The hidden integer (0–1000) that controls how a skin's texture is positioned.
Every CS2 skin has a pattern index (also called paint seed) — a number between 0 and 1000 that determines how the skin's texture is mapped onto the weapon model. Changing the pattern index shifts, rotates, or repositions the artwork, sometimes dramatically.
For most skins, pattern differences are subtle or cosmetic. But for certain finishes — especially those with irregular colour distributions — specific patterns create rare visual effects worth significant premiums:
The pattern index is visible via the Steam API or inspection tools. On Skinventory, skins with notable patterns are tagged and ranked on their pattern page, with visual guides for the most sought-after variants.
Float and pattern are independent. A skin can have a perfect low float AND a desirable pattern — or a high float with a gem pattern. They are separate attributes that both influence value, but the pattern premium often dwarfs the float premium for the rarest seeds.
The pattern index (or paint seed) is a number from 0 to 1000 that controls how a skin's texture is positioned on the weapon model.
Every skin has a pattern index, but for most finishes the visual differences are subtle. Only certain finishes like Case Hardened, Fade, and Marble Fade have patterns that significantly affect appearance and value.
A Blue Gem is a Case Hardened skin where the playside shows a large area of solid blue sapphire colour. These are among the rarest and most valuable pattern variants in CS2.