Source: WoT Portal
To make your vehicle a truly individual and unique battle machine, you can customize its exterior. Update 9.21 introduces the new customization mechanics. To customize the whole vehicle or just some parts, use one of the customization methods:
- Preset styles are a pre-made set of customization elements for all seasons. You can customize your vehicle in just one click.
- Custom styles are a collection of different elements, which you can apply on your vehicle in various combinations. Choosing and combining elements on your own allows you to create a unique vehicle design for each season.
Preset styles
Preset styles are a pre-made set of customization elements for all seasons. Each preset style can include paints, camouflage, inscriptions, emblems and visual effects. You can rent a style for a number of battles using credits. High-tier vehicles also have permanent preset styles, available for gold.
Apart from the balanced design for all seasons, preset styles with camouflage on the hull also provide a concealment bonus. Preset styles are applied on the whole vehicle and cannot be edited.
To apply a preset style on your vehicle:
- In your Garage, click Exterior. In the lower part of the screen, the exterior customization panel is displayed.
- Go to the PRESET STYLES tab on the customization panel.
- Select a style. It is automatically applied on your vehicle.
To the right of your vehicle, a window with the list of all customization elements of the style is displayed. To see the exterior design for other seasons, switch between them on the left part of the screen. - To rent or buy the selected style, click Purchase in the upper-right corner of the customization panel. Click Purchase and exit in the Confirm Changes window.
To remove a preset style from your vehicle:
- In your Garage, click Exterior.
- Go to the PRESET STYLES tab. The style applied on your vehicle is outlined in yellow.
- Right-click on the preset style and select Remove from current vehicle.
- Click Apply and exit in the upper-right corner of the customization panel.
The removed styles are preserved and can be reapplied on the same vehicle or on any other for which this style is available. You can also sell permanent styles purchased using gold: right-click the style and select Sell.
Custom style
Custom styles are a range of customization elements that you can apply on your vehicle in various combinations.
There are five elements of exterior customization—paints, camouflage, emblems, inscriptions and effects.
Every nation has a range of paints available for vehicle decoration. Paints can be applied on five vehicle parts—the hull, turret, suspension, gun and gun mantlet. It takes one paint bucket to paint one part. So, you need a maximum of five buckets to paint the whole vehicle for a season.
This exterior customization is functional and can enhance your vehicle’s concealment. You can apply three seasonal camouflages that change automatically depending on the map you are playing on.
Camouflage can be applied separately on the hull, turret and gun. This allows you to combine camouflages. Apart from different combinations, you can also edit the scale and, in some cases, the color palette for each camouflaged vehicle part.
Vehicles can be decorated with emblems instead of standard flags and signs, like red Soviet stars or German crosses. Depending on the vehicle model, you can apply one or two emblems on it.
Another decorative element. Depending on the vehicle model, you can apply one or two inscriptions on it.
With effects, you can give your vehicle a battle-hardened look or make it shine like a brand new combat machine, fresh from the garage. Effects allow you to add wear or gloss to the paints and camouflages applied on your vehicle.
All exterior customizations are layered on each other in the same order as they are presented in the customization panel. For example, if you apply camouflage after painting your vehicle, the camouflage will cover the paint.
To apply a custom style element on your vehicle:
- In your Garage, click Exterior. In the lower part of the screen, the exterior customization panel is displayed.
- Go to the CUSTOM STYLES tab on the customization panel.
- On the left part of the screen, select a season for which you want to customize your vehicle.
- Click the part of the vehicle you want to customize.
- In the customization panel, click the paint, camouflage, or any other element to apply it on the selected vehicle part.
To apply this element for other seasons, click the corresponding season icon in the customization settings window in the right part of the screen. - To purchase the applied customization, click Purchase in the upper-right corner of the customization panel. Click Purchase and exit in the Confirm Changes window.
You can also easily apply one selected element on all vehicle parts quickly:
- Click on the customization element. The element’s icon is displayed to the right of the cursor .
- One by one, click all the vehicle parts you want to customize with this element.
- To purchase the applied customization, click Purchase in the upper-right corner of the customization panel. Click Purchase and exit in the Confirm Changes window.
Customization elements can be purchased in advance, without applying them on the vehicle:
- Right-click the element and select Add to cart.
- In the Purchase Confirmation window, set the necessary number of elements and click Purchase.
To remove a custom style element from your vehicle:
- In your Garage, click Exterior.
- Go to the CUSTOM STYLES tab and select the element you want to remove.
- Click the vehicle part you want to clear. The customization settings window in the right part of the screen shows for which seasons this element is applied.
- Click the season icon to remove the customization element for this season. The season icon will change to when the cursor hovers over it.
- Click Apply and exit in the upper-right corner of the customization panel.
The removed element is preserved and can be reapplied on the same vehicle or on any other for which this element is available. You can also sell elements: right-click the element and select Sell.
Historical accuracy
All customization elements in the game can be historical or non-historical, the latter are marked with a icon. How does it affect the game?
By default, all vehicles are displayed only with a historical or basic exterior. The display of non-historical designs can be turned on in the game settings.
To turn on the display of non-historical exteriors:
- In your Garage, press Esc and select Settings.
- In the General tab, clear the Hide non-historical elements checkbox, then click OK.
After you turn on the display of non-historical exteriors, you will see all customization styles on the battlefield.
Be aware of these settings when creating a custom style. If there is even one non-historical element in your vehicle customization, the whole exterior is considered non-historical and will not be displayed for other players with default settings.
Pay attention to the customization status under the vehicle icon in the upper part of the screen. If you apply a non-historical element, the status glows yellow and a special icon is displayed. Click the button on the status line to see the list of all the non-historical elements applied, and delete them, if needed.