Printstream is a series of four Covert skins in CS2: the Desert Eagle, M4A1-S, USP-S and AWP. All four share the same black-and-white pearlescent design and were released in different cases between 2020 and 2025. The cheapest way into the series is the Desert Eagle or USP-S from about $30, while the priciest copy is a StatTrak M4A1-S in Factory New at around $970. You can browse every Printstream on LIS-SKINS; below we cover where the design came from, each skin and how to build a matching loadout.
How the Printstream Series Came About
The designer behind the original skins, a workshop artist known as JTPNZ, has said he is studying to become a 3D artist and plans to create art for video games. He made his first skins back in 2016, learning the process from a tutorial by Coridium, the creator of the Asiimov series.
According to JTPNZ, the design came out of a happy accident. He was experimenting with the pearlescent finish, which had recently been added to the game, and found that it gave a black-and-white skin an unexpectedly striking look. The XXXY logo seen on every skin in the series was inspired by a sticker that once sat on his PC case, while the square and heart reference the Nirvana song "Heart-Shaped Box." The name comes from programming: PrintStream is a Java class used to output text, including ASCII images.
The first skin JTPNZ drew was an AK-47 Printstream, which still has not made it into the game. The community liked it, so he designed versions for other guns, five weapons in total, and Valve eventually picked the Desert Eagle, M4A1-S and USP-S. In 2025 the series grew with the AWP | Printstream from the Fever Case. Thanks to the pearlescent coating, higher-float copies pick up a darker patina rather than heavy scratches, so even well-worn Printstreams still look clean.
All Printstream Skins and Prices
The table lists all four skins with their source case and approximate LIS-SKINS prices. Every Printstream drops in all five wears, from Factory New to Battle-Scarred, and comes in a StatTrak version.
| Skin | Case, year | Price | StatTrak FN |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4A1-S | Printstream | Operation Broken Fang Case, 2020 | from $130 to ~$410 | ~$970 |
| AWP | Printstream | Fever Case, 2025 | from $40 to ~$160 | ~$320 |
| USP-S | Printstream | Recoil Case, 2022 | from $30 to ~$95 | ~$240 |
| Desert Eagle | Printstream | Fracture Case, 2020 | from $30 to ~$70 | ~$150 |
M4A1-S Printstream
The most expensive skin in the series is the M4A1-S | Printstream from the Operation Broken Fang Case. The standard version runs from about $130 in Battle-Scarred to around $410 in Factory New, and the StatTrak version in Factory New costs about $970. The price reflects demand for one of the most used rifles in CS2 plus a bold design that works both clean and with stickers. For more options on this rifle, see our list of the best M4A1-S skins.
Desert Eagle Printstream
The Desert Eagle | Printstream was the first skin in the series to be accepted into the game, arriving in the Fracture Case in August 2020. Interestingly, JTPNZ made it last and considered it the weakest of the set, but Valve clearly disagreed. Today it is the most affordable Printstream: from about $30 in the lower wears to around $70 in Factory New, with StatTrak Factory New at about $150.
USP-S Printstream
The USP-S | Printstream was added in 2022 as part of the Recoil Collection. It is priced close to the Desert Eagle: from about $30 in Battle-Scarred to around $95 in Factory New, while StatTrak Factory New sells for about $240. The rest of that case is covered in our guide to the best Recoil Case skins.
AWP Printstream
The newest addition is the AWP | Printstream from the Fever Case, released in 2025. It keeps the signature black-and-white look with a pearlescent sheen and costs from about $40 in the lower wears to around $160 in Factory New; StatTrak Factory New is about $320. The other skins from that case are in our roundup of the best Fever Case skins.
A handful of Souvenir Printstreams also appear on the market, but only a few copies are listed and they cost noticeably more than standard ones.
What Goes Well with Printstream Skins
If you want to add stickers, keep in mind that effects similar to the pearlescent finish look best, such as holographic stickers of teams or geometric designs like Infinite Diamond (Holo) for about $4. Gloves offer matching black-and-white options too: Driver Gloves | Black Tie from about $85 (around $280 in Minimal Wear) or Moto Gloves | Smoke Out from about $70. For more monochrome ideas, see our list of black and white CS2 skins.
Besides the Printstream series, JTPNZ has two other well-known standalone designs that are not in the game yet. M4A4 Ghouls in Town is inspired by the Thai festival of the same name, where people wear painted masks like the one on the weapon grip. USP-S On Sight was made for the Dreams & Nightmares case but did not make the cut at the time. These or other JTPNZ designs may still appear in CS2 one day.
FAQ
How many Printstream skins are in CS2?
Four: the Desert Eagle (Fracture Case, 2020), M4A1-S (Operation Broken Fang Case, 2020), USP-S (Recoil Case, 2022) and AWP (Fever Case, 2025). The AK-47 Printstream exists only as the artist's concept and has not been added.
Which Printstream is the most expensive?
The M4A1-S: about $410 in Factory New and around $970 for StatTrak Factory New. It is by far the priciest skin in the series.
Is the AWP Printstream worth it?
It is the cheapest way to get the Printstream look on a sniper rifle, from about $40, and it is still a recent release with plenty of listings. If you mainly want the design, a Field-Tested copy offers most of the look for well under the Factory New price.
