Make a custom FiveM ped from one picture

What a working add-on ped needs

An add-on ped in FiveM is a small resource with:

• The model (.ydd drawables and a .yft skeleton) and its textures (.ytd).
• A skeleton GTA understands. Animations, emotes and scenarios play on named bones. A ped with its own skeleton only plays what was made for it; a ped on the freemode skeleton plays everything.
• Weights that tie the mesh to the bones, so the shirt bends with the elbow instead of tearing.
• peds.meta describing the ped, loaded with data_file 'PED_METADATA_FILE' in the manifest.

Rigging and weight painting are where hand-made peds usually go wrong: hands that do not close, a neck that stretches, clothing that clips when you sit.

From picture to ped

1. Upload one picture. A front-facing, evenly lit picture of the whole character gives the best shape and texture.
2. Pick the body build. Normal is the standard body. Heavy follows GTA’s own heavy peds. Very heavy is for really big characters, even when the picture shows someone slimmer.
3. Create the ped. The model is generated, fitted onto the freemode skeleton and weighted from GTA’s own body, so the hands, fingers and joints move like a normal MP ped.
4. Download the resource and put it in resources, then ensure it.

Using the ped in game

Switch to it with your ped menu, an admin command or SetPlayerModel(PlayerId(), joaat('<model name>')). Because it uses the freemode skeleton, walk styles, emotes, sitting scenarios and weapons work out of the box.

Tips for a cleaner result

• Use a picture where the arms are slightly away from the body.
• Avoid heavy motion blur, very dark lighting and props covering the face.
• If something looks off, re-edit your ped; that is free.