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[Updated Guide] How to install a model in Source Filmmaker
By Capt Fuzzy
Here's a short tutorial on how to install a model in SFM that you downloaded from a site like SFMLab...
This guide assumes that the model you are installing is made for or already ported for SFM.
If your model is not 'SFM ready' then this guide will not work for you.
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Created by
Capt Fuzzy
Online
Category: Modding or Configuration
Posted
Updated
Aug 19, 2016 @ 9:45pm
Dec 16, 2019 @ 9:03pm
14,061 Unique Visitors
203 Current Favorites
Video Tutorial

1. Unpack the model's archive using 7zip, WinRAR, WinZip or whatever utility you prefer.
2. In the unpacked folder, locate two (2) folders labeled "models" and "materials".
3. Highlight BOTH folders by clicking on one of them then holding CTRL, click the other folder.
4. Right-click on one of the folders (doesn't matter which one) and select "Copy".
5. Navigate to your SFM install, typically it's in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SourceFilmmaker\game\
and make a new folder. Name it whatever you wish, just do not use special characters.
6. Right-click on the new folder and select "Paste".

NOTE: The usermod folder IS NOT the best place to put your downloaded models. The usermod folder contains files key to the smooth operation of SFM, and if these files are accidentally overwritten or deleted, this can break your SFM install.

Hold on a second here, we aren't done just yet...

1. Open your Steam Library and make sure to select 'Software'. SFM is NOT a game and will not show up in the 'Games' list.
2. Click on Source Filmmaker and click Launch, then select 'Launch SDK'.
3. A window will open, near the bottom, select 'Edit Search Paths for Selected Mod'.
4. Another window will open with a list of folders in it with white checkboxes on the left side.
5. Near the bottom of this list, you should see the folder that you just made, tick the checkbox next to it.
6. Close everything out.

You are now done and have a model installed in SFM, open SFM, find your new model and enjoy!!

As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below...

Related Guides
Here's a couple of useful guides related to this one by Pte Jack...

Sometimes when you install a model, the textures don't show up, all you get is this pink and black checkerboard thing. This can be caused by several different things, but mainly it means that the textures aren't where SFM is looking for them.
This guide will show you how to find and fix these issues:
https://exit.yueirsjskjl.cf/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1226795892

There are times when installing a model from the internet, that the model, for whatever reason, doesn't "show" correctly. This is usually due to the materials for that model not being located correctly for SFM. This guide shows you how to fix this issue:
https://exit.yueirsjskjl.cf/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1226526147

You've found the perfect model, but can't use it because you can see right through it!
This guide by Pte Jack will show you how to fix this issue:
https://exit.yueirsjskjl.cf/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1368443207

153 Comments
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luki
May 13 @ 7:43am 
why is the model nonexistent in the model viewer but the collision model is visible?
Capt Fuzzy  [author]
Mar 19 @ 6:32am 
No, you don't have to make separate folders, but it's easier to keep track of your models that way, and it's easier to fix issues that way.
Your model is pink/purple because a needed file is either missing or corrupt.
I would go back to the zip file that your model came from, or it's original files and compare them to the installed files to see what's missing.
If the file or files are missing in both locations, you will probably have to contact the author of the model for an update or replacement.
the only piss master
Mar 18 @ 7:52pm 
also, why are my models purple (not checkerboard)?
the only piss master
Mar 18 @ 6:59pm 
do you have to make seperate folders if you want to import multiple models?
Capt Fuzzy  [author]
Feb 2 @ 5:19am 
@Central - Unfortunately, no there isn't.
Maps work different than models do, custom maps, even more so.
Maps tend to have more subdirectories than models do, making the chances that something won't get installed correctly even greater and harder to fix.
Custom maps also tend to use assets from Source games that you may not have installed, which will automatically break the map the second that you try to load it.
As an example, if you download a map from the Gmod workshop that uses assets from HL1, but you don't have HL1 installed, that will automatically break the map and cause SFM to crash when trying to load that map.
Central
Feb 1 @ 4:50am 
is there a map veirson of this?
ChaosYin
Nov 21, 2025 @ 3:02pm 
I appreciate it but there's no rush, I've been having other issues with some other games too so I'm under the assumption that my laptop is just getting too old for some things. I found another model that works great for me so I'm good now, and thank you for replying
Capt Fuzzy  [author]
Nov 21, 2025 @ 1:59pm 
@ChaosYin - Nice looking model on the workshop.
I don't think that I ever got that one, so I'm not sure what the issue might be.
I've not messed with SFM much in the last 4 yrs, my heart just wasn't in it, but I have been thinking about diving back in lately.
If I do, I will grab this model and see what I can do with it.
No promises, just letting you know the situation.
ChaosYin
Nov 17, 2025 @ 1:36am 
I'm sorry but I didn't know what a hexed model is until now, I just looked it up and downloaded xvi32 to see if I could maybe fix it. I did notice that the filepath in the hex editor is different than the one my models are in, but it still crashed after changing the path in the editor to match the current path in the files. I used to have no issues importing models from outside the workshop so i don't know what changed, I stopped using SFM for about a year but it was still installed all that time. This is the model for reference
https://exit.yueirsjskjl.cf/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3425165217
Capt Fuzzy  [author]
Nov 16, 2025 @ 11:30pm 
@ChaosYin - That's usually a sign of either a bad install or a corrupted model.
The corruption, I've found, happens a lot with hexed models, so you might want to start there...