Simple Noob Question...

[Kirby_106]

Hello guys,
I just recently bought the full version of Soldat, and I'm loving it. I decided to try to make another map (Havnt made one in forever) and noticed that there was a diffrent program out to make maps. Polyworks. Well I was used to the original editor, but I decided to take a chance with this one, and try to learn to use it well.

Im currently running into some very noobish problems. I have looked in the tuts. above, but couldnt find the solution to my problem.

My problems are-

* I have a texture selected, and whenever I make a polygon it does that texture. BUT, when I want to change the texture/color, I go to the pallete, and make it...say Red, and when I start to make the polygon, its red, but when I give the final "click" on the mouse, it goes back to that original texture. Help?

*Shading seems to be something that will take some time to get used to. I select the "Edit Deph Map" and start spraying some of the polygons with it, but it seems to do nothing. Help?


Thanks alot guys, hope I will be seeing you later on the road when I start producing maps.

[iDante]

I dunno about the first problem, but for the second there is another tool you need to use. depth map is used for lighthing, use the vertice selection tool or the one that has a circle with a cross in it to draw. (click on the "?" in the top right for more info)

[Keron Cyst]

Welcome back, Kirby Haven't seen you in quite a while.

What do you mean specifically in the first question? Color is shown by tinges to a polygon's texture. Texture is what all the polygons on a map look like. Terrain from ctf_Laos isn't gonna look the same as terrain from Cambodia, even if both were colored white.

Most mappers don't use Depth Mapping (you have to use it in coordination with the Lights Tool), as it has a tendency to generate blocky terrain (which may achieve a cool 3D effect, but doesn't give good color flow at all, unless you take the time to average all the vertices' colors). I myself simply use the Vertex Color Tool to select vertices, then use the Paintbucket Tool to color them.

[Kirby_106]

Hello Keron!
I mean the entire color of the polygon.
Here, lemmie explain it alittle more. I have a grass texture currently, but I would like to change it to a diffrent texture, or maybe a solid color. I dont want my entire map to be one texture/color.

Thanks! Hope it clears it up alittle.

[Eagles_Arrows]

Hello Keron!
I mean the entire color of the polygon.
Here, lemmie explain it alittle more. I have a grass texture currently, but I would like to change it to a diffrent texture, or maybe a solid color. I dont want my entire map to be one texture/color.

Thanks! Hope it clears it up alittle.

So let me get this straight:

You want to use more than one texture for your map?

If that is the case, you'll have to use a multitexture.  If you use a single texture, then that texture will affect all of the polygons on your map.  Multitextures, however, hold more than one texture, therefore, you can improve the aesthetics of the map.

This is a single texture:


This is a multitexture:

NOTE: These are in .jpg format solely for shorter uploading (and downloading) times.

In your case you have a grass texture; you can make polygons that resemble terrain and stuff using that.  But if you want to create other things like buildings, bunkers, or other structures, you'll have to use another texture.  It's impossible to switch textures and not have the polygons created before the switch be affected by it.  But, if you have a multitexture, it's not necessary to switch between textures, since you already have the textures you need.  Therefore, you can create both terrain and structures!

Basically, all you need to do to create a multitexture is set a 128 by 256-dimension canvas (or 256 by 128) in any photo-editing software and copy & paste two textures you need.  If you need three, set the dimensions to 128 by 384 and so on and so forth.

This process will become tedious if you need lots of multitextures.  Everything is made easy, however, by a great fan app by rainrider called the Texture Merger that lets you blend textures without any difficulty.  Choose two (or more) textures, set transition height (from 1 to 128), and you got yourself a multitexture!  The app is only compatible with .bmp files, though.

When using a multitexture, use the tool if you need to switch between textures.  Just click on the poly(s), select that tool, click-n-hold, and drag.

Also, look in the Mapper's Help & Resources section of this forum for some multitextures created by various mappers.

[Kirby_106]

Hmmm, Thanks! That cleared alot of things up. So how do I not use a texture then, and just color?

[Keron Cyst]

Vertex Selection Tool, man. Grab some vertices and paintbucket them something (or use Vertex Color, although IMO the Paintbucket Tool is much faster).

[Kirby_106]

Awesome, Thanks alot guys, I finally got it.

Better watch out, a new mapper is coming to town. 


...(after I try getting my 360 controller working with Soldat  )...