Customizing Your Ark: Paint Schemes And Folders

what folder to put paint schemes in for aark

To upload custom paint schemes in ARK, you need to put the .PNT files in the correct folder. This folder may vary depending on the game version and platform. For example, on PC, the folder path is typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings or C:\Epic Games\ARKSurvivalEvolved\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings. If you cannot find the MyPaintings folder, you may need to create it manually or save a painting in the game to generate the folder automatically. It is important to note that the paint schemes are currently only available on the Windows 10 version of ARK and are unavailable on the PlayStation version.

Characteristics Values
Folder name MyPaintings
File type .PNT
Folder location C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings
Alternative folder location C:\Epic Games\ARKSurvivalEvolved\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings\Copy
How to create folder Manually create the folder or save a painting in-game so that the game generates the folder

cypaint

The folder path for paint schemes in ARK

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings

If you cannot find the "MyPaintings" folder within this path, you will need to create it manually. You can do this by saving a painting in the game, which will automatically generate the "MyPaintings" folder. Alternatively, you can create the folder yourself and then restart the game to have it appear in the folder path.

It is important to note that only .PNT files should be kept in the "MyPaintings" folder, without any additional folders inside. If you are using a different gaming platform or version of ARK, the folder path for paint schemes may vary. For example, the folder path for the Epic Games version of ARK is:

C:\Epic Games\ARKSurvivalEvolved\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings

Again, if you cannot find the "MyPaintings" folder within this path, you may need to create it manually or save a painting in-game to generate it.

Additionally, it is recommended to resize your paint scheme templates to a resolution of 256x256 pixels to prevent any unwanted stretching or squashing of the image when applied in the game. This can be done using image editing software such as Photoshop or the ArkPNTEditor tool.

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How to create a 'MyPaintings' folder

To create a MyPaintings folder, you must first download the painting packs you want to install. Once downloaded, unzip the files and move the .PNT files to the correct folder. This folder will differ depending on your game provider. For example, if you are playing on Steam, the folder path is:

> C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings\Copy

If you are playing on Epic Games, the folder path is:

> C:\Epic Games\ARKSurvivalEvolved\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings\Copy

If you cannot find the MyPaintings folder in either of these locations, you will need to create one manually. You can do this by right-clicking and selecting the "New" option, then choosing "Folder." Name the new folder "MyPaintings."

Alternatively, you can create a painting in-game, which should automatically generate the MyPaintings folder for you. To check if the folder has been created, simply create any painting in-game and then exit the game. Navigate to the folder location and check if your painting appears in the MyPaintings folder.

It is important to note that only ".PNT files should be kept in the MyPaintings folder, without any additional folders inside. If you are having trouble finding your Ark install directory, you can bring up Steam, find "Ark: Survival Evolved," right-click on "Properties," and then select "Local Files." From there, you can find the "Browse Local Files" option, which will lead you to the paintings folder.

cypaint

How to check if your paint files are in the right folder

To check if your paint files are in the right folder, you can follow these steps:

  • Locate the "MyPaintings" folder: The paint files for ARK should be placed in the "MyPaintings" folder within the ARK directory. The full path to this folder may vary depending on your installation, but it is typically located within the "ShooterGame" and "Saved" folders. For example, on Windows, the path might be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings" or "C:\Epic Games\ARKSurvivalEvolved\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings".
  • Verify the file format: Ensure that you are only placing files in the "MyPaintings" folder. Other file formats or additional folders within the "MyPaintings" folder may cause issues.
  • Check file visibility: Sometimes, the "MyPaintings" folder may not appear in the file explorer, even if it exists. In such cases, you can try creating any painting in-game and then rechecking the folder to see if the newly created painting file appears there. This confirms that the folder is being used by the game to store paint files.
  • Verify the ARK installation directory: If you are still unable to locate the "MyPaintings" folder or your paint files, you can try verifying the ARK installation directory. Open Steam, right-click on "ARK: Survival Evolved," select "Properties," and then click on "Local Files." From there, you can browse the local files and navigate to the "MyPaintings" folder within the "Shootergame" and "Saved" folders.
  • Create the "MyPaintings" folder: If you still cannot find the "MyPaintings" folder, you may need to create it manually. Navigate to the "Saved" folder within the ARK directory and create a new folder named "MyPaintings." Alternatively, you can create any painting in-game, which should automatically generate the "MyPaintings" folder in the ARK directory.
  • Check for server compatibility: Note that paintings can only be saved on a server game that already has them painted. For example, if you are playing the Windows 10 version, your friends running the server must also have the same version for you to use your custom paintings. The feature is currently unavailable on the ARK PlayStation version.

By following these steps, you can confirm that your paint files are in the correct folder and ensure that they will function properly within the ARK game.

cypaint

How to save paint files in the correct format

To save paint files in the correct format for ARK, there are a few steps you need to follow. Firstly, you need to choose the folder in the right drive. Paintings can only be saved from a server game that already has them painted. Next, download the painting packs you want to install and unzip the .pnt files. Move these .pnt files to the correct folder, which is usually located at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings

If you cannot find the "MyPaintings" folder, you will need to create it manually. You can do this by saving a painting in the game, which will automatically generate the "MyPaintings" directory. Alternatively, you can create the folder yourself in the specified location.

Once you have located or created the "MyPaintings" folder, ensure that you only keep .pnt files in this folder without any additional folders inside. If you are using Photoshop, it is recommended to change the pixel aspect ratio instead of resizing the template to prevent any unwanted stretching.

To check if you have placed the files in the correct folder, create any painting in-game and verify if it appears in the same folder.

cypaint

How to upload custom paint files

To upload custom paint files in ARK: Survival Evolved, you need to first download the painting packs you want to install. Next, unzip and move the .pnt files into the following folder directory:

For Steam users:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings\Copy

For Epic Games users:

C:\Epic Games\ARKSurvivalEvolved\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings\Copy

Make sure to only keep the `.pnt files in the folder and avoid placing any additional folders inside. If you cannot locate the "MyPaintings" folder, you can create it manually or save a painting in-game, which will automatically generate the folder.

Additionally, ensure that your custom paint files have the correct dimensions to avoid any stretching or distortion. The recommended resolution for paint files in ARK is 256x256. You can use image editing software like Photoshop or Paint.Net to adjust the size and aspect ratio of your images.

You can also find ready-made custom paint files and templates on websites like ArkPaint, Arktemplates, and the ARK WarPaint subreddit. These websites can provide additional guidance on how to install and use custom paint files in the game.

Frequently asked questions

You need to put your .PNT files in the MyPaintings folder. The full folder path is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\MyPaintings. If you can't find the MyPaintings folder, you will need to create it.

If you can't find the ARK folder, search for the term "Packages" in Windows and find the right Studio Wildcard folder. You can also find it by right-clicking on "ARK: Survival Evolved" in Steam, selecting "Properties", then "Local Files", and finally "Browse Local Files".

Create any painting in-game and check if it appears in the same folder.

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