Creating Custom Skybox Texture

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Crimson

L3: Member
Nov 25, 2007
119
1
So I need to create a custom skybox texture for a map I am working on. It is very simple, its just a space skybox, with a black sky and white dots for stars on it. I am just wondering if there is anything special I need to keep in mind when making it?

What size should each piece be? I am guessing 512x512 but I have no idea. Do I need to save it a special way before converting it to VTF, etc. Anything in paticular I need to set in the VMT file, or is it fine just setting it up like a normal texture?
 

laghlagh

L6: Sharp Member
Jul 15, 2008
389
53
1024 x 1024, from valve wiki:

Creating a 2D Skybox

These are instructions on how to create custom (i.e., not default) skybox textures.

1. Prepare your image files (i.e. skynameBK.tga, skynameFT.tga, skynameUP.tga, skynameDN.tga, skynameRT.tga, skynameLF.tga)
2. Convert them to VTF
3. Create a VMT's with the textures' desired names (which should be the same as the VTF's) containing:
Code:
"sky"
{
	
	"" "skybox/<filename>"	
	"" "1"
	"" "1"
	"" "skybox/<filename>"
}

* Replace <filename> with the name of the file, and remember to append the appropriate suffix to the sky name (i.e. bk, ft, rt, lf, up, dn)
* Now go into your mod's materials folder and create the folder skybox.
* Copy your new VTF and VMT files into the skybox folder.
* In Hammer, go to Map > Map Properties > Skybox Texture Name and type in your skyname, without the side tags.
 

Altaco

L420: High Member
Jul 3, 2008
484
120
I think there's a program that lets you automatically generate a space skybox texture. No idea where to find it though.
 

Crimson

L3: Member
Nov 25, 2007
119
1
You sure its 1024x1024? Thats what I was assuming but all of the original skyboxes (dustbowl, etc) use 512x512 and 512x256 which i thought was weird.
 

Scotland Tom

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 19, 2008
332
64
I'm pretty sure it's 1024x1024, but even if it was 512x512 the best way to do it would be to create it at 1024 and size it down to 512 when you're done. It's always better to do things at a higher resolution and size them down rather than start lower and size up.
 

laghlagh

L6: Sharp Member
Jul 15, 2008
389
53
Yup, my bad. I think most uses 512x256, but the lumberyard one uses 1024x1024 though :)
if anyone has any idea of programs...
 

Scotland Tom

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 19, 2008
332
64
I use Photoshop for just about everything, but if you don't have that you could try Gimp.
 

laghlagh

L6: Sharp Member
Jul 15, 2008
389
53
You misunderstand. I do use photoshop, I was thinking of software for creating skybox textures in addition to PS).
 

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
7,135
6,056
You misunderstand. I do use photoshop, I was thinking of software for creating skybox textures in addition to PS).

You only need aditional software if you want to create a HDR skybox, the majority of TF2 skyboxes are LDR.
If you're using an LDR skybox you can make it look as though its more dynamic by using an env_sun, you can play around with the size of it to get it looking how you want and getting it lined up with the light_environment is easy since they both work on angles rather than fixed locations.
 

Yrr

An Actual Deer
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Sep 20, 2015
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