Dreams & Nightmares

[ Cinders by Jenna Barton ]

Create a weapon finish

A weapon finish begins with your original artwork and design. Learn about the nine real-world finish styles found on CS:GO weapons. Create an illustration or a pattern to cover the paintable areas of a weapon.

Take advantage of the resources below to help you create a weapon finish.

Guides and tutorials

Browse the CS:GO Workshop
Submitted weapon finishes are publicly displayed here for community feedback.
CS:GO Weapon Finishes Guide
The official guide for creating weapon finishes.
Official CS:GO Weapon Style Guide
Information to maximize the chances of your designs being selected, and answers to common questions that we hear from artists who are getting started.
OVERPAY: The Definitive Guide by Centauri

Document your process

Did we mention that your artwork must be original? We want to see where the ideas began and how they developed. Posting concept art, mood boards, or images from which you have pulled inspiration are encouraged. All elements of the submission need to be original work.

Collaborate

Often workshop submissions are a collaboration, team up with artists who have experience with the process. Go to the CS:GO Artists Forum to meet artists and technicians who are looking to work together. Revenue share should be negotiated and understood by all parties before submitting to the workshop. If you have collaborated with someone to create your weapon finish that person(s) must have a non-limited Steam account in good standing and included in the submission in order to split potential revenue share.

Submit your work

Create your item using the CS:GO Workbench found in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Starting July 22nd you will have the option to officially enter your item into the contest.

It is important for us to see your item as it will look in the game. When submitting your weapon finish to the workshop make sure to include screenshots of the weapon inspect view, in hand, and side view. Share your workshop entry with the world and promote using the hashtag #CSGOdreams.

[ Renegade Mastah Hyperbeast by Rene]

Contest rules

You've thought about the dream-themed art you want to create, or maybe you already created artwork that fits the theme, choose a weapon to which you can apply your design.

Weapons in the case

Learn more about the specific weapons we've selected for the Dreams & Nightmares case and the visual properties suggested for each of the four rarity tiers.

Talk it over

Go to the CS:GO Artists Forum to meet artists and technicians who are sharing their work, looking for feedback, discussing anything related to the game, the workshop and the contest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Valve own the art I submit?

No. By submitting an entry you give us non-exclusive license for the artwork to use in CS:GO. You keep the rights. Past artists have licensed their successful CS:GO artwork elsewhere.

Can I enter more than one submission?

Yes. There is no limit to the number of submissions an individual can submit.

How do I join the workshop?

How do I make a weapon skin?

See the CS:GO Weapon Finishes Guide.

Can I commission an illustrator?

No, but you can work with one and jointly enter a submission. The original illustrator must be on the revenue specified in the workshop entry.

Can I take my work off of the workshop? (and void my contest submission)

You can remove a submission and withdraw it but only prior to official selection. Once artwork is shipped, then we will not remove it from the game.

Will I be notified about the winners?

Winners will be personally and publicly notified upon selection.

Who will judge? Do the most popular entries on the workshop win?

The CS:GO development team makes the selection. For more information on how the team selects workshop items, see the style guide.

I have art I’ve made for a different project. Can I use it here?

Provided that you own the rights necessary to license it to us for use, then yes.

Can my work be selected for a later case?

Yes. Items on the workshop are valid for consideration for later cases. If you do not wish to be considered for later cases, remove your submission at the end of the contest.

So, what do I get if I win?

Valve will award 10 prizes of $100,000 USD to the winning weapon finish submissions. It is possible for an artist with multiple submissions to win more than one prize.

If I submit multiple entries, can more than one of them win?

Yes.

How much does it cost to enter the contest?

Entry open to any user holding a non-limited Steam account in good standing (with purchase(s) totalling $5 or more).

Can I create something with a friend/group or is this just for individuals?

Either. We just need everyone that contributed on the submission's revenue split.

What technical constraints are there on the creation of the work?

Automated entries will be void, and we do ask that you keep and/or post your sketches, mood boards, concept art, etc., so that we can confirm the entry is an original. To be sure you have it all, we strongly recommend hitting the "Contest Rules" tab at the top of this page and having a full read of that page.

Is this contest open to everyone worldwide?

Yes. There are no geographic restrictions to participation.

How much time do I have?

Contest begins July 22nd, 2021 and final submissions are due on October 21st, 2021.

When and how will I get paid?

Winners will be contacted directly by November 21st, 2021 and payment will be made to the bank accounts specified by contributors to the item. Note that all relevant banking and tax information must be completed before you are able to finalize your submission.

Rules of Entry

The CS:GO $1 Million Dreams & Nightmares Contest

Eligibility. Entry open to any user holding a non-limited Steam account in good standing (with purchase(s) totalling $5 or more). There is no limit on the number of entries to which a single user may contribute. Employees of Valve Corporation ("Valve") and their immediate families are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law.

Entry. Steam users may enter the Contest by submitting a dream-themed item to the CS:GO Workshop. Contest entries must be submitted through the CS:GO Item Import Tool and tagged with 'Dreams & Nightmares Contest'. Entries are open from 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time on July 22st, 2021 to 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time on October 21st, 2021. Entries must comply with the Steam Subscriber Agreement, Workshop Supplemental Terms, and the CS:GO Workshop guidelines.

Entries must be a completed and payable CS:GO Workshop submission with valid banking and tax information.

Entries must be original artwork with all contributors identified and participating in the entry, and entrants must be able to provide evidence of design process upon request.

Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means will be void. Valve is not responsible for misdirected, incomplete, lost, late, illegible, undelivered, inaccurate, or delayed entries, or for technical, hardware, or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions or other errors or problems that may limit or affect a person’s ability to participate in the Contest. In the event of sabotage, acts of God, terrorism, or threats thereof, computer virus or other events or causes beyond Valve’s control, which corrupt the integrity, administration, security or proper operation of the Contest, Valve reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend the Contest. In the event of cancellation, Valve reserves the right to award prizes from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to the event requiring such cancellation. False or deceptive entries or acts will render the entrant ineligible.

Winners. Valve, in its sole discretion, will select a minimum of ten (10) winning entries and announce the winners on https://blog.counter-strike.net no later than November 21st, 2021.

Prizes. Each winning entry will be awarded one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) divided among contributing entrants in accordance with the splits identified in their submission to the CS:GO Workshop. Valve retains its license to the winning entries as User Generated Content under the Steam Subscriber Agreement, and payment of the prize money will be complete compensation in lieu of any payment under Workshop Supplemental Terms.

The winning entrants are solely responsible for any taxes applicable to the prize payments. Valve may withhold taxes where required by law.

Release. By entering into the Contest, each entrant agrees to release, discharge, and hold harmless Valve - from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, taxes, expenses or damages of any kind, either at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, arising out of or in connection with this Contest, including the possession, use or inability to use any prize. If chosen as a winner, each entrant hereby consents to the use of his/her name, likeness, photograph and entry submission in any and all media for promotional purposes in any manner by Valve, their designees and their advertising and promotion agencies without further compensation or notification, except where prohibited by law.

General. Valve - shall not be liable for (i) lost, misdirected, damaged, illegible, incomplete, or late entries, (ii) any conditions beyond the control of Valve that may cause the Contest to be disrupted, or (iii) any losses or damages of any kind resulting directly or indirectly from acceptance or use of any prizes awarded in this contest or for participation in this Contest. No substitutions by the winners will be permitted. Valve reserves the right to amend these Contest rules or to terminate the Contest.

Contest sponsored by Valve Corporation, P.O. Box 1688, Bellevue, WA 98009-1688. The Contest is governed by the law of Washington, USA.