> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ratstick.gitbook.io/ratstick-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ratstick.gitbook.io/ratstick-docs/modding-guides/hair-color-guides/creating-custom-hair-colors-from-scratch.md).
# Creating Custom Hair Colors from Scratch
This guide will show you how to create a custom hair color including edits in Wolvenkit and making one in Blender.
## Forget everything you know about color theory
The game does not render colors the way you think it will when it comes to .hp. Expect to run through multiple versions and making tweaks in WolvenKit or even Blender.
Blender, even with the updated I/O tool, doesn't render colors exactly how they'll show up in game.
### Blender and game color theory tips
#### Pizza slice of death
Coined by island dancer in the modding discord, the pizza slice of death is:
> a range of colours that will disappear after hair shader is done with it. like ships in the bermuda triangle.
You *may* be able to get lucky by tweaking the strand gradients but best practice to generally avoid them.
#### Gradients
Root to tip gradients are what gives the color, well, it's root to tip color. I try to set a target of no more 5 colors and no fewer than 3 in the gradient before it starts to wash out or only look good on long hair. You can try to experiment, like I did with my gradient stacking in the [Comeback Queen](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/28079) pack.
{% hint style="info" %}
The farther apart on the color wheel two colors are, the better it will look. Two shades of purple will likely not give you the dimension you want as, say, a shade of purple and a shade of magenta. Feel free to look at *any* of my mods in WolvenKit or Blender to get an idea of this.
{% endhint %}
## Creating a new color from scratch
I would pick either a vanilla hair or a hair replacer for this. Note, however, that the color can look wildly different based on the hair and especially in CCXL hairs due to custom material assignments. I'll show you how to do it with a CCXL hair because I love pain.
I like to use either Songbird's hair from the base game files or [beaniebby's lob with bangs](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/19191?tab=files). Both exist in the base game, I just, again, love pain.
Additionally, there is a quirk with Blender or the I/O tool where it will only import one material unless you specify a couple in the appearances section when importing. It used to import all of them by default but whatever. If you're making a set from scratch, this doesn't really matter since you'll be saving them as new colors. But, if you wanted to edit an existing color it can get annoying.
### Setting up a CCXL hair for export
If you're using a vanilla hair, you can skip straight to exporting from WolvenKit and importing into Blender.
#### Step 1: Un-dynamify materials
Open the hair mesh after adding it to your project and select the ArchiveXL tool and click "Un-dynamify materials."
One that's done, you should see everything filled out like this.
Next, you will need to add some of the textures to your project. I usually just do one to save my sanity.
Save the file after un-dynamifying materials then select all the colors you want to delete. Right click, and select "Delete from array/buffer." Then, click on Clean up and select Delete unused materials.
Next, expand the localMaterialBuffer > materials > and the long\_ version of the color you selected. Add the base material and the hair profile.
Now, you can export the mesh. I'm assuming some familiarity with WolvenKit, if you need help, you can [find a guide on the main wiki](https://wiki.redmodding.org/wolvenkit/wolvenkit-app/tools/tools-import-export). The default settings are fine to use.
#### Step 2: Importing into Blender
{% hint style="info" %}
If you get a message saying "Invalid .hp" you can ignore it.
{% endhint %}
If your hair has submeshes, you can choose to merge them or just leave as is. I like to merge them so I can see how the color might look on shorter hair with the bangs. (Select all submeshes in the right panel, move your mouse into the viewport, and hit ctrl + J to join.)
Now, switch into the Shading view.
{% hint style="info" %}
You can change any of the viewport shading settings until something looks somewhat right and you can also spawn a light to try and get it closer to how it *might* look in game. I still have no idea how to get it right. Again, I do this to myself.
{% endhint %}
Just putting this here again, these are what you'll change in blender.
My initial run isn't as bright as I want so I'm going to keep tweaking with the two sections until I get something I want.
Sure, why not. Now, you can rename it.
Open the Cyberpunk 2077 Blender tool menu, expand Material, and select Export Hair Profile. Make sure the mesh is selected still on the left or you'll get an error.
### Back to WolvenKit
You'll find the exported color under the vanilla folder structure inside the raw folder.
Right click on it and select "Convert from JSON." It was add it as a .hp, creating the same vanilla folder structure if you didn't move it.
If it's just one color and you want to make it a replacer, rename it to the vanilla color you want it to replace. I have some tips around evaluating what color to choose in my guide: [How to Create a Hair Color Replacer](/ratstick-docs/modding-guides/hair-color-guides/how-to-create-a-hair-color-replacer.md)
Because I like pain and make CCXL hair colors, I just do everything CCXL first and then test them in game and make edits in WolveKit. There is a guide to CCXL on the main wiki and I also have my [template folder structure here](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/23978).
## Tweaking a hair profile in WolvenKit
If you need to make changes, I find it easiest to just tweak it in WolvenKit. You can do it in Blender if you saved the file but I'm lazy and once you do them enough times you get a better feel for what to tweak.
The root to tip is upside down with the tips at the top and root at the bottom.
Select the record you want to edit and click on the color bar to tweak it.
I usually take a more conservative approach to editing. These are some general tips:
* **Lighter**: Move it up and to the left
* **Darker**: Down and to the right for more vibrant, down and to the left for more muted
* **More vibrant**: This is tricky and may require a few different edits. I start moving it just straight up because the further right you go and the more saturated it gets, the more it can get muddy with the other colors. Don't ask me why, ask CDPR.
Once you have your edits done, just save the file. This is how you can tweak any of my hair profiles to make new colors or just for a custom edit.
## Custom caps for CCXL
If you're using my template or another template, go ahead and export the cap .XBMs
I use Photoshop but you can use any editor with a gradient tool. I usually have my reference photos up in a preview as I edit the cap colors.
### Cap color tips
* Pick something a little darker than you default colors if you don't want it to look kinda whack.
* You can also just do one solid color like black or brown or blonde if you want it to look like grown out roots.
### Creating the gradient
Draw the gradient and click on the dots to change the colors.
You can click anywhere between the dots on the right panel to add more stops if you need to.
#### Pro Tip!!!
I save all my gradients to Photoshop's gradient thing so that I can use them when making my icons.
Then just merge the layers, save, and import back into WolvenKit.
And that's it!!
#### Again, **please feel free to use any of my mods to learn, explore, and make tweaks to make your own colors.**
