Steam Getting image and GIF files for My Workshop Showcase Slots – With Free Software

Steam Getting image and GIF files for My Workshop Showcase Slots – With Free Software

Hey there, fellow Steam enthusiasts! Ever wondered how to make your Workshop items pop without breaking the bank on fancy software? Well, you’re in luck! I’m gonna walk you through creating awesome images and GIFs for your Steam Workshop showcase using totally free tools. Trust me, I’ve been there – staring at my bland Workshop page, wishing I could jazz it up. But after some trial and error (and a few accidental desktop wallpapers), I figured out a way to make it shine. So, let’s dive in and get your five showcase slots looking sharp!

Quick Answer

To create image and GIF files for your Steam Workshop Showcase slots:

1. Use PhotoScape to edit and split images into 5 pieces (about 126-145 pixels wide each)
2. Use EZGIF.com to crop GIFs into 5 pieces (128×958 pixels each)
3. Use HxD to make final adjustments to both image and GIF files

Getting Started with Images

First things first, let’s talk about the tools you’ll need for images:

• PhotoScape: This nifty free software is perfect for converting raw files and adding cool filters.
• HxD: A free hex editor that’ll help us make those final tweaks.

Snagging Your Base Image

Already got an image in mind? Awesome, you can skip ahead to the editing part. If not, here’s how to grab one from your Steam account:

1. Head to your profile and click on “Screenshots”. Find one you like, right-click, and hit “Save image as”.
2. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, go to your “Inventory”, pick a background, click “View Full Size”, then right-click and “Save image as”.

Sprucing Up Your Image

Now that you’ve got your image, let’s make it showcase-worthy:

1. Fire up PhotoScape and click on the “Editor” tab. This is where the magic happens!
2. Next, hop over to the “Splitter” tab. We’re aiming for a 630-pixel wide image for the Featured Artwork Showcase, so let’s assume the same for My Workshop Showcase. With five slots to fill, each piece should be around 126 pixels wide.

Here’s a pro tip I learned the hard way: the width of each piece can make or break how it looks in the slots. If your image is taller than 1000 pixels, go for 135-145 pixels wide. For shorter images, stick to 120-125 pixels.

3. In the “Splitter” tab, set the “Width” to 140 pixels and keep the “Height” at 1202 pixels. Hit “Split” and watch as your image turns into 14 pieces, each 140 x 1202 pixels.
4. Now, pick the five pieces that show off the best parts of your image. These are your showcase stars!
5. Open each piece in HxD. Scroll all the way down, change the last two digits to “21”, and save it as a new file.

Repeat that last step for all five files, and boom! Your image files are ready to upload to My Workshop Showcase!

Getting Animated with GIFs

Now, let’s tackle those eye-catching GIFs. Here’s what you’ll need:

• EZGIF website: This free online tool is a GIF-editing powerhouse.
• HxD: Yep, we’re using this again for some final tweaks.

Cropping Your GIF Like a Pro

Follow these steps to get your GIF showcase-ready:

1. Head over to EZGIF.com.
2. Click the “Crop” tab, upload your GIF, and hit “Upload!”
3. Now, let’s set up the cropping window:
   • For the first piece: Left = 0, Top = 0, Width = 128, Height = 958.
   • Click “Set” then “Crop image!”
   • Save that cropped goodness.
4. For the second piece, go back one step and upload again. This time, set:
   • Left = 128, Top = 0, Width = 128, Height = 958.
5. Hit “Set”, then “Crop image!” and save it.
6. Rinse and repeat for the other three pieces, tweaking the left position each time.

Here’s a handy table to keep track of your cropping dimensions:

Piece	Left	Top	Width	Height
1st	0	0	128	958
2nd	128	0	128	958
3rd	256	0	128	958
4th	384	0	128	958
5th	512	0	128	958

And just like that, you’ve got all five GIF pieces ready to roll!

Getting Creative with Custom GIFs

Want to flex those creative muscles? Try making your own animated GIFs:

1. Check out Giphy’s GIF Maker and upload your images.
2. Go wild with customization and animation, then save your masterpiece.
3. If it saves as a .webp file, no worries! Just use EZGIF’s video to GIF converter to switch it to a .gif file.

For even more pizzazz, sites like PhotoMosh offer cool filters. But remember, Steam has a 5MB file size limit, so don’t go too crazy!

The Final Touch with HxD

Last but not least, let’s give those GIFs the same treatment as our images:

1. Open each GIF in HxD, scroll to the end, change the last two digits to “21”, and save it as a new file.
2. Do this for all five GIF files.

And there you have it, folks! You’ve now got five awesome GIF files ready to make your Steam Workshop Showcase shine!

Wrapping It Up

Congratulations! You’ve just leveled up your Steam Workshop game. With these eye-catching images and GIFs, your showcase is gonna stand out like a rare item drop. Remember, it might take a bit of practice to get everything just right, but don’t get discouraged. I spent a whole weekend tweaking my first showcase, and let me tell you, the reactions from my Steam friends made it totally worth it.

So go ahead, upload those files, and watch your Workshop page transform. Who knows? You might just inspire the next Steam Workshop superstar. Happy showcasing, and may your Workshop items always be in demand!