What is Texmod?

A Lot Of Textures (ALOT) for ME2. Uploaded: 20 Feb 2016. Last Update: 15 Jun 2020. Author: Revan7 Mod: Mass Effect 2 mod pack part 2 just some more things that i and my cousin have made. Mass effect 2 mod pack 1.4 by Revan7 Sep 6 2013 Script ##MOD: Mass Effect 2 Mod pack 1.4 ##Author: Revan7 AKA Zanncorstium Mass effect 2 mod pack Infiniteammo V1.3 by Revan7. Rename 'texmod.exe' to 'MassEffect2.exe' Launch Mass Effect 2 through the Origin client. Double click the ME2 icon within Origin and texmod should launch instead. Revert the filename changes from before, so 'MassEffect2.exe' back to 'texmod.exe', and 'MassEffect2.exe.bak' to 'MassEffect2.exe'. (In that order else you'll get 2 'MassEffect2.exe' files.).

Texmod is a utility to browse, extract, save and modify textures in Direct3D 9 applications.
In order to share and distribute texture modifications, packages can be created which are compressed to prevent further modification.
This modding method allows you to temporarily replace any texture in your application without the need to use an application specific modding tool or replacing any files in your application's installation. Download Texmod here. For Mass Effect it is the natural counterpart to ME3Explorer, which allows for permanent texture replacement.
The application interface offers three modes:

Package mode: If you're looking to run Texmods created by others, this is the correct mode. Add package files to a list and load them into the selected application. Packages on top of the list are loaded first.
Logging mode: If you are looking to extract textures, this is the correct mode. Choose between several options and start in logging mode. You can browse through all loaded textures of the application and save the selected one in the output folder.
You can also use this mode to test textures as you are creating them, without having to build a .tpf to test between edits or restarting your application.
Package Build mode: If you are looking to create a Texmod package file, this is the correct mode. Create a package by selecting a definition file (.log) and entering your name and a comment.

Supported Formats

While Texmod supports most all file formats used in the ME Series, it can't extract nor load the ATI2N / 3DC / BC5 format that is used for normal maps in both ME1 and ME2.
Loading in or creating a tpf that contains them will not return an error, it will simply not display these textures when loaded in-game.

How to launch Mass Effect (1/2/3) with Texmod

Before you can use Texmod, you'll have to load the target application .exe properly ('Target Application' box in the top left corner). Depending on which game you want to launch and which Client you own them on, the technique for loading an exe correctly and launching with Texmod differs.
For the Origin / boxed copy of ME1 and ME2 you can launch 'texmod.exe' and manually browse to the target application exe file ( '.Mass EffectBinariesMassEffect.exe' and '.Mass Effect 2BinariesME2Game.exe') and select them. Simple.
Texmod for mass effect 2

Alternately, you can use a batch-file to automate the renaming process when launching through Origin.
1. Download this .rar containing both 'texmod.bat' and 'Texmod.exe' for ME2.
2. Place 'Texmod.exe' and 'texmod.bat' in the '.Origin GamesMass Effect 2Binaries' folder.
3. Launch 'texmod.bat' and follow the instructions in the prompt in the correct order to go through the entire renaming process. Be sure to select 'ME2Game.exe', NOT 'MassEffect2.exe' in Texmod.
Unlike the renaming process for the Steam version of ME1/ME2, you will need to do this every time you launch.
For the Steam version of ME1 (and ME2) it's a little more complex the first time around:
1. Place 'Texmod.exe' in the Binaries folder.
2. Rename 'MassEffect.exe' (or 'MassEffect2.exe') to anything you want (example: 'MassEffectOriginal.exe').
3. Rename 'Texmod.exe' to 'MassEffect.exe'. Mass effect 2 mod installer

4. Launch 'Masseffect.exe' (=renamed Texmod) through Steam.
5. Point Texmod to your original 'Masseffect.exe' (now renamed)
This renaming process is only necessary the first time you set up, you can leave it like this and every time you launch ME1 or 2 through Steam (whichever you set up) it will launch Texmod instead and you can start the 'real' .exe through Texmod (example: 'MassEffectOriginal.exe').
For ME3 you'll need to use a batch-file to automate the renaming process required when launching through Origin.
1. Download this .rar containing both texmod.bat and 'Texmod.exe' for ME3.
2. Place 'Texmod.exe' and 'texmod.bat' in the '.Origin GamesMass Effect 3BinariesWin32' folder.
3. Launch 'texmod.bat' and follow the instructions in the prompt in the correct order to go through the entire renaming process. Unlike the renaming process for the Steam version of ME1/ME2, you will need to do this every time you launch.

Tip: It is advised you manually browse to and select your .exe under 'Target Application'. Not doing this can cause Texmod to stop functioning on occasion.

Logging mode explained

Once you've successfully added the .exe to 'Target Application' you'll notice the checked options in Logging Mode are no longer grayed out. How you ultimately set this up is up to you. I'll give you some information on each option below.

Draw control and Texture info: This shows text information and controls in red in the top left corner of your screen.
Show texture in upper left corner: Speaks for itself, texture cycle overlay position is the top left corner expanding to the bottom-right.
Replace Texture: This applies a green overlay to objects a diffuse applies to when cycling over them using + and -. The overlay colour will be different for spec-maps (with and without alpha) and normal maps.
Alternative Method: Unknown.
Translucent: Lowers the opacity of the texture overlay.
Output format: Variety of formats available, I strongly advise using 'DDS' to preserve alphas.
Log with: Key used to extract textures. Defaults to 'Enter'.
Output folder: Every successfully extracted texture will be saved to this folder.
DefFile: Location for the definition file you want to use. If you leave this open, Texmod will create a new definition file in the Output folder you selected whenever you extract a texture.
Basic controls for Logging mode in-game:
Numpad +

Mass Effect 2 Texmod Download

Select next texture
Numpad - Select previous texture
Enter Default logging key
* Turns filter mode on. With filter mode on, only textures current visible on screen will
be cycled through.
/ Turns filter mode off. With filter mode off, all loaded textures can be cycled through.

Extracting textures

When extracting a texture the naming will always be similar to this:
MASSEFFECT3.EXE_0x487289A3.dds

The first part will reflect the application the texture was extracted from, the second part is the hash that is used to identify that particular texture with (0x487289A3). Texmod will also generate a file called 'Texmod.def' in the same folder, but you don't really need it. I'll explain how to create these from scratch later in this guide.
While it's tempting to change the name of textures completely, I'd advise keeping the hash in there so you have an easy time creating manual definition files for Texmod Packaging and the textures can also be picked up in ME3Explorer TPFTools for matching.

Testing new textures in-game

You don't actually have to build a new .tpf every time you're looking to test a texture. You can also use Texmod logging mode to do this without having to restart your application.
When you launch in logging mode and have Draw control and Texture info turned on, you will see the following message at the top of your screen:
As you can see, it tells you the key to reload replacement textures is the comma ( , ), but this has never worked for me. Instead I need to use the period ( . ) key on my NumPad.
When you select a definition file under Logging Mode that includes textures you want to test, Texmod will automatically load these in whenever you launch with Texmod in logging mode.
If you then make changes to the loaded definition file or the textures linked in the defin

Texmod Mass Effect 2