Environment Maps - Revision history

Ducks: Batch update

2007-11-21T15:31:05Z

Batch update

MoP: Example image

2007-11-05T13:56:31Z

Example image

MoP: Updated with material info and better descriptions

2007-11-05T11:56:43Z

Updated with material info and better descriptions

192.168.0.129 at 16:50, 15 October 2007

2007-10-15T16:50:09Z

New page

Environment maps are made up of 6 images that form a cube (also known as cube maps) to create a fake reflection used on windows, scopes, and any other material that uses environment maps.<includeonly>

{{main|Environment Maps}}</includeonly><noinclude>

== Using Environment Maps ==

There are a few ways you can use an environment map:
* '''specify it inside a material'''
* '''used with a light_ambient'''
* '''used by info_envbounds'''

We'll go over how to setup an environment map with a light_ambient and an info_envbounds.

=== Placing info_envmaps ===

Setting one up with a light_ambient is fairly straight forward. What you'll need to do first is place an info_envmap in the area you want to reflect, you'll will need to specify two keys and values '''env_size''' which tells the entity what size you want the images to be, so give that a value of '''128''' then you need to set the name of your environment map '''env_name''' and give it a value of '''my_env_map'''.

Compile your map, after it's done load it, and bring down the console and type '''makeenvmaps''' this will locate all info_envmaps and make the environment maps.

=== Adding it to light_ambients ===

Bring down the console still open, type in editambient, this will bring up a new window, at the bottom of the window it will have '''Env. Cubemap''' with a dialogue and button next to it, click that button and go to the '''base/env''' folder where your new environment map is stored and click ok, you may need to reload the engine for it take effect.

=== Using info_envbounds ===

Repeat the process of placing an info_envmap.

To add them to areas that don't use portals like building interiors, that would be too difficult to portal off you can use an info_envbounds brush entity, which means when a player walks into this brush volume it'll switch to the environment map that you specified in the info_envbounds.

To do this, you'll need to drag a brush out over the area you want to have the info_envounds (they can consist of multiple brushes) and with the brush/es still selected right click and navigate to info_envbounds.

You'll then need to add one key and value to this entity which is '''env_name''' and for example '''env/my_env_map''' so it knows what environment map to use.

Compile your map, after it's completed compiling, load it up and check out your new environment inside the info_envbounds.

'''NOTE:''' Try to avoid having the origin of your ''info_envbound'' inside other brushes, as this will stop it from working.

[[Category:Level Design]]
[[Category:Art]]
</noinclude>

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 == Placing an [[entity info_envmap|info_envmap]] ==
 What you'll need to do first is place an info_envmap in the area you want to reflect, you'll will need to specify two keys and values:
-* '''env_size''' - the size in pixels of the cubemap images (eg. ''128'')
+* {{keyname|env_size}} - the size in pixels of the cubemap images (eg. {{keyvalue|128}})
-* '''env_name''' - the path and name of the resulting cubemap images (preferably in the form ''mapname/location'', for example ''valley/treatment_plant_office'').
+* {{keyname|env_name}} - the path and name of the resulting cubemap images (preferably in the form ''{{keyvalue|mapname/location}}'', for example {{keyvalue|valley/treatment_plant_office}}).
 Once your info_envmap entities are set up, compile your map.
-After it's compiled, load it up, bring down the console and type '''makeenvmaps'''. This will locate all info_envmap entities and make the environment maps.
+After it's compiled, load it up, bring down the console and type {{consolecmd|makeenvmaps}}. This will locate all info_envmap entities and make the environment maps.
 == Used with a [[entity light_ambient|light_ambient]] entity ==
 Setting one up with a light_ambient is fairly straight-forward.
-Bring down the console and type '''editAmbient''', this will load the [[Ambient Light Editor]].
+Bring down the console and type {{consolecmd|editAmbient}}, this will load the [[Ambient Light Editor]].
-At the bottom of the window it will say '''Env. Cubemap''' with a dialog box and button next to it, click that button and go to the ''/base/env'' folder where your new environment maps are stored.
+At the bottom of the window it will say '''Env. Cubemap''' with a dialog box and button next to it, click that button and go to the {{filename|/base/env}} folder where your new environment maps are stored.
 Locate the environment map which matches the area you are lighting and click OK.
 You may need to reload the engine for these changes to take effect.
 == Used with an [[entity info_envbound|info_envbound]] entity ==
@@ Line 43: / Line 41: @@
 With the brush(es) selected, right-click and navigate to ''info_envbound''.
 You'll then need to add one key and value to this entity:
-* '''env_name''' - the environment map you want to use (eg. ''env/valley/treatment_plant_office'').
+* {{keyname|env_name}} - the environment map you want to use (eg. {{keyvalue|env/valley/treatment_plant_office}}).
@@ Line 49: / Line 47: @@
 '''NOTE:''' Try to avoid having the origin of your ''info_envbound'' inside other brushes, as this will stop it from working.
 == Display environment maps in a [[materials|material]] ==
@@ Line 86: / Line 83: @@
 === Using a predefined template for reflections ===
 ETQW also has a set of templates for more accurate reflections ("fresnel" effect, so that the reflection gets more pronounced when seen from a wide angle). These are used primarily for windows and glass effects.
-There are several different templates depending on what effect you want, these are fully shown at the top of the ''base/materials/window.mtr'' file.
+There are several different templates depending on what effect you want, these are fully shown at the top of the {{filename|base/materials/window.mtr}} file.
 Here is an example of a material using the ''templates/windowglass_specular'' template.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:56, 5 November 2007
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	= Using Environment Maps =		= Using Environment Maps =
		+	[[Image:envmap_example.jpg\|right\|400px\|An example environment cubemap generated by ETQW.]]
	First you need to create environment maps that match locations in your level. You can do this by placing [[entity info_envmap\|info_envmap]] entities in editWorld.		First you need to create environment maps that match locations in your level. You can do this by placing [[entity info_envmap\|info_envmap]] entities in editWorld.

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 {{main|Environment Maps}}</includeonly><noinclude>
-== Using Environment Maps ==
+= Using Environment Maps =
-There are a few ways you can use an environment map:
+Once you have created an environment map for your level, there are a few ways you can define areas for it to be used in:
-* '''specify it inside a material'''
+* '''Use it with a [[entity light_ambient|light_ambient]] entity.'''
-* '''used with a light_ambient'''
+* '''Use it with an [[entity info_envbound|info_envbound]] entity.'''
-We'll go over how to setup an environment map with a light_ambient and an info_envbounds.
+Once these areas are defined, you can set up materials to use the cubemaps as environment reflection images.
-Setting one up with a light_ambient is fairly straight forward. What you'll need to do first is place an info_envmap in the area you want to reflect, you'll will need to specify two keys and values '''env_size''' which tells the entity what size you want the images to be, so give that a value of '''128''' then you need to set the name of your environment map '''env_name''' and give it a value of '''my_env_map'''.
+== Placing an [[entity info_envmap|info_envmap]] ==
-Compile your map, after it's done load it, and bring down the console and type '''makeenvmaps''' this will locate all info_envmaps and make the environment maps.
+Once your info_envmap entities are set up, compile your map.
-=== Adding it to light_ambients ===
+For best results during this stage, make sure you are running the game in 640x480 and a 4:3 aspect ratio ( '''r_aspectratio 0''' ).
-=== Using info_envbounds ===
+== Used with a [[entity light_ambient|light_ambient]] entity ==
-Repeat the process of placing an info_envmap.
+At the bottom of the window it will say '''Env. Cubemap''' with a dialog box and button next to it, click that button and go to the ''/base/env'' folder where your new environment maps are stored.
-To add them to areas that don't use portals like building interiors, that  would be too difficult to portal off you can use an info_envbounds brush entity, which means when a player walks into this brush volume it'll switch to the environment map that you specified in the info_envbounds.
+You may need to reload the engine for these changes to take effect.
-You'll then need to add one key and value to this entity which is '''env_name''' and for example '''env/my_env_map''' so it knows what environment map to use.
+== Used with an [[entity info_envbound|info_envbound]] entity ==
-Compile your map, after it's completed compiling, load it up and check out your new environment inside the info_envbounds.
+To add them to areas that don't use portals (like building interiors) that would be too difficult to portal off, you can use an [[entity info_envbound|info_envbound]] brush entity, which means when a player walks into this brush volume it'll switch to the environment map that you specified in the entity.
 '''NOTE:''' Try to avoid having the origin of your ''info_envbound'' inside other brushes, as this will stop it from working.
 [[Category:Level Design]]
 [[Category:Art]]
 </noinclude>