What are cubemaps and how to make them?

[rubr]

What are cubemaps and how to make them? Im new.

 

[Idolon]

This article has a lot of info on the subject. In summary: Cubemaps are basically 360° screenshots (think Google Maps street view) of the map that reflective surfaces use to show what is around them. You make them by placing env_cubemaps in your map and building cubemaps via console (a step-by-step process is outlined in the VDC article).

 

[obodobear]

They are actually relatively simple to create in hammer, but actually building them in-game so they work is a bit more of a process. It's still easily doable though if you look at a tutorial.