Skybox Basics: Difference between revisions

From Valve Developer Community
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
(Added a small introductory paragraph and small edits on both descriptions)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Category:Level Design FAQ]]
[[Category:Level Design FAQ]]
[[Category:Skybox]]
[[Category:Skybox]]
The first thing you need to know is that there are two types of skyboxes in the Source engine.


===2D Skybox===
'''Skyboxes''' are solutions intended to make maps look bigger than they are. Usually used to display unreachable areas, such as distant mountains or buildings.
One type of skybox is the "traditional" [[Skybox (2D)|2D Skybox]] that consists of a textured cubic map. Think of a giant cube that surrounds the level, and the skybox textures are applied to the inside faces of the cube. That's a 2D skybox. The textures of the 2D skybox usually consists of the ground meeting the sky in a distant horizon, clouds and the sun, and other distant details. The 2D skybox for a level is set in the ''Map Properties'' dialog of Hammer.


===3D Skybox===
There are two types of skyboxes in the Source engine:
The [[3D Skybox|3D skybox]] is a new type of skybox in the Source engine. This skybox is extra area constructed by the level designer that is outside the bounds of the gameplay portion of the map. Players of the map can never get into the 3D skybox area, and the 3D skybox is designed to make the area around the map seem much larger than it actually is. Maps ''do not require'' a 3D skybox to be created— it is a purely optional visual addition to the map. See [[3D Skybox]] for information about how to create a 3D skybox.
 
===[[Skybox (2D)|2D Skybox]]===
Consists of a giant cube surrounding the map used for applying textures in its interior faces. These textures usually consists of the ground meeting the sky in the horizon, clouds, and other distant details. The 2D skybox for a level is set in the ''Map Properties'' dialog of Hammer.
 
===[[3D Skybox]]===
This is a newer solution for skyboxes in the Source encine. It's a surrounding area constructed by the level designer, outside the bounds of the gameplay area on the map. Players can never reach the 3D skybox. Maps ''do not require'' a 3D skybox to be created — it is a purely optional visual addition to the map. See [[3D Skybox]] for information about how to create a 3D skybox.

Revision as of 17:33, 20 December 2008


Skyboxes are solutions intended to make maps look bigger than they are. Usually used to display unreachable areas, such as distant mountains or buildings.

There are two types of skyboxes in the Source engine:

2D Skybox

Consists of a giant cube surrounding the map used for applying textures in its interior faces. These textures usually consists of the ground meeting the sky in the horizon, clouds, and other distant details. The 2D skybox for a level is set in the Map Properties dialog of Hammer.

3D Skybox

This is a newer solution for skyboxes in the Source encine. It's a surrounding area constructed by the level designer, outside the bounds of the gameplay area on the map. Players can never reach the 3D skybox. Maps do not require a 3D skybox to be created — it is a purely optional visual addition to the map. See 3D Skybox for information about how to create a 3D skybox.

Retrieved from "https://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/index.php?title=Skybox_Basics&oldid=88544"