Core

The Citadel Core, which uses this shader.

Core is a pixel shader available in all Source games since Half-Life 2: Episode One. It is used to create a unstable, reflecting and refracting core of energy, used exclusively for the Core reactor in the Citadel in Episode One.

Note:In order for this shader to work properly, it must be used with a prop_coreball at the position of (2688,12139,5170). This value is hardcoded into the shader.

Note:This shader does not exist in engine branches after the Orange Box.

Shader Parameters

$corecolortexture <texture>

The texture to use for the colors that get dynamically modified by the shader. The alpha channel of the $corecolortexture determines the translucency of the core.

$corecolortextureframe <integer>

The frame to start an animated $corecolortexture on.

$normalmap <texture>

$dudvmap <texture> (DX8)

The pattern of refraction is defined by a normal map (DX9+) or DUDV map (DX8-). May be animated.

$bumpframe <integer>

The frame to start an animated bumpmap on.

Todo: This may not work with the proxy required for the effect.

$bumptransform <matrix>

Transforms the bump map texture.

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?]

$envmap <texture>

Adds a cubemap reflection on top of the refraction.

Note:Specular reflections for this shader will be drawn even if mat_specular is set to 0.

$envmapframe <integer>

The frame to start an animated cubemap on.

$envmaptint <RGB matrix>

Controls the intensity of the reflection's red, green and blue color channels. Any positive number can be used. Default is "[1 1 1]", which means 100% intensity.

Note:You must use quotemarks, as there are space characters within the value.

$envmapcontrast <normal>

Controls the contrast of the reflection. 0 is natural contrast, while 1 is the full squaring of the color (i.e. color*color).

$envmapsaturation <normal>

Controls the colour saturation of the reflection. 0 is greyscale, while 1 is natural saturation.

$refractamount <float>

Controls the strength of the refraction by multiplying the normal map intensity.

$refracttint <RGB matrix>

Tints the color of the refraction.

$flowmap <texture>

Flowmap to scroll the normal map, which affects the refraction.

$flowmapframe <integer>

The frame to start an animated flowmap on.

$flowmapscrollrate <vector2>

The rate at which the normal map scrolls along the flowmap.

$flowmaptexcoordoffset <float>

Todo: Texture offset for the flowmap? Modified by proxies, as seen below.

Example

The Core material used in Episode One, materials/models/props_combine/core_sheet.vmt

"Core"
{
	"$normalmap" "Models/props_combine/core_normal"
	"$dudvmap"  "Models/props_combine/core_dudv"

	"$corecolortexture" "models/props_combine/corewarpcolor"
	"$flowmap" "models/props_combine/core_flow"

	"$model" 1
	"$REFRACTAmOUNT" "0.15"
	"$FLOWMAPSCROLLRATE" "[.0475 .133]"
//	"$envmap" "CustomCubeMaps/core"
	"$envmap" "env_cubemap"
	"$refracttint" "[0.7 0.7 0.6]"
	"$envmaptint" "[0.8 0.6 0.6]"
	"$FLOWMAPTEXCOORDOFFSET" "1.0"
	"$TempMin" 0
	"$TempMax" 1

	
	"core_dx70"
	{
		"$fallbackmaterial" "models/props_combine/coredx70"
	}

	"core_dx80"
	{
		"$normalmap" "dev/water_normal"
		"$dudvmap"  "dev/water_dudv"
		"$bumptransform" "center .5 .5 scale 5 5 rotate 0 translate 0 0"
		"$envmapcontrast" "1.0"
	}

	"Proxies"
	{

		"Sine"
		{
			"resultVar" "$FLOWMAPTEXCOORDOFFSET"
			"sineperiod" 4
			"sinemin" "$TempMin"
			"sinemax" "$TempMax"
		}
		"AnimatedTexture"
		{
			"animatedtexturevar" "$normalmap" 
			"animatedtextureframenumvar" "$bumpframe"
			"animatedtextureframerate" 29.00
		}
	}
}