select "Save As." Select a transparent file format such as .PNG or .TGA. Name your spray, L4DSPRAY or other related phrase.

Converting with VTFEdit

• 8

  Download and install VTFEdit. This program converts the image into a readable game file for L4D.

• 9

  Launch VTFEdit and click "File." Select "Import." Browse to the spray file and select. Click "Open." A VTF Options dialog opens.

• 10

  Set the options to the following: Normal Format to DXT1, Alpha Format to DXT5, Texture Type to Volume Texture, place a check in Resize, Resize Method to Biggest Power of 2, Resize Filter to Triangle, Sharper Filter to None, place a check in Clamp, Maximum Width to 256 and Maximum Height to 256.

• 11

  Uncheck "Generate Mipmaps." Click "OK" when finished with VTF Options. Click "File" in VTFEdit and select "Save As." Save the converted image to the desktop.

Binding to "Left 4 Dead"

• 12

  Launch the "Left 4 Dead" game and click "Options." Click "Multiplayer" and select "Import Spray."

• 13

  Browse to your VTF file and click "Open." Your image automatically binds to the default key "T."

• 14

  Click "Done" when finished. While in-game, walk up to a wall and press the key "T" to spray your image onto the wall.