Skyboxes: how to defined

mrsmith25

L1: Registered
Aug 21, 2008
2
0
- DISCLAIMER -

The following post has been created by someone with zero experience in mapping, and with zero experience utilizing any form of cad design software. The following post is from someone seeking help on topics they were unable to find answers for by utilizing search features. Any patience with poster is greatly appreciated.


Utilizing google search, and a search of this forums for "what is a skybox, how to skybox, how to sky" didn't really turn up results.

I found an article online talking about not having an infamous "Hitler Cube", wherein the mapper encloses his virtual creation inside of a box.

Can someone tell me or explain how to use skyboxes and/or set them up. Right now I am just messing around with making really cubed rooms and hallways. My experiments are the equivalent to being an an underground dungeon because I dont know how to branch out to the sky.

The tutorial forums are fantastic, but I think they are just a tad beyond the complete "first timer" to mapping.


p.s. Also, when Im making walls they are either wide or paper thin, is there a place to adjust thickness so its not so... thick. lol
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
741
hi there and a big welcome =)

No need for the disclaimer we are all here to help. Check out the link in my signature for a easier collection.

Here is a very good step-by-step tutorial on how to make a 3d skybox as well as gives you the .vmf to see yourself

[TUTORIAL] Making a cool 3d skybox.


As far as the walls go im not sure the question. To adjust your brush size use "[" and "]" to make them higher or lower *bigger or smaller*, *thicker or thinner*
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
16 units is a good wall/floor thickness. 32 is a little thick but acceptable, alternatively 8 is a little thin but also acceptable. As well as the [ and ] hotkeys to changing the grid size in hammer you can slo seek the top left of your tool bar under your option panels to see the # symbol with + and - along witha 3d grid toggle option (that's not really all that helpful). Using the "hollow" feature at first will allow you to get used to the grid sizes untill later when you can produce brushes (geometry) a single block at a time, allowing for more elaborate construction and architexture. Additionally you can use the orange and grey "dev" construction textures that allow you to estimate scale.

Type in "tools" to your texture search panel; the "keywords" section that is. Using the light blue texture called "skybox" will render your sky ingame, it will not be visible in hammer.

Your 3d skybox is completely different, and is a smaller version of your map containing things that will be rendered just outside of your world, that will be contained in a smaller seperated box, normally made under your map (so that you can't see it). That tutorial DJive linked will probably help you from there.

Hope that explains a few things.
 
Last edited:

Altaco

L420: High Member
Jul 3, 2008
484
120
Also nobody's answered his real question. To make the sky texture show, you texture a wall with the tools/toolsskybox texture. Then anyone who looks at it will see the sky.
 

mrsmith25

L1: Registered
Aug 21, 2008
2
0
Thanks for the link reference and additional comments.

skybox: gonna try the texture and tut linked

wall thickness: when I drag a wall left or right, up or down - the increments of size is kina an autosnap to what appears to be to freaking thick. Is there someplace to adjust the size increments that "blocks" or whatever snap to? I fooled around with a version of Hammer... I think 3-4 years ago, and I seem to remember some way to change this. Right now I got a choice of thin as paper, or the next increment is to thick.

I appreciate the extremely fast responses. I am going to play around with the info I got and continue on my path.

thanks!
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
741
wall thickness: when I drag a wall left or right, up or down - the increments of size is kina an autosnap to what appears to be to freaking thick. Is there someplace to adjust the size increments that "blocks" or whatever snap to? I fooled around with a version of Hammer... I think 3-4 years ago, and I seem to remember some way to change this. Right now I got a choice of thin as paper, or the next increment is to thick.
!

that really depends on how far you are zoomed in. Check the bottom right corner to see how much each block is. Also you can zoom out on a selected brush to see its thickness as well.