# HOW TO CREATE SKYBOXES…

# By: Sliencer

# utcity@planetunreal.com

# UT City

FOREWORD:

I am suspecting that you know how to Create a basic level, using lights, Rotating brushes, and knowing the basic buttons, and are familiar with the sheet properties. Download Tutorial Map

DIRECTIONS:

Right now we’re going to create a simple but quality skybox. Look below to see it:

2-4

Start out by opening or creating a level. Next open the texture set titled: ShaneSky.utx. There are other texture sets for skyboxes but for now I’m going to use this one. Now, off to the side somewhere, so that’s it’s not touching anything create a 1024x1024x1024 cube. Use the STARS texture and add it to your world. Now create a 256 length, 256 width, and 128 height cube. Move it to the bottom center of your skybox cube and select the PANTILEB texture and subtract it. The add a light on the top of that cube and if you want press the F8 key and rebuild geometry to see what it looks like. Next click on the sheet button and right click on it and go into sheet properties. In sheet properties choose the Y-Wall orientation and under Size put: U:256, V:128, then click build. Now align the brush so that it is on the side of the box and is on top. Refer to figure 2-4a:

2-4a

If it your screen looks the same then continue otherwise repeat the above process and try again. Now click on the Add Special Brush button (Big green one with dotted lined square in it.). We want to build a Masked Wall so go ahead and select that from the Predefined options. Now under Masking choose Masked, under Visibility choose 2-Sided, under effects make sure nothing is checked, and under Solidity choose Semi-solid. Then click on the PANTILE1 texture and select Add Special. You should notice something like this:

2-4b

Note: PANTILE1 and PANTILE4 seem to line up well when creating skyboxes so I recommend using that pair. Now either rotate the sheet or go back to sheet properties and choose X-Wall. Repeat this process all the way around until you get to something like this:

2-4c

(Note: Sometimes you won’t be able to see the masked wall at first. So to see it press the F8 key and rebuild geometry. If you still cannot see the masked wall then try again and make sure that it is 2 sided. Also if you notice that the textures aren’t aligning correctly try rotating the object and adding a special brush again and/or try selecting the masked wall and changing textures. Once aligned they should look alike like the above image.) Now that the hard part is over with all you have to do is go into Classes and click on the minus sign next to *Info, then the minus sign next to *Zoneinfo, then select *SkyZoneInfo (not the minus sign). Then right click in the middle of your skybox in your 3D view and select Add SkyZoneInfo here. Finally go back to textures, select STARS again, and create a sheet with the following properties: Ceiling/Floor orientation, U:1024, V:1024. Then click on Build. Now align the Sheet to be centered on top of the skybox and just 16 – 32 units higher than the masked walls. It should look like this:

2-4d

If I does then click on Add Special Brush and create another masked wall the same way you’ve done before. Now you should see a semi see through set of stars. Good. Now go back to your level part and select any walls/ceilings that you want your to view your skybox as a background. Right click on the selected texture(s) and go to Surface Properties. Now under the Effects tab select Unlit and Fake Backdrop. The close it and rebuild geomoetry and check out your cool spacelike skybox!

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ADDING OTHER EFFECTS TO YOUR SKYBOX…

So you want to add more stuff to your skybox eh? Well below are some of the effects you can add:

-Planets
-Lightning
-Rain
-Movement (Like in Facing Worlds)

(Note: These are only the effects that I know of, there may be more.)

Adding Planets is fairly simple, all you have to do is create a sheet that is aligned with the floor and ceiling at about 128x128 – 256x256 units and make it masked and double sided and you’ve got a planet. Just put it below your larger set of stars under your 1024x1024 STAR sheet and you’ve got a planet. (Note: Planet textures vary in size which is why I said 128x128 – 256x256 units because these are the average sizes.) As for lightning, rain, and movement, I’ll have to cover those in a future tutorial.

CONCLUSION:

You should now know how to make a regular skybox. Try using different texture sets such as Skybox.utx and make some different textures skyboxes to fit your maps atmosphere. Also another trick is making all the masked wall on the floor of the original 1024x1024x1024 without putting them on top of the 128x256x256. For more information on this download one of my maps: DM-Sanddunes or CTF-BunkerCommand and see the skybox for yourself.

OTHER:

Comments/Questions Email me at utcity@planetunreal.com

-=[ Copyright / Permissions ]=-

This tutorial is copyright (c) 1999 Matt Murphy.
This tutorial is not supported by Legend Entertainment or Epic Games.