The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish was conceived under the project name Workshop in early February of 2019.
Ever since I started making skins, I had wondered - why isn’t there a single work or Steam Guide with all of the important core elements of weapon finishes?
From the beginning, the idea was clear - create a compendium on weapon finishes that would help anyone interested in learning about understanding the design technicalities of skins, including their in-game implementation and some of their social aspects. Actually doing it, well, that’s the difficult part.
Featuring high-quality illustrations.
The guide is designed to be illustrative in nature, allowing for an easier understanding of aspects. Featured below are a limited assortment of these illustrations.
Easy to navigate.
The Contents page allows you to click to any part of the book, whenever you need it, wherever you need it.
Project Timeline
January, 2019First project concepts
Initial design tests begin in late January, with testing of colors, fonts and attempting to ensure the concept holds water. The book has no name. A script of 3000 words is all that exists.
February, 2019OVERPAY established as working title
OVERPAY
OVERPAY is established as the working title for the book. The name holds no significance other than its usage in CS:GO trading. Early drafts for illustrations featured in the book are made.
The script only contains a few thousand words.
June, 2019The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish becomes subtitle
OVERPAY: The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish
OVERPAY becomes OVERPAY: The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish. The design language shifts from bold and modern to bold and classic, as Paralucent is replaced with Acumin.
The script still only contains a few thousand words.
October, 2019Major design systems change
OVERPAY: The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish
Grid details begin falling into place, and the script expands, barely filling 20 pages. The focus shifts towards filling the script.
November, 2019 to June, 2020Script overhaul
OVERPAY: The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish
The script slowly increases in size. As June approaches, instead of filling 20 in-book pages, the script occupies two full chapters with 70 in-book pages. The third chapter still lacks content.
July, 2020OVERPAY is omitted from title
The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish
OVERPAY is relegated only to project name. Design systems are set in stone, with the omission of Vista from sub-headers and only Neue Haas Grotesk used in paragraphs, with Vista primarily used in sidenotes and additive content. The book is corrected to use CMYK for print on its cover and internals, and #34459a becomes the official OVERPAY blue. Proofreading begins.
October, 2020The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish is completed
The Definitive Guide on the Weapon Finish
The book is completed at 135 pages of illustrations and text, three chapters on weapon finish design, implementation and community.
Design Guidelines
Evolution of a Spread
1 Technicals: Mapping Techniques
June, 2019September, 2019October, 2019March, 2020September, 2020