WorldVertexTransition

Application without and with $blendmodulatetexture.

WorldVertexTransition is a material shader available in all Source games. It is used to blend the vertices of a displacement surface between two different materials. It handles two at once by using a mirrored set of parameters with "2" in their name.

The pattern of the blend is defined by Hammer's alpha painting tool. The blend is normally a linear gradient, but it can also be "stamped" by a texture specified with $blendmodulatetexture. This command makes the material look considerably better for very little cost - use it often!

 Note: This shader now only works on displacements. If used on a regular brush, VBSP will generate and pack a LightmappedGeneric version of the material automatically, discarding the secondary texture.

To do: This shader was significantly upgraded in with new parameters, a new layer blending mode, drop shadows, and support for layer-specific detail textures and specular masks. Document these.

Example

WorldVertexTransition
{
	$basetexture nature/dirtfloor006a
	$surfaceprop dirt

	$basetexture2 nature/rockfloor005a
	$surfaceprop2 rock

	%tooltexture nature/blendrockgrass004a_tooltexture
}

• Some visual effects can be selectively applied to one sub-material or the other. See the relevant articles for more details.
• The Hammer material browser won't be able to display a preview of the material unless it's given a %tooltexture.

Supported Parameters

$blendmodulatetexture (in all games since )

Modulate the blending between materials using a special texture.

$bumpmap

Bumpmapping.

$detail

Detail texturing. Applies the same detail texture to both materials. In , each layer can use their own detail texture.

$envmap

Specular reflections. In , each layer can have their own specular mask. To do: Might disable $blendmodulatetexture if both are used.

$lightwarptexture (in all games since )

Per-texel color modification via a warp texture. Applies the lightwarp to both materials.

$seamless_scale (in all games since )

Mitigation for displacement texture stretching.

$selfillum

Self-illumination. Applies the self-illumination to both materials. To do: Might disable $blendmodulatetexture if both are used.

$ssbump (in all games since )

Self-shadowing bumpmapping. If two bumpmaps are used, both must be self-shadowing bumpmaps in order for this to work properly.

$translucent

$alpha

Expensive and cheap transparency. Applies the transparency to both materials.

$phong (only in )

Diffuse reflections.

See also

• LightmappedGeneric, the standard shader for lightmapped surfaces.
• Lightmapped_4WayBlend, an upgraded displacement blend shader for .
• LightmappedTwoTexture, a brush shader that multiplies a texture on top of another one.
• WorldTwoTextureBlend, a brush shader that applies a texture on top of another one using $detail.
• Displacement, the surface type this shader is used on.