$rimlight

Example of rim lighting in use on the TF2 Heavy.

$rimlight is a material shader parameter for the VertexLitGeneric shader available in all Source games since Source 2007. It adds a constant rim light to the model that appears to come indirectly from the environment. The color of the rim light is directly influenced by ambient light and behave closer to $phongfresnelranges Z component.

Note:Requires $phong to be set to 1.

Note:A $bumpmap is required for rimlighting to work, as $phong requires one.

Todo: Explain similarities and differences of Phong Fresnel ranges.

Warning: Features no visible effect. however, you can increase $phongfresnelranges Z vector to archive a closer effect.

VMT syntax

$rimlight <bool>

 VertexLitGeneric
{
	$phong			1

	$bumpmap		<texture>
	$phongexponent		5		
	$phongexponenttexture	<texture>	
	$phongboost		1.0
	$phongfresnelranges	"[0 0.5 1]"

	$rimlight               1
	$rimlightexponent       2
	$rimlightboost          .2			
}

Additional Parameters

$rimlightexponent <integer>

Exponent for phong component of rim lighting. The rim exponent defines the "tightness" of the highlight. A higher exponent results in a smaller, tighter highlight while a lower exponent results in a broader flatter one.

Bug:Appears to have no effect in HLMV.  [todo tested in?]

$rimlightboost <float>

Additive boost for ambient cube component of rim lighting.

$rimmask <boolean>

Uses the alpha channel of the $phongexponenttexture to mask rimlighting.

$phongtint <RGB matrix>

By default the rim light is white, This will tint both, phong and rim lighting. See Phong for more.

See also

• $phong
• Phong materials
• Phong Fresnel ranges