$alphatest: Difference between revisions

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==Additional parameters==
==Additional parameters==
{{MatParam|$alphatestreference|float|Specifies the threshold alpha channel value at which the surface should be transparent instead of opaque. A value of ".3" will create a thicker shape while a value of ".7" will create a thinner shape.<br>Default "0.5".
{{MatParam|$alphatestreference|float|Specifies the threshold alpha channel value at which the surface should be transparent instead of opaque. A value of ".3" will create a thicker shape while a value of ".7" will create a thinner shape.<br>Default "0.5".
: {{note|<code>$alphatestreference</code> cannot be updated in real time with [[Material_proxies|proxies]]. {{Tip|This limitation can be circumvented by using $alphatestreference 1, and modifying the <code>[[$alpha]]</code> value instead. (requires $alpha to be raised above 1, its normal threshold, this may cause sorting issues)}} {{Tip|For [[VertexLitGeneric|VertexLitGeneric]] on models you can use <code>[[$detail]]</code> with <code>$detailblendmode 3</code> and modifying the <code>$detailblendfactor</code> value. Detail texture must be a copy of <code>[[$basetexture]]</code> with a different alpha channel.}}
: {{bug|<code>$alphatestreference</code> can be updated in real time with [[Material_proxies|proxies]], but this only affects projected shadows (like the flashlight). {{Tip|This limitation can be circumvented by using $alphatestreference 1, and modifying the <code>[[$alpha]]</code> value instead. (requires $alpha to be raised above 1, its normal threshold, this may cause sorting issues)}} {{Tip|For [[VertexLitGeneric|VertexLitGeneric]] on models you can use <code>[[$detail]]</code> with <code>$detailblendmode 3</code> and modifying the <code>$detailblendfactor</code> value. Detail texture must be a copy of <code>[[$basetexture]]</code> with a different alpha channel.}}
}} }}
}} }}



Revision as of 14:47, 29 May 2024

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$alphatest is a material shader parameter avaliable in all Source games. It specifies a mask to use to determine binary opacity. White represents fully opaque, while black represents fully transparent. Any values in-between are rounded to either 0 or 1. This effect is similar to $translucent, except that it can not be semi-opaque (without Wikipedia icon banding), is much faster to render, and the engine can always sort it properly when layered (instead of only on non-detail worldspawn).

Syntax

$alphatest <bool>

VMT example

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LightmappedGeneric { $basetexture "glass\window001a" $alphatest 1 //$alphatestreference 0.5 $allowalphatocoverage 1 // incompatible with $alphatestreference }

Additional parameters

$alphatestreference

$allowalphatocoverage

Comparison

$translucent $alphatest
Original image, rendered with $translucent
Animated preview of the same image, but with $alphatest. The first image shows the effect of $allowalphatocoverage 1 (at 4x MSAA). The rest show $alphatest with $alphatestreference ranging from 0.1 to 0.9

Notice how the $alphatest right circle hardly changes.

See also