Overhaul of information & addition of reference pictures: June 16 2024 by LadyLea
Last documented edit: June 26 2024 by AllKnowingLion
It is highly recommended to fully read the official description pages of the following Texture Frameworks and the respective Body Mods on Nexus Mods - as further information can be found and also to keep track of any updates.
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
Gender & Body part
Relative file path
Femme body
Body Skin Textures base\characters\common\base_bodies\woman_average\textures\t0_000_wa__c_base_d02_naked.xbm base\characters\common\base_bodies\woman_average\textures\t0_000_wa__c_base_n02_naked.xbm
Left Arm/Cyberarms & Right Arm/Cyberarms Skin Textures base\characters\common\base_bodies\woman_average\textures\arms_hq\a0_000_wa__c_base_hq_d01.xbm base\characters\common\skin\torso\normal_details\a0_000_wa_base__hq_nd01.xbm base\characters\common\base_bodies\woman_average\textures\arms_hq\a0_000_wa__base_hq_rm01.xbmbase\characters\common\skin\torso\normal_details\a0_000_base__normaldetail_01.xbm base\characters\common\skin\torso\arms_hq\a0_000_base_c__tintcolormask_hq.xbm
Masc body
Body Skin Textures base\characters\common\base_bodies\man_average\textures\t0_000_ma__c_base_d03_naked.xbm base\characters\common\base_bodies\man_average\textures\t0_000_ma__c_base_n03_naked.xbm
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:
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.
Following the 4.0 Update, the UV Framework is compatible with ALL body mods, regardless of framework.
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.
A detailed "how to" guide can be found in the UV Texture Framework resources files, along with .PNG files for the uv layouts for the body and arms. For further questions, troubleshooting, and community-sourced resources go to the KS Discord server.
Hq Arm Skin Textures
base\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_hq_l_arm_d01.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_hq_l_arm_nd01.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_hq_l_arm_rm01.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_hq_r_arm_d01.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_hq_r_arm_nd01.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_hq_r_arm_rm01.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_a0_a_tintcolormask_hq.xbmbase\4k\common\arms_hq\wa\wa_a0_b_tintcolormask_hq.xbm
Hq Arm Tattoo Textures
base\4k\common\overlays\arms_hq\wa\wa_l_arm_glow_overlay_d01.xbmbase\4k\common\overlays\arms_hq\wa\wa_l_arm_overlay_d01.xbmbase\4k\common\overlays\arms_hq\wa\wa_r_arm_glow_overlay_d01.xbmbase\4k\common\overlays\arms_hq\wa\wa_r_arm_overlay_d01.xbm
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.
Right Arm/Cyberarms Tattoo Texturesbase\characters\player\masculine\body\arms\textures\masculine_arm_right_01_overlay.xbm base\characters\player\masculine\body\arms\textures\masculine_arm_right_01_glow.xbm
Masc head
currently not available
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:
UV Framework
VTK
Separate download for framework files / from body mods
Framework is open source and can be included with a body mod download
Arms and body share textures in base version
Arms on different texture same as original vanilla arms
Universal body mod support (4.0+)
Secondary file for split Hq arm textures, tattoo overlays, and normals maps (4.1+)
4k textures (Cyberpink - Kwek x Fireapple) built in to base framework for body and arms:
diffuse (d), normals (n), detail normals (nd), roughness (rm), tintcolormask
Full set of HD textures for body, arms, and head included: diffuse (d), normals (n), detail normals (nd), roughness (rm) and tintcolormask
Optional file for 8k body+arm texture (Bedellia x Ava Skin)
Separate body overlays for each body gender
Separate body overlays for each body gender
Unique Skintone .mi (Material instance) files
Emissive (glow) overlay
Emissive (glow) overlay
Upscaled micro-detailing for body, arms, and head
Cyberarms built in to base version
Cyberarms separate, can be included if modder chooses to
