the shadow zones in my map make the models look completely black
I know there must be some property somewhere that changes the shadow values, but i dont know where
help plz :(

I have the same problem, even in a light room the models are dark, i think its something to do with light_enviroment

the models are light from the red X if the red X is n a brush then the model will be lit like the inside of the brush. if you have an entity like func_wall check to see if it blocks light.

does that mean that i have to find every brush that makes that effect and modify it so it renders right??

models take the light status from the first regular brush directly underneath them, reduced by distance and blocking.

if it is on a func wall that blocks light, the model may get black. or if the regular brush is too far away, i[say at the bottom of a shaft and you are in the elevator]i, then the weapon in hand would get black as well as the player model.

Originally posted by tommy14
models take the light status from the first regular brush directly underneath them, reduced by distance and blocking.

UH... NO.

models are lit from the "ground position" this in modeling terms is the center of the workspace. when you place a model in Hammer the "ground position" is shown as a tiny little red X this is where the model WILL be lit from.





what you have there though is a problem with your light_environment though if i remeber correctly. I'm trying to think how to fix it but the best advice is screw with it.

try chaging the Ambient setting on Light_Environment.. bet its set to black.

worked for me, hopefully its the same issue

I always see this happening whenever building the cubemaps. all players/weapons turn pitch black if not directly lit by the sun/light_environment

If you don't build the cubemaps, they stay fine.

So before wasting my time trying to figure out what is wrong, I'll chalk it up to the SDK and HDR tools being needed (possibly new executables) and will see if the next update corrects it.

It appeared with the HDR engine update

wow! Thread necrophily for the win! :rolleyes:

lol! 2 year old thread..

lol figures some accounts didn't exist :) Well my explanation still stands for today's cubemaps problems in Source

Wait for the SDK update