Portal - Tutorial - Indicator Lights

← Portal Level Creation

This tutorial will show you how to create indicators on the ground and walls that change color when the trigger is activated. It assumes you have moderate knowledge on the Hammer Overlay Tool.

Overlays

Indicator strips laid out

The bulk of the lights are comprise info_overlays. The four textures used are:

• signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_floor
• signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_wall
• signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_corner_wall
• signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_corner_floor

Indicators on the walls or ceiling will use the signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_wall and signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_corner_wall textures while the indicators on the floor will use the signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_floor and signage/indicator_lights/indicator_lights_corner_floor textures.

Start the indicator strip from the activator to what the activator will activate, for instance, a button connecting to a door. Rename the indicators to anything. Resize the corners to 8x8 and resize the strips to 8x32 while Texture Lock is enabled.

Note: Letting go of the corners will make the strip look like it went to 10x32, this is because of the size of the overlay model but in actuality, the overlay size is the same.

If your strip needs to be shorter or longer than 32x8, disable Texture Lock and resize it. Be sure that there is a circle for every 8 units on the strip. Enable Texture Lock once you are finished with an individual strip.

Doorstate Indicators

These indicators are to be used with Test Chamber Doors.

Where to put the doorstate indicator

Create a prop_static and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
World Model	models/props/sign_frame01/sign_frame01.mdl

Align the center of the side you need to the last indicator strip.

Create a 32Wx4Lx32H block brush textured with tools/toolsnodraw. Texture the front with signage/signage_doorstate. Align this brush so it fits inside the prop_static sign frame.

Tie the brush to a func_brush entity and give it the same name as your info_overlay entities.

Ending indicators without doorstate

Corner End Indicators

This is quite simple, all you have to do is add a corner indicator to the end of your path, for instance, test chamber 06.

Changing the color

Finished indicator

1. Create a env_texturetoggle entity somewhere near your overlays. Give it the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	button_lights_toggle
Target Brush(es)	button_lights (or whatever you named the overlays/func_brush)

2. Now just add the following output to the trigger for your button/switch/etc:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnStartTouch	button_lights_toggle	SetTextureIndex	1	0.00	No
	OnEndTouchAll	button_lights_toggle	SetTextureIndex	0	0.00	No

Note:You can use any name you'd like, for this guide, "button_lights" and "button_lights_toggle" will be used for the targetnames

Test Element Indicators

Some testing elements have their own unique indicator rules.

Test Chamber Doors

Place the doorstate 64 units above the ground and place it 12 units away from the door it self.

Lab Doors

Place the indicator above it while centering it horizontally.

Lab door indicator

Lab doors that open to a catcher box will have the indicator centered below it.

Lab door indicator

Activator Testing Elements

Almost all activator elements like Buttons, switches, Energy Ball Catchers, etc... have their indicator start from the center.

Catcher Indicator

Button Indicator

Switch Indicator

See also

• Portal Level Creation