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This first section is for Half Life 1 games only and based on making transparent sprays.
This guide will take you through the steps to make your sprays have a transparent background by supplying a set of files in a download to cut out a few steps.
If you already know a good deal about graphics then you just need to read this page as an out-line of the technique used to make a spray work, you may want to skip some of the sections.

The first thing, there are rules to make this work, these are explained below but if you are the lazy type, you can use the templates, ready to place your graphics and text on them in the download package here.

The color of the background...
You would think a clear background would work, it does not. A "pure" blue is required. You will see it when making it but once converted into a "tempdecal.wad" and played in-game, the blue disappears leaving only the other colors in your spray showing.

The color setting is... Red "0" Green "0" Blue "255"
The size and the format...
The file you make should not exceed 15 kb.
The best file type to use should be a Bitmap .BMP, 8 bit, 255 colors.
You can use a range of sizes and I have included some in the download like...

128 wide x 64 high
64 wide x 128 high
160 wide x 64 high 
96 wide x 112 high

The best image sizes (most reliable), are 128 wide X 64 high pixels or... 64 wide X 128 high pixels.

The format, centers around the sizes being a multiple of 16.

The format is explained perfectly in a guide by Atomic WARRIOR.com (since this was written that site is down so I have used the Internet Achive link see the section below)

The above Internet Achive link has this advice...

FILE REQUIREMENTS of reliable Color Logos : 

The ".BMP" file must be of the following type of ".BMP" file before you convert it to a color spray paint logo tempdecal.wad file with the Wally's "HL Decal Wizard" to work reliably.

The finished logo file used to be named pldecal.wad , but now because of changes that the "Steam" update made to Half-life and it's Mods, the file must be named tempdecal.wad .

It must be a ".BMP" file in "INDEXED COLOR" mode (Photo Shop).

It must be an "8 BIT" ("255") colors ".BMP" file.

The LAST color in its "color table" (color palette) must be PURE BLUE (red=0, green=0, blue=255).

Its pixel WIDTH times HEIGHT, must NOT be more then 10,752 or WALLY will not convert it.
Picture's Width (in pixels) X Height (in pixels) =< 10,752 .

The .BMP files width and height, must be a multiple of 16:
16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208, 224,*.....
(see valid width x height size chart below.)

Any part of your BMP file that is colored PURE BLUE, will be transparent when sprayed in a game.

If you want to use a color really close to pure blue, but do NOT want to have it transparent, then set that color to red=0, green=0 blue=250 (almost pure blue).

WALLY will also convert other types of files to wad files, but by using "indexed colored" , 8 bit, ".bmp" files with the last color in its palette set to pure blue, you are guaranteed to have a good working color logo after its converted every single time. Higher color bit pictures give better looking pictures, but don't always work, so for the purpose of this tutorial we tell you to use 8 bit pictures. You can experiment and tweak later on your own time.

(Note: See "Advanced Tips" for exceptions.)

Once the ".BMP" is converted into the finished ".WAD" file, the color spray paint logo tempdecal.wad file can NOT be larger then 15kb in size or it will NOT load on to the game servers.

After you have your graphic and text in your spray you will need to use a program called Wally to convert it to a tempdecal.wad file, this file can be inserted in the dod folder, now it will be ready to use in the game.

For those that already know a good deal about making a graphic to the format above, read the section Converting the BMP file with Wally next. This will make the tutorial shorter :)

But those of you who don't know how to mess around with Graphics programs... you may need some more information, you get the long version, read on...

Working with Graphics Programs. 

You can use Microsoft Paint but you will be limited in design, Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro. They are great for sprays because they can work with Layers along with many other powerful tools for text and graphics.

The file that is produced holds the information split up in Layers, as in Adobe Photoshop, this is called a .psd file. After you have the image you can save it as a BMP in the correct format.

These commercial programs are good but if you don't have the dollars to get these you should download "The Gimp" or "Paint.NET." both powerful graphics program... for free!

Download Paint.NET if you wish... but the tutorial is based on the Gimp. Details of installing the GIMP are below.

Because most gamers spend all their money on games... I will base the next sections on The Gimp rather than the others.

The Gimp download availible from this page.

It may be a little bit of a hassle to set up The Gimp... but it is worth it if you don't have one or the other of the commercial ones. Set it up or Paint.Net and read on.

Working with Layers. 

Layers are an important part of any graphic image. That’s why we have not started up the program just yet! Learn this first, you will be thanking me you did… seriously it does help produce a much better image. When you move on to more complicated sprays knowing how layers work will also help.

Layers are best described as clear sheets of plastic over a background, each sheet has something drawn or typed on it …

You can arrange a layer to be closer to the background or on top of the of the other layer’s, you can have a lot more Layers than shown. They are named Layer 1, Layer 2… and so on. The only one you should not move is of course, the background.

As you can see above, when making a half life spray the background is the blue color that is transparent in half life sprays once it is converted to a bitmap, then a tempdecal.wad file in Wally and placed in the game folder…

Red "0" Green "0" Blue "255" 

The other layers can have text or graphics on them, assembling an image like this harder when you have to learn how… but when you do have that skill, you will find it a hell of a lot quicker when you have to overlay a graphic or text over another image or background. 

Why is it quicker? Each layer can be edited without affecting the other layers or background… yes, that’s very cool.

You don’t think so? Ok then wise guy, say you are a member of a clan… :JFK:RinG0

Now, 3 months latter you think the :JFK: clan are a bunch of pussies and you want to join the top clan <LBJ>, now your called… <LBJ>RinG0

That cool spray you made has your old clan name on it, if you had put it on a layer and kept the special file your graphics program made, you can now edit it very quickly and save the change… saves you having to make the whole thing again.

Same goes for sigs and other graphics you made for yourself, edit them in seconds. Always keep that file with the layers on it!

Start up The Gimp. 
File, Open, Navigate to the folder "Make your own Sprays" you downloaded, open the folder "Blank Blue Templates" and select the "128x64 blank blue trans.bmp" template.
Because the half-life 1 sprays are so small you will need to view the image magnified. 
Select View, Zoom, and pick a size to suit, like 4:1 400%.
At this stage you can add a graphic, text, or draw something if you like.

Remember how small the file looked before you made it look bigger? If you do add Pictures make sure they are small and simple, the image is only 128 pixels wide X 64. If you add a picture that is too big it will distort and not be very clear, larger images use more pixels…so they are clearer.
I have added an image in the download you can add for now…

Select File, Open as Layer, click on the "Images" folder and open the "GREN.jpg" picture.

Select Image, Scale image… drag the corners of the image to where you want it and press the Scale button in the pop up window to finish it.

Now look another panel in The Gimp, "Layers, Channels, Paths…." 

You will see your Image laid out separately, the GREN.jpg is sitting on top of the blue background… remember those plastic sheets in the Working with Layers section?

Yep…just like that, put the image you want to see most on top.

Now lets add some text, a clan name <LBJ>RinG0 you can use your own of course.

Now select Tools, Text, when you click on the image the GIMP text editor will appear, type in a name, also watch "The Gimp" panel, selections for the text have appeared so you can adjust to suit. Adjust to your liking in size and color.

Now go back to the "Layers, Channels, Paths…." panel, another layer has appeared, this one has text in it… see what I mean about layers, it’s very easy to work this way if you have to change something latter.

You may have to move the text layer, make sure it is selected in the "Layers, Channels, Paths…." panel.

Select the Move tool (4 pronged arrow) in The GIMP panel, hover over the image until the mouse pointer has an arrow… now you can move it. 

Don’t forget to click on the layer you want to work on, then click on the tool you want to use on that layer… the program is good but it can’t read your mind.

So far it should look something like this…

Now we can add a message to the top section… some text first and we will also add a filter to alter the text…

Throwing nades at 
n00bs since 3.1

That’s what I want to say but I also want to shape the text.

Select the Text button (the big "T"), in The GIMP panel.

Make the size… 8, the font… Sans Bold, the color Red.

Click once on the image, a pop-up text box appears, type in what you want, press Close.

Click on the move tool (4 pronged arrow) in The GIMP panel to place the text in the upper part of the image.

Select Filters, Distorts, Curve bend…

Play around with the dots and make a wave pattern, you can preview as you go by selecting the Automatic preview tick box.

Press OK the text is wavy. 

I know it looks a bit strange but I just wanted to show you about two things when dealing with a graphic this small… there are limits you can go to when dealing with the small text, it distorts very easily so be careful with it.

Another problem with the text over the blue part is that it has specs of darker blue, purple and red around it. This is caused by "Anti-aliasing" the text, it looks smoother normally but over this blue once it is in the game it looks a little strange.

If you edit this now, you will loose the effect…and the ability to apply it again. The fix for this is lay your text over a graphic or "cut" into a graphic by making the text the special blue color… Red "0" Green "0" Blue "255"

Let’s just continue with this one anyway, faults or no faults.

The design stage is over, time to save. Put all the files in the WIP folder for now.

First save it as ringo spray.xcf this is so you can edit it latter…

File, Save as… next click on the "Browse for other folders" button navigate to the "WIP" folder.

Next click on the "Select File Type (By Extension)" button, select "GIMP XCF image".

In the Name box type "ringo spray" Press Save.

Do the same for the .BMP file, put it in the same place but this time select "Windows BMP image" type file place it in the WIP folder and give it the same name if you want…

File, Save as… next click on the "Browse for other folders" button navigate to the "WIP" folder.

Next click on the "Select File Type (By Extension)" button, select "Windows BMP image".

In the Name box type "ringo spray" Press Save.

Press Export in the next pop-up box.

You may now close The Gimp. Click on the "X" on The GIMP panel.