$envmapmask

• The specular map or envmapmask affects how the surface reflects light from the $envmap.
• The (greyscale) envmapmask defines shiney areas as black (0), and dull areas as white (255).

"$envmapmask" <texture>

• Masks the $envmap reflections according to the alpha channel of the named <texture>.

VMT syntax example

"VertexLitGeneric"
{
"$envmapmask" "props/tvscreen_test"
  "$envmapmasktransform" "center .5 .5 scale .25 .25 rotate 0 translate 0 0"	//dx9 only
  "$envmapmaskscale" .25			//duplicates dx9 transform/scale (25%) for dx8 GPUs
  "$envmapmaskframe" ???
  "$selfillum_envmapmask_alpha" 1	//dx9 only
}

Additional Parameters

$envmapmasktransform

"$envmapmasktransform" <matrix>

• Adjusts UV mapping of $envmapmask

The default position is center .5 .5 scale 1 1 rotate 0 translate 0 0.

1. center defines the point of rotation. Only useful if rotate is being used.
2. scale fits the texture into the material the given number of times. 2 1 is a 50% scale in the horizontal X axis while the vertical Y axis is still at original scale.
3. rotate rotates the texture counter-clockwise in degrees. Accepts any number, including negatives.
4. translate shifts the texture by the given numbers. .5 will shift it half-way. 1 will shift it once completely over, which is the same as not moving it at all.

Note:All values must be included!

Bug:Scaling the texture may cause odd issues where the Texture Lock tool in Hammer will not actually lock the texture in place.  [todo tested in ?]

Bug:Rotating textures applied on brushes will rotate around the map origin (confirm: Orangebox engine only?). A fix for this is to change the center position in the VMT to the brush's origin.  [todo tested in ?]

• DirectX 9 or HDR required. (LightmappedGeneric, VertexlitGeneric, UnlitGeneric)
• DirectX 8 uses $envmapmaskscale instead.

$envmapmaskscale

"$envmapmaskscale" <float>

• Scales the $envmapmask by the <float> value.
• DirectX 8 required. (LightmappedGeneric, VertexlitGeneric, UnlitGeneric)
• Also see $envmapmasktransform.

$envmapmaskframe

"$envmapmaskframe" <integer>

• ?

$selfillum_envmapmask_alpha

$selfillum_envmapmask_alpha <float>

• Defines that selfillum value comes from envmap mask alpha.
  Todo: confirm: ie it uses the alpha channel of $envmapmask?
• Default value is 0.0.
• Requires DirectX 9.
• A new parameter.
• See also $selfillum

Alternative Methods

• Rather than creating a whole new VTF just for the $envmapmask, you can use the alpha channel of either the $basetexture or $bumpmap to store the Specular Map. If so, transform, etc parameters applied to the basetexture/normalmap will also apply to the Specular map.

$basealphaenvmapmask

"$basealphaenvmapmask" 1

• Use the alpha channel of the $basetexture texture as the specular map.

$normalmapalphaenvmapmask

"$normalmapalphaenvmapmask" 1

• Use the alpha channel of the $bumpmap texture as the specular map.

See Also

• $envmap
• compare $phong.