skybox and map view screenshot

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skybox and map view screenshot

Dragon-Guard (guest) 05 Jun 2009 19:11

Hello,

I have 2 questions concerning mapping.

1st is regarding the skybox.
Is there a way to darken a sky instead of brightening it, using the enviroment lighting entity you apparently can only make the stuff brighter, not adding it at all with give the same effect as setting it on 0.

2nd is more regarding screenshots.
I want to make a screenshot of a map from a topview, kinda like they did with with the official campaigns.
[[http://l4dmapdb.wdfiles.com/local--files/map:the-apartments/l4d_hospital01_apartment.jpg]]
How can i do this? When i look at the textured top view in hammer it only displays the boxes around the objects and all the hidden walls are filling your screen.
Ingame on the other hand you cant get a decent topview cuz ur always kinda seeing it 3d.

I hope someone can answer these for me, i would be very gratefull.

Greetings,
Dragon-Guard

Re: skybox and map view screenshot

cold_blood3d 05 Jun 2009 19:30

Good questions, it took me forever to get nice map overviews. It used to be so much easier in Half-Life 1.

First, i believe sv_cheats 1 and developer 1 have to be on.

Noclip (noclip command) to some place above the map.

then use all of these commands so nothing blocks your view of the map from above:
nb_delete_all
hidehud 4
hidepanell all
r_drawviewmodel 0
r_novis 1
r_portalsopenall 1
r_drawskybox 0
fog_enable 0
fog_enableskybox 0
fog_override 1

To get an overview view, use cl_leveloverview 5 (adjust this number to get the proper zoom to fit it all on screen), and take your screenshot.

The image you showed is actually combination of around 8 images that I stitched together into one giant high-res image.

If you'd like one of these high-detailed overviews for your map, I'd be glad to make one. Add it to this site or email me it at moc.bdpamd4l|ttam#moc.bdpamd4l|ttam.

Re: skybox and map view screenshot

Dragon-Guard (guest) 08 Jun 2009 23:21

tnx for the info and the offer :D
The topview screenshots are needed for the official campaigns.
I want to make one from every map, including the hospital which had none so far but on a really high ress and with all the indore spots shown, either on map on next to it.

This would be nice to discus tactics or mark spots on the maps.

I tried my hand at no mercy but the indoor rooms are to dark to rally get it to work, you can illuminate them partially with the flashlight but it takes about 10-20 screens to cover a large dark indoor area.
Also i have some idfficulties with the colors and darkness of the map, i made the screenshots overlap to avoid this but some parts are darker while the next screen of the same area, just shifted up a bit is much brighter.

The skybox question is still open, cant seem to be able to get a darker sky =/

Re: skybox and map view screenshot

cold_blood3d 16 Jun 2009 03:18

You want the skybox itself (NOT the light coming from it) to be darker? The sky texture itself is set to a constant brightness—not something you can change with light_environment. One option would be to export that skybox's textures and darken them in an image editing program. Then put them back in a .vtf.

Another option (maybe easier): Setup a 3D skybox if you haven't already. In the 3D skybox, make a cube around the camera and any props in the skybox, hollow it out, and texture all sides in a solid black texture. Turn it into a func_brush and make it transparent. Since the sky is behind the partially transparent black brush entity, it will appear darker. Adjust transparency as needed. I've never tried this technique, but it should work.

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