The Mayann Project
- Thread starter YM
- Start date
In the event that someone isn't really good at lighting, there are two processes:
If you see anybody getting it wrong, help them out.
- They copy mine
- It looks ok but not great
- No one really notices and says anything because it doesn't look bad
- Nothing is learnt
- They do it from scratch
- It looks wrong
- Someone notices and points it out because in certain areas it looks bad
- Maybe someone offers advice on how to get it right
- They make changes
- Something is learnt
If you see anybody getting it wrong, help them out.
I did make this:
To go down here:
I asked who could help and was pointed to geit, I pinged relevant staff in a post too but none responded.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2126504/mayann-pack-tf2m.psd
However it should still be an available resource for people that are new to it if they choose to go with it. Sure, they can change their own lighting at a later date, but it really helps to have a decent starting point, and that's something that should be provided to the community. Otherwise they have nothing to work off of, no angles, no reference, nothing. And if someone needs help with stuff like that, I suggest that you help them instead of letting them figure it out for themselves, its why things like AceGikmo's environment gallery are so helpful.
Done, except the image you supplied appears to have seams, if you can upload just the background shot I'll cut it into the same circle as the others: http://geit.uk/uploads/kqNoAS.png
Except they have as exactly much reference in choosing their sun angle and light values as I had when I chose them, so that's nonsense. getpos when aiming where you want the sun gives an angle, and a colour picker tool from any graphics program can give the colours.
Anyway, it's a pretty moot point since by the time pack v2 is out everyone will have had to choose something already
Here are the colours from the skybox texture: https://coolors.co/app/e8e0c8-75779d-88838d-c0b4a8-000000 (From left to right: brightest, zenith, darkest, horizon opposite sun angle)
The sun will work in the rough range from [0 115 0] to [0 145 0] with a pitch from -20 to -45
@Geit Just disable the layer mask in that PSD and you've got the background image.
Is there a reason why that tree stump and it's top leaves are not prop_static and need to be like, prop_dynamic instead?
Error loading studio model "models/props_temple/jungletree_trunk1.mdl"!
Error! To use model "models/props_temple/jungletree_leaftop1.mdl"
with prop_static, it must be compiled with $staticprop!
Error loading studio model "models/props_temple/jungletree_trunk1.mdl"!
Error! To use model "models/props_temple/jungletree_leaftop1.mdl"
with prop_static, it must be compiled with $staticprop!
- Oct 11, 2013
- 273
- 413
That happened to me as well. A quick refresh should fix it at least that worked for me :I
Woozlez
L3: Member
- Jul 28, 2010
- 129
- 287
I have taken some of the textures and altered them so that they fit the purpose I need them to in my map.
I saw that the current grass texture being used on the cliff/grass transition is a 1024 texture but the cliff is 2048, so the grass is scaled up double. Additionally, it is the dry mountainlab grass that seems more alpine than tropical. I have fixed this by making the grass more green, and making a 2048 version for the cliff transition, and a 1024 version for ground transition.
Additionally, I took the half brick and ground textures and reduced their contrast by 25%, in order to use them as floor textures. The floor texture had too much contrast for my liking, and I wanted more than one floor type so I went with the altered half brick.
Finally, I took the two aztec_skinny_wall textures in the cp_mayan folder, and reduced their noise significantly, and matched their color with the main brick textures. These two textures have already come in very handy, both for columns and for the support behind ornamental trims.
If you would like these textures, here they are. I think that they will come in very handy.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3GKNCEr72suaFExOUJlY05rRkE/view?usp=sharing
Please let me know if you want to see any other minor alterations.
Once we have enough textures and assets like this that aren't included in the original pack, we can create a mayan_zoo_2.vmf. That way we can provide a variety of helpful extra textures, as well as perhaps prefabs and pre-set lighting that work in the mayan theme.
I think it's good for YM to focus on finishing the predetermined props for the pack extension first, instead of worrying about providing us these extra features. Just share whatever lighting you're using and how it is working out for you, and we can go from there.
I saw that the current grass texture being used on the cliff/grass transition is a 1024 texture but the cliff is 2048, so the grass is scaled up double. Additionally, it is the dry mountainlab grass that seems more alpine than tropical. I have fixed this by making the grass more green, and making a 2048 version for the cliff transition, and a 1024 version for ground transition.
Additionally, I took the half brick and ground textures and reduced their contrast by 25%, in order to use them as floor textures. The floor texture had too much contrast for my liking, and I wanted more than one floor type so I went with the altered half brick.
Finally, I took the two aztec_skinny_wall textures in the cp_mayan folder, and reduced their noise significantly, and matched their color with the main brick textures. These two textures have already come in very handy, both for columns and for the support behind ornamental trims.
If you would like these textures, here they are. I think that they will come in very handy.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3GKNCEr72suaFExOUJlY05rRkE/view?usp=sharing
Please let me know if you want to see any other minor alterations.
Once we have enough textures and assets like this that aren't included in the original pack, we can create a mayan_zoo_2.vmf. That way we can provide a variety of helpful extra textures, as well as perhaps prefabs and pre-set lighting that work in the mayan theme.
I think it's good for YM to focus on finishing the predetermined props for the pack extension first, instead of worrying about providing us these extra features. Just share whatever lighting you're using and how it is working out for you, and we can go from there.
there is no "tf2maps.net presents" thingy on the page of the prop pack. 
"You don't know how hard I had it! We had to pick our own sun angles, uphill each way."
You've done the work. What harm is it to share it with other people? There's lots of new mappers working with the pack: providing a .txt file with the settings - or a prefab setup - would help them a lot.
spoonfeeding =/= helping
The problem with lighting is that people are assuming the skybox texture should dictate the light settings. which is completely false. Lighting is part of a large set of design decisions that are specific to your map. going to go out on a limb and say that skipping on design decisions is usually bad. Going through your env_light is an important step in any map and providing one for people is hardly helping. Have faith in newer members that they can figure out what's best for their map, they'll only end up with a stronger product.
The problem with lighting is that people are assuming the skybox texture should dictate the light settings. which is completely false. Lighting is part of a large set of design decisions that are specific to your map. going to go out on a limb and say that skipping on design decisions is usually bad. Going through your env_light is an important step in any map and providing one for people is hardly helping. Have faith in newer members that they can figure out what's best for their map, they'll only end up with a stronger product.
Sounds like a great way to ensure the less experienced mappers making up the majority of the Mayann maps so far just don't use your skybox.