Understanding Buildcubemaps

[bob+M|M+]

Is the proper way to build cubemaps? What do all these things mean? Thanks in advance!

mat_specular 0
buildcubemaps
mat_hdr_level 0
map "mapname"
buildcubemaps
mat_hdr_level 2
map "mapname"
mat_specular 1

[Youme]

mat_specular 0 turns off all reflections, so when you build the cubemaps you don;t get pink in them.
mat_hdr_level changes the HDR setting, 0 is off and 2 is on full.

Propper method:
-load the map
-mat_specular 0
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_hdr_level 0
-map <mapname>
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_specular 1
-mat_hdr_level 2
-relooad map and enjoy

[bob+M|M+]

Just the man I was looking for. Thanks Youme. =D

[Open Blade]

Wow, I have never done this before. Guess I should look into this more. So you're saying when you build the cubemaps while in game as you stated above, those settings are saved into the map file so when you upload it to server, it's ready to roll?

I saw this at the valve site. What is it and is this step necessary also?

Note: For multiplayer maps, you may need to enable cheats (sv_cheats 1) before running the buildcubemaps command.

[Sgt Frag]

Well, when I just did my cubemaps I got a console error saying
"cannot save multiplayer games"
But they still worked.

[bob+M|M+]

I've heard some people suggest using sv_lan 1 and sv_cheats 1 preceding everything, but it doesn't make a difference for me.

[Youme]

I have sv_cheats 1 set by default when tf2 runs from the SDK but I've never had problems when I run it normally and run buildcubemaps.

[eerieone]

okay, i´m going nuts here with my cubemaps:
tried several methods, none working for me
i enable sv_cheats as soon as the map starts up
the "mat_hdr_level" gives me the line "Can´t save multiplayer games"

nineaxis:
mat_specular 0
buildcubemaps
mat_hdr_level 0 (to go to LDR)
map mapname (to reload map)
buildcubemaps
mat_hdr_level 2 (to go back to HDR)
map mapname (to reload map)
mat_specular 1

juices:
mat_specular 0
sv_Cheats 1
buildcubemaps
map (yourmapname)
mat_specular 1

youme´s #1:
mat_specular 0,
buildcubemaps,
disconnect,
mat_hdr_level 0,
map <map_name>,
buildcubemaps,
disconnect,
mat_hdr_level 2,
mat_specular 1

youme´s #2:
-load the map
-mat_specular 0
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_hdr_level 0
-map <mapname>
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_specular 1
-mat_hdr_level 2
-reload map and enjoy

[toutfou]

sv_cheats 1 is meant to allow the game to overwrite the bsp (otherwise it's read only and the cubemaps wont save). But given reports of other people not having to do this, it sounds a bit strange.

The only things I can suggest are:

1) Go to the BSP file in explorer and check its properties, manually make sure that 'read only' isn't checked. Also do this in game if necessary.

2) Enable sv_cheats before loading the map - it may not be removing the read only flag if it's enabled after the map has loaded.

[Cameron:D]

You need to load a different map, then your map again. I've found.

[Apom]

Without sv_cheats 1, reloading the map (with different HDR settings) may not reload the materials.

Actually, instead of reloading the map, it looks sufficient to reloadallmaterials.

[eerieone]

doing that too, and everytime i enter mine, i re-type sv_cheats 1...
the game definately writes to the bsp, filesize grows 100kb