Create Realistic Sky Boxes

[FlynT]

You can use Post-Processing but you must check the "Post-Processing applies to all cameras" Checkbox. For do that simple double click on the "Main-Camera" beneath the Ground Layer and above the Sun Layer.

I've uploaded my Basic Setup that i use for all my Sky-Textures, maybe that will help you all to understand it a bit better. Let me know if it works!

[vcool]

Yay I figured it!

It isn't perfect tiling, but you can't really see the seams.

[ScarT]

Meh, using this tool isn't any fun when there's minor bugs like that :(

[FlynT]

I really don't know why it doesn't work for the most of you :/ that makes me really sad.

Everything that i use I've wrote down in the Tutorial and for me it works nicely.

[ScarT]

I tried using the setup you uploaded, which works fine enough - weird!

Must be a problem with certain skies?

[source-maps]

I downloaded, tried it, and I got to agree its way better then Terragen... so much control over the clouds etc. you can really create what you want and Terragen is usually just guessing and screwing around to get something nice

[atelierz]

so, what about watermarks?

is it possible to disable them in the learning edition?
if not, that's an awfully expensive skybox.

[source-maps]

or an awfully illegal skybox ;)

[vcool]

Well, when I searched for Vue 6 tutorials, first link was to a torrent :/ right under it was the official website.

Irony much?

[FlynT]

Only for keeping some things clear ;)

As i wrote the Tutorial i didn't know which restrictions the PLE-Version has. And on which Way you get the Software depends only on you. But before i run into trouble i've to say that the the firm where i work had a license of Vue6.

The main reason why i wrote this tutorial is simple, i only wanna bring in an alternative way of making Skyboxes, you also can make Skyboxes with Maya or 3DS or any other Modeling Software, except Mudbox :D. So Vue is not the only one alternative to Terragen, and believe me its not worth it to run in trouble therefore!! You have to hold in mind that every daytime is available with Source. And who knows what Terragen 2 will bring, many Screens of it look really nice.

I really don't know which software Valve uses for there Skys maybe Maya or maybe another Indie "cheap" Software, the only one way to find out what they use is to ask. I use Vue for my Skyboxes because i only need 5 minutes for Skys like the one above ;) and i thought maybe this will help someone else here to get similar results.

EDIT:
Aww now i know whats wrong!
Fire up Vue and double click on the Camera so that you get the Setup of it. And then head over to Horizontal FoV and Vertical FoV and set both to 90°! Do that for every camera you have!
I've uploaded the fixed version of my basic setup from above.

[marnamai]

I am having problems getting rid of those weird lines in the gradient. Also when I render with stars some of them are cut in 2 on the seams.

[FlynT]

Hehe funny!

What did you see if you go here?
Right Skies! And what have all (except TF2) of them together?
Right MASSIVE CLOUDLAYERS!

Why?
They reduce drastically the gradient in your Skybox and they also make your Sky more realistic. So bring in some more Clouds to add variation and always save it on the highest possible setting. And of course always save a Skybox with "NO MIPMAPS" checked.

You can shit on that Star problem ;) most of the people will never notice it. Add Clouds and maybe a Mountain line in the back and there view will never land on the Stars :P

[marnamai]

Still having issues getting a smooth gradient, even with clouds. Now it just shows up on them coulds :/

vtf settings

clamp s
clamp t
srgb
no mipmap
no lod

format bgr888

I read on the link you posted that Hint DXT5 0x0020 Used in skyboxes makes sure edges are seamless.
Shouldn't DXT5 be used instead of BGR888? (use this format for typical textures with an alpha channel with smooth gradients)

Or maybe the issue is orginating from vue6 rendering instead of the vtf settings ...

[Mr-Jigsaw]

Always use the highest render settings, and save in tga or bmp.

In vtfedit, save as bgr88, but do not check srgb, instead check hint dxt 5, but keep bgr88.

[marnamai]

those are the highest render settings :(