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Convert SFM/GMOD Models Into MMD Flawlessly!

Posted on March 3, 2019July 8, 2024 By Haztract 49 Comments on Convert SFM/GMOD Models Into MMD Flawlessly!

How do I convert SFM/GMOD models to MMD?
From where do I get SFM/GMOD models?

Is it possible to edit converted SFM/GMOD models in PMXEditor?

 

Do you ever see a pretty model that is for SFM or GMOD and wish that it was for MMD? Well, look no further! In this article, I will explain everything you have to do to get your dream models into MMD! This is a really long process so please stay focused.

Convert SFM/GMOD Models Into MMD Flawlessly!

First, you need to download the following programs (See your computer’s OS properties to download the correct program):

UPDATE:
6/14/2023 by reader Fahmi4869:
Some of the links in this article are already down so I need to google some of them. I use MMD Tools made by UuuNyaa on Github because it’s the latest one (the Sugiany’s version is already outdated), and also I use Blender v3.1 and it works like a charm!

Blender 2.79
GWTool: drive.google.com/file/d/1X5arhID8fPjchcdHj8vK31lPDA_cNJCn/view
VTFEdit: nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?c=178
Crowbar
MMD Tools
Source Tools


Step 1: Applying MMD Tools and Source Tools to Blender.

After you download and install Blender on your computer:

1. Open Blender.
2. Go to [File>User Preferences].
3. At the bottom, click on [Install Add-on from File].
4. Go to the folder where MMD tools is located then click on its ZIP/RAR file to install the add-on, do the same for Source Tools.
5. In the User Preferences window, search for “MMD Tools” and “Source Tools” then check the boxes next to them.

Step 2: Downloading the models.

Two sites I prefer for downloading models the non-Steam way is garrysmod.org and SFMLab. You can also download models through the Steam Workshop Downloader website to download models only available on Steam.

  • Method for SFM/GMOD Models downloaded through SFMLab/garrysmod.org:

1. Download the model.
2. Unzip the file.

You’ll have two folders: “models” and “materials”. The “models” folder has files that have the extensions (.mdl), (.vvd), (.phy), and (.vtx). We don’t need the VVD, the PHY, and the VTX files because they are additional data that work only in SFM and GMOD so you can delete them. We must focus on the MDL file. That’s the model’s data, similar to PMX and PMD but MDL files are compressed and need decompiling or decompression.

The “materials” folder has files that have the extensions (.vmt) and (.vtf) which stand for “Valve Material File” and “Valve Texture File” which can be opened using VTFEdit. VMT files are code so you can delete them. VTF files have the textures in image file formats which are what we need.

The method for SFM models downloaded through the Steam Workshop Downloader is the same. 


  • Method for GMOD Models downloaded through the Steam Workshop Downloader:

When the download is finished, you’ll have a file that has the extension (.gma). Rename it to a simpler name (Ex: NameHere.gma) then decompress by doing the following:

1. Open GWTool.
2. Drag the GMA file into the GWTool window.

The program will extract the GMA file into a (.7z) file.

3. Extract the 7z file with 7-Zip.

The 7-Zip file will extract a ZIP file. Decompressed it with 7-Zip. You’ll have the two folders: “models” and “materials”.

Step 3: Decompiling the MDL files.

Go to the “models” folder and do the following:

1. Open Crowbar.
2. Go to the decompile tab.
3. Drag the MDL file into the program window.
4. Choose an output folder and uncheck the following settings:

  • Physics mesh SMD file
  • Bone animation SMD files

In the output folder, a bunch of files will be extracted. Most of them have the extension (.smd) and one file has the extension (.qc).

The SMD files are the model separated into multiple parts or assets. This is very helpful if you only want a part of the model. The QC file is the complete model unseparated, that’s the one we need.

Step 4: Decompressing the VTF files.

After you complete decompressing the MDL files, you have to extract the textures. This is where VTFEdit comes into play. After you download and install VTFEdit, go to the “materials” and do the following:

1. Open VTFEdit.
2. Drag the VTF file into the VTFEdit window.
3. Make a folder for the textures, I’ll call mine “Tex”, and save the textures in the folder either as a TGA file or a PNG file to keep transparency.

Step 5: Converting the models to PMX format.

Now you have to convert the model to PMX format by using Blender, MMD Tools, and Source Tools.

1. Open Blender.
2. Go to [File>Import].
3. Look for [Source Engine (.smd, .vta, .dmx, .qc)] and click on it.
4. Look for the model’s QC file and import it into Blender.

There are multiple tabs on the left. If you have installed MMD Tools correctly, you’ll see a tab titled “MMD”.

5. Click on the MMD tab.
6. If your model has bones (the small spheres on the model) then click “Convert” to convert the bones to the MMD bone format. If your model doesn’t have any bones, then click “Create”.
7. Click “Attach meshes to model”.
8. Go to [File>Export] and look for [MikuMikuDance Model (.pmx)] then click on it.
9. Look for a folder to save your model.

Step 6: Editing the models in PMXEditor. (Applying Textures and fixing minor errors)

Although you did convert the model to PMX format, there are still some errors. Some are the model is too large and the model is missing textures. Here’s how you fix these errors:

  • Fixing size:

1. Open PMXEditor.
2. Drag model in PMXEditor window.
3. In “Add/Scale” window, go to the lower right part of the window and write 0.3 in the box next to the word “Custom”.

0.3 is the normal size for most SFM/GMOD models to fit the MMD height. But you can resize it as much as you want!

  • Applying textures:

1. In the materials tab, select all the model parts and change “Diffuse” and “Ambient” color boxes to white and the “Specular” color box to black.
2. Normally, the textures are named the same as the model parts. So find the texture that has the same name as the model part.
3. Add/Edit some extra things to the model to your liking. Such as adding morphs, adding toon or spheres, re-rigging some parts, or connecting bones to each other.


That’s it! You have your model ready for MMD!
Ask your questions in the comments and I’ll answer them all!

See you in the next article!


– SEE BELOW for MORE MMD TUTORIALS…


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Haztract, MMD Tutorials, PMDE/PMXE tutorials, SFM/GMOD models Tags:MMD GMOD/SFM mmd pmx editor haztract sfm gmod

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Comments (49) on “Convert SFM/GMOD Models Into MMD Flawlessly!”

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Newer comments
  1. G7T6 says:
    February 23, 2020 at 10:14 pm

    Actually, never mind. I just figured it out.

    Reply
  2. G7T6 says:
    February 14, 2020 at 11:45 pm

    I opened GWTool.exe, but it requires .NET Framework 3.5. I tried installing .NET Framework 3.5, but it did not work.

    Reply
  3. stoner jesus says:
    January 22, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    What exactly is the process for adding textures, though. (I’m new to using PMXEditor)

    Reply
    1. KillerBeer says:
      January 23, 2020 at 12:06 am

      First you need all the textures in the same folder where your .pmx file resides. Then, you open the model in PMXE, select the “Material” tab, select the part in the list, and type the appropriate file name in the “Texture” field. If you can’t tell from the name which part is which, go to the PMXView window, press the “M” toolbar button or F3 in the keyboard, and use the masking panel to find out.

      Reply
      1. stoner jesus says:
        January 23, 2020 at 3:52 pm

        thank you!

        Reply
  4. Waldi says:
    October 2, 2019 at 2:06 pm

    So after porting a sfm model to mmd, how do you change the bone structure to mmd bone structure?

    Reply
  5. FaZe_JohnS says:
    September 13, 2019 at 12:49 pm

    hello I have this problem, when I try to activate the source tools my blender 2.79 sends an error message and does not let me activate it, any solution?

    Reply
  6. Josh says:
    July 4, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    hey! I was trying to do this, and had done it successfully with a model the other day. I followed the steps perfectly for a second time, and my textures aren’t going onto the model correctly. The names also don’t match up to the materials, which is confusing. The materials seem to be matching up to the vmt files, instead. This model also has several versions of itself, within the same model, for different skins? I explained everything here:
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/P3VmzCJQkDJhQSty8
    if there’s anything you can do, please help! I appreciate it a lot.

    Reply
  7. akira says:
    May 31, 2019 at 9:35 am

    is it possible to do it the other way? i mean from mmd to sfm

    Reply
  8. Haztract says:
    May 1, 2019 at 6:48 pm

    If anyone has problems with the MMD Tools addon, here is an updated link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GIbmzQVBpnDtz-ZWJi7eS7BjGUbhbfkg

    Reply
  9. Haha N says:
    May 1, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    Hey can you help me? The Blender one is really hard for me. I have a bone on my model, but you said “Convert” i don’t know which Convert it is. And “Attach meshes to model” i don’t see that option.

    Reply
    1. Haztract says:
      May 6, 2019 at 5:10 pm

      Updated link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GIbmzQVBpnDtz-ZWJi7eS7BjGUbhbfkg

      Reply
  10. reaper says:
    April 8, 2019 at 7:53 pm

    hey this worked for the most part but i have no clue how to get the textures in. my model is grey and i have the texture files converted to png but when i try to put them in they just appear as a giant flat image behind the model. thx for your help

    Reply
    1. Haztract says:
      April 12, 2019 at 4:38 am

      Can you send me an image?

      Email: [email protected]

      Reply
    2. Haztract says:
      May 6, 2019 at 5:11 pm

      Try again with this: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GIbmzQVBpnDtz-ZWJi7eS7BjGUbhbfkg

      Reply
  11. cronitoxfanart says:
    April 5, 2019 at 10:34 pm

    what version PMX use to this tutorial?

    Reply
    1. Haztract says:
      April 6, 2019 at 9:26 am

      PMX 2.0 and not PMX 2.1

      If you’re talking about PMXEditor, then I personally use Inochi-PM’s PMXEditor: https://www.deviantart.com/inochi-pm/art/PmxEditor-vr-0254f-English-Version-v2-0-766313588

      Reply
  12. yo says:
    April 5, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    i have a issue when i tried to export to pmx
    something about uknown file?

    Reply
    1. Haztract says:
      April 6, 2019 at 9:35 am

      Can you send me an image?

      Email: [email protected]

      Reply
    2. Haztract says:
      May 6, 2019 at 5:11 pm

      Try again with this: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GIbmzQVBpnDtz-ZWJi7eS7BjGUbhbfkg

      Reply
  13. Lucy96 says:
    March 30, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    whenever i try to export it in pmx format i get an error in blender

    Reply
    1. Reggie_Dentmore says:
      March 31, 2019 at 2:00 pm

      What does the error say??

      Reply
    2. Haztract says:
      April 6, 2019 at 9:36 am

      Can you send me an image?

      Email: [email protected]

      Reply
    3. Haztract says:
      May 6, 2019 at 5:12 pm

      Try again with this: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GIbmzQVBpnDtz-ZWJi7eS7BjGUbhbfkg

      Reply
  14. Koko says:
    March 4, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    is it possible to convert mmd models to gmod?

    Reply
    1. Reggie_Dentmore says:
      March 5, 2019 at 11:56 am

      I sent a note to the author… I hope he gets back to you, soon.

      Reply
    2. Haztract says:
      March 6, 2019 at 5:11 am

      Yes, but I don’t know how.

      Reply
  15. TheWeirdOtaku says:
    March 4, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    When trying to install MMD-tools, it doesn’t show up in the add-on list.

    Reply
    1. bandages says:
      March 4, 2019 at 2:43 pm

      Then it was probably not installed correctly. See https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/23053/im-trying-to-install-this-add-on-blender-mmd-tools for installation instructions (or look on the MMD Tools wiki documentation.)

      Reply
      1. TheWeirdOtaku says:
        March 5, 2019 at 4:49 pm

        Got it, thank you!

        Reply

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