Panels

This article is about the Portal 2 puzzle element. For the base VGUI element, see panel.

"The planks of tomorrow!"
- Cave Johnson

Panels are architectural elements used throughout Portal 2. They are individually positioned so that, together, they form the test chamber. Because the panels are moved individually by robotic arms, the room can react to the player. They can form stairs, new ledges, open like doors, and tend to convey a sense that the room itself is alive.

Creating Panels

1. Create a prop_dynamic entity with the following settings:

Property Name	Value
World Model	models/anim_wp/room_transform/arm64x64_interior.mdl
Name	panel1
HoldAnimation	true
Collisions	Not Solid

2. Create a 32Lx32Wx2H block brush above the model, in the space between the model and its origin. Tie it to a func_brush entity with the following settings:

Property Name	Value
Name	panel1_brush
Parent	panel1,panel_attach

Note:You'll notice that the Parent value has been set to panel1,panel_attach, which is not the name of a real entity. This is a special syntax: the text after the comma (panel_attach) is not a part of the name, but indicates an attachment point, which is used to make the brush follow the animation of the prop_dynamic. Hammer doesn't properly recognize this syntax so it will appear red, but it works in-game.

4. Create a logic_relay with the following settings:

Property Name	Value
Name	relay_panel1_animation

and the following outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTrigger	panel1	SetAnimation	(ANIMATION NAME)	0.00	Yes(?)

Tip:Use the Model tab of the entity properties window to view available animations.

List of Panel Models and Attachments

There are a number of other panel models in Portal 2 which can be used instead of the standard one. Make sure to use the corresponding attachment point name instead of panel_attach, if applicable. Models that do not animate can be placed as prop_static entities, which do not count towards the entity limit.

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Model Path	Animated	Panel Attachment Name
anim_wp\arm_interior_192\arm_interior_128.mdl	Yes	N/A
anim_wp\arm_interior_192\arm_interior_192.mdl	Yes	N/A
anim_wp\arm_interior_192\video_arm.mdl	Yes	monitor_attach
anim_wp\arm_interior_192\video_arm_big.mdl	Yes	monitor_attach
anim_wp\circle_shield\circle_shield.mdl	Yes	panel_top
anim_wp\framework\circle_shield_static.mdl	No	N/A
anim_wp\room_transform\arm64x64_interior.mdl	Yes	panel_attach
anim_wp\room_transform\arm64x64_interior_rusty.mdl	Yes	panel_attach
anim_wp\telescope_arm\telescope_arm.mdl	Yes	panel_top
anim_wp\telescope_arm_128\telescope_arm_128.mdl	Yes	panel_top
anim_wp\telescope_arm_128\telescope_arm_128_glass.mdl	Yes	panel_top
anim_wp\telescope_arm_128\telescope_arm_128_idle.mdl	No	N/A
anim_wp\telescope_arm_128\telescope_arm_128_upidle.mdl	No	N/A
anim_wp\telescope_arm_128\telescope_arm_128x256.mdl	Yes	panel_top
anim_wp\telescope_arm_trans\telescope_arm_trans.mdl	Yes	panel_attach
props_livingwall\armliving64x64.mdl	Yes	panel_attach
anim_wp\arm_4panel.mdl	Yes	panel_attach

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Animation Playback Rate

Sometimes it might be required for an arm (or any other prop_dynamic) to play its animation faster or slower. The playback rate of a prop_dynamic entity is expressed in numbers as representation of percentage, where 1 is equivalent to 100%, 2 is 200%, 0.5 is 50%, 0 is 0% of the animation playback rate (note that 0 will stop the animation completely). There are two ways to change default playback rate.

The first method is easier and applied to all of animation of a particular prop_dynamic. The playback rate can be assigned to the arm, and this will have a constant effect on the arm's animations playback rate (it will always be playing any animations at that set rate). In order to do so, a new output need to be added in the arm's properties:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnAnimationBegun	!self	SetPlaybackRate	5	0.00	No

The above output will make an arm to play all of its animations 5 times faster. !self is a special wildcard that selects the entity that is firing that output (the arm selects itself).

The second way of setting up the playback rate is more complex but also more flexible. The triggering entity (e.g., trigger_once) has to set the following outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnStartTouch	arm_0	SetAnimation	pitflings_angled_01	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	arm_0	SetPlaybackRate	2	0.01	No

When triggered, the above setup will cause arm_0 to start animation. One hundredth second later, the animation playback will be increased to 200% (note that if both outputs were fired at the same time, the playback rate will remain at default—1).

Powerup Panels

For some themes in Portal 2, panels can be seen doing powerup animations—starting limp and lifeless, then "waking up" and moving back into their proper position. Done correctly, this can make your map feel far more dynamic and will look more realistic for the theme.

Creating these panels, however, is a little different from ordinary panels. This is how Valve does it:

1. Create a prop_dynamic entity with the following settings:

Property Name	Value
World Model	models/anim_wp/room_transform/arm64x64_interior.mdl
Name	panel1
HoldAnimation	true
Collisions	Not Solid
Default Animation	powerup(X_0Y)idleend

Note:There is a huge amount of powerup animations to choose from, starting from powerupA_01. Choose whatever fits best.

2. Create a brush above the model, making sure it fits the panel face and is aligned to it. Tie it to a func_brush entity with the following settings:

Property Name	Value
Name	panel1_brush
Parent	panel1,panel_attach

3. Create a logic_auto entity and add the following outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnMapSpawn	panel1	SetAnimation	powerup(X_0Y)idle	0.50	Yes(?)

4. Create a logic_relay with the following settings:

Property Name	Value
Name	relay_panel1_animation

and the following outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTrigger	panel1	SetAnimation	powerup(X_0Y)	0.00	Yes(?)

Now just add a trigger somewhere and activate the relay. A trigger_look works great for this.

The idle powerup animations are horribly off-grid in Hammer, and are therefore impossible to correctly parent the brush to. By using this method, we can align the brush to the panel face in Hammer on-grid, but when the map spawns, it will move into an idle powerup animation, with the brush perfectly parented.

See also

• Creating rotating panels
• Entity Hierarchy (parenting)