$envmapmask

The specular mask or envmapmask affects how strongly the surface reflects light from the $envmap. It is a greyscale image in which entirely reflective areas are black and entirely matte areas are white.

VMT syntax example

$envmapmask <texture>

VertexLitGeneric
{
	$envmap			env_cubemap
	$envmapmask		"props/tvscreen_test"
	$envmapmasktransform	"center .5 .5 scale .25 .25 rotate 0 translate 0 0"	//dx9 only
	$envmapmaskscale	.25	// dx8 only
	$envmapmaskframe	1
	$selfillum_envmapmask_alpha	1	//dx9 only
}

Additional Parameters

$envmapmasktransform <matrix>

Adjusts UV mapping of $envmapmask.

DirectX 8 and below use $envmapmaskscale instead.

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 ?]

$envmapmaskscale <float>

Scales the $envmapmask by the given value.

See also $envmapmasktransform, above.

Requires DirectX 8.

$envmapmaskframe <integer>

The frame of an animated texture to use as the mask.

$selfillum_envmapmask_alpha <bool>

Derives self-illumination values from the alpha channel of $envmapmask.

Requires DirectX 9.

See also $selfillum.

Alternative Methods

Rather than creating a whole new VTF just for a specular mask, you can use the alpha channel of either the $basetexture or $bumpmap.

Note:If you do this, transformations and other such parameters applied to the base texture/normal map will also apply to the specular mask.

$basealphaenvmapmask <bool>

Use the alpha channel of $basetexture as the specular mask.

$normalmapalphaenvmapmask <bool>

Use the alpha channel of $bumpmap as the specular mask.

See Also

• $envmap
• $phong (diffuse reflection)