Building cubemaps

A1win · 09-23-2007, 01:59 PM

I built cubemaps for my map on my FF listenserver and it seemed to work fine after it finished. However, when I disconnect, alt-tab or restart the game and load the map again, the cubemaps are gone. The file size hasn't changed which means they aren't saved in the BSP at all.

When I alt-tab from the game and back again, I get this error for each of my cubemaps:

*** Error unserializing VTF file... is the file empty?
Error reading material "materials/maps/ff_hold/c0_0_320.vtf"
*** Tried to load a non-VTF file as a VTF file!

...and all the cubemaps appear as the default pink-black square missing texture on the shaders.

How am I supposed to build the cubemaps so that they are saved properly? Do I need to do this in HL2 instead of in FF (which would mean I'd need to copy all the textures to HL2 folder)?

barronofhellion · 09-23-2007, 02:24 PM

just a silly question though, have you placed the env_cubemap entity all over the places where you want good reflections in you map it self? because you cant build cube maps if you have not placed that in your map yet -edit also do not alt tab , do buildcubemaps , let it build them , then exit the game and restart it

GambiT · 09-23-2007, 02:30 PM

"*** Tried to load a non-VTF file as a VTF file!"

did you make your own texture? you didnt stick the tga into the materials folder did you? you have to convert it to vtf.

barronofhellion · 09-23-2007, 02:32 PM

oh heh i forgot about that part, also for converting vtf files i strongly reccomend vtf edit .. great program

A1win · 09-23-2007, 03:30 PM

I'm using only HL2 and FF textures and I have lots of env_cubemaps in the map. They work when I build them, they just aren't saved anywhere.

I'm using skybox called "interstellar" that came with FF.

edit: Maybe it has something to do with this?

Quote:

Creating default cubemaps for env_cubemap using skybox materials:
skybox/interstellar*.vmt
Run buildcubemaps in the engine to get the correct cube maps.

No such variable "$hdrbasetexture" for material "skybox/interstellarrt"
Can't load skybox file skybox/interstellar to build the default cubemap!

Or maybe that's just for HDR?

Has anyone successfully built cubemaps for their FF maps? >.<

BlisTer · 09-23-2007, 08:40 PM

Those errors mean nothing, just ignore them.

I have the problem that my cubemaps aren't implement after execing buildcubemaps. i have to changelevel to another map, and then reload the original level to see the effect.

However:

Quote:

Originally Posted by A1win

.. or restart the game and load the map again,...

this should also work, so i'm not sure what the problem is.

A1win · 09-23-2007, 09:35 PM

Hah

I just realized the default cubemaps are generated for each env_cubemap already when the map is compiled, which explains why the filesize didn't change after building them. And the missing textures after alt-tabbing didn't show when reloading the map because they weren't missing anymore. I just didn't have much reflective surfaces in the map to actually notice the difference. Case closed >.<

09-23-2007, 01:59 PM	#1
A1win Nutcracker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kuopio, Finland Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Building cubemaps I built cubemaps for my map on my FF listenserver and it seemed to work fine after it finished. However, when I disconnect, alt-tab or restart the game and load the map again, the cubemaps are gone. The file size hasn't changed which means they aren't saved in the BSP at all. When I alt-tab from the game and back again, I get this error for each of my cubemaps: * Error unserializing VTF file... is the file empty? Error reading material "materials/maps/ff_hold/c0_0_320.vtf" * Tried to load a non-VTF file as a VTF file! ...and all the cubemaps appear as the default pink-black square missing texture on the shaders. How am I supposed to build the cubemaps so that they are saved properly? Do I need to do this in HL2 instead of in FF (which would mean I'd need to copy all the textures to HL2 folder)?

09-23-2007, 02:30 PM	#3
GambiT Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baton Rouge Class/Position: Spy Affiliations: -=DoM=- Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	"*** Tried to load a non-VTF file as a VTF file!" did you make your own texture? you didnt stick the tga into the materials folder did you? you have to convert it to vtf. __________________ -------------------------------FF_Rock2(WIP)------------------------------ ---------------------------FF_RedGiant(Released)------------------------- --------------------------FF_Fragzone_G(Released)------------------------ --------------------------FF_Civibash_G(Released)------------------------ -------------------FF_Conc_G1(WIP)-------------------- -------------------FF_Hollow_G(WIP)---------------------

09-23-2007, 02:24 PM	#2
barronofhellion Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	just a silly question though, have you placed the env_cubemap entity all over the places where you want good reflections in you map it self? because you cant build cube maps if you have not placed that in your map yet -edit also do not alt tab , do buildcubemaps , let it build them , then exit the game and restart it

09-23-2007, 02:32 PM	#4
barronofhellion Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	oh heh i forgot about that part, also for converting vtf files i strongly reccomend vtf edit .. great program

09-23-2007, 09:35 PM	#7
A1win Nutcracker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kuopio, Finland Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Hah I just realized the default cubemaps are generated for each env_cubemap already when the map is compiled, which explains why the filesize didn't change after building them. And the missing textures after alt-tabbing didn't show when reloading the map because they weren't missing anymore. I just didn't have much reflective surfaces in the map to actually notice the difference. Case closed >.<

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