After the sdk update, Valve released info concerning new commands to add to VRAD when compiling maps.

One of those is -final. While they claim that the lighting will be done with multiple passes to make sure shadows and lighting are correctly represented, they also warn users that it takes a LONG time.

Usually I compile dijon for testers in 1h30 minutes. That's with my PIV 2.4 FSB 533 and my 768 MB of Ram, for a map that's considered in the "large maps" category (though I disagree on that)

Today as I planned to release beta5 for a possible playtest, I decided to give -final a go. I consider that the normal passes done with VRad are already of very good quality.

-final is in a league of its own. Nothing comes close to it. It gave a new life to my level which my eyes grew weary of seeing day after day. And with my comp I can't even try HDR, which is a shame.

The downside, when Valve says it takes a LONG time, take their word for it. I figured it would take an extra hour at most.

The end result was a whopping 6h45 minutes total to end the compile. I learned today I would only ever do this overnight from now on.

But the result is more than worth it. Please guys, do make the extra effort for the final release of your map !

EDIT: Oh yes, the other downside is your map will gain a few MB in size in the process. Mine went from 43 to 53 Mb (without the cubemaps/custom content) so prepare yourselves for bigger downloads.

I don't know if the 10 MB is a good estimate for everyone but in terms of % it's around 20%

Really can't wait to see your map now ^_^

Could you give us some comparison-shots to show this off? It sounds great, I'll have to remember it.

At 53 mb I would consider that a large map. Is there any reason that your map would have to be that large?

Originally posted by joedod
At 53 mb I would consider that a large map. Is there any reason that your map would have to be that large?

Just look at his non-HDR screenies hehe

Also...any ETA on the release of the map ^_^?

53 mb, and without custom content?? wtf

your map better be gigantic!!! btw, can't wait to check it out ;)

Well b4 maps were up to 15mb usually round 4-5 but in source the official dod maps are 40-45mb.

Expect bigger file sizes, I don't know what this is going to mean to sv_downloadurl speeds but it would make a BSP near impossible to download from the server. Of course on the other side of that, BSP's compress nicely, zip or rar etc... So it may encourage more people to download from the web after they have some bad experiences trying to get from the server.

Hasn't the final command been there for years?

I just tried to take screenies of a prior version and the latest, and I'm afraid it doesn't do it any justice. With a couple spots where one could see a better contrast of shadows, the rest seems like a carbon copy.

Yet it feels different when I run around on both. Like the -final is that much crisper, and certain areas a bit lighter. Not to the extent of what HDR provides though.

In certain darker areas, like my church, it really doesn't change anything as far as the eye can see.

Try it and see for yourselves. You may be surprised, then again you may not.

As for file size, the file is huge I agree. And you don't even want to ever have to go through your map as I did, trying to reduce the file size.

I went from a 75 MB (249 custom files) size to a 51 MB (193 custom files) map, only to see the beta sdk released, finally being able to add HDR and cubemaps, which made it jump all the way back to 65 Mb.

With this -final lighting pass, I think the final release will be in 75-80 Mb. I have yet to try using bz2 and server downloads, but the rar is below 20 Mb. The zip is higher around 25 Mb.

In terms of download speeds I guess from what I'm looking at, it'll be 2-3 minutes from servers. If that's too long to wait so be it. I won't compromise on visual quality.

The way I see it, while 2-3 minutes of waiting can seem a bit large, nothing prevents players from downloading it beforehand on reliable hosts such as the one I'll provide, and at much higher speeds. Plus you really only have to download it once, so what's 2-3 minutes of a player's time?

Here is the excerpt from the VDC:

If you don't use the Hammer built-in compiler, you can use the following commands with VRAD for use on the command-line: -both, -ldr, -hdr, and -final. Now a .BSP file can contain two sets of lightmaps for both LDR and HDR. To compile both add the command -both to VRAD. If you want to compile just the LDR version add -ldr, and for HDR only add -hdr. Another new command that was added for this release is -final which is used to increase the quality of skylight and indirect light by spending more CPU time firing rays. Warning: the use of -final can dramatically increase the compile time for VRAD, and so it is mainly intended for final map compiles. The biggest quality impact of this option is the reduction of lighting artifacts that are commonly found in indoor spaces lit primarily from light_environment.

I guess I'll have to go back in and look for the indoor spaces artifacts ;)

BTW I find the first sentence a bit confusing, sounds like one can not do it with the Valve compile tools, or that it is indeed done by default. Neither assumptions are true.

To access this -final compile option, just go to expert mode, and the beta SDK already has a profile made for you to use -final. It once again warns of the time consuming process

Originally posted by Furyo


Usually I compile dijon for testers in 1h30 minutes. That's with my PIV 2.4 FSB 533 and my 768 MB of Ram, for a map that's considered in the "large maps" category (though I disagree on that)


LMFAO
geesh i wish smallhill would compile in that time....
decompile and compile it go on i dare you.........

Well how long does it take you??? Is it optimized to the max?

optimization is not my strong point
but its going to be a problem because of the open spaces
if anyone wants to have a go please do

wickit: you should PM fuzzdad and ask his advice/help



Furyo: Well, WHERE IS IT already....