The Lost Hallways Beta (formerly known as Castle of Hell)

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:31 am

It's already been said that it is not my problem but yours. And it's probably the map that's dark because those new shots is a new area.

Post by **Silicone_Milk** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:35 am

Dessicated corpse wrote:It's already been said that it is not my problem but yours. And it's probably the map that's dark because those new shots is a new area.

Fjoggs was being extremely sarcastic in that post. You're the only person who can see the shots as you mean them to be seen. Everybody else (myself included) sees them as too dark. The chances of everybody's monitors except for yours being the problem is incredibly low. It's much more likely that it's a problem on your end.

Your new shots are actually a bit brighter. But still dark.

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:45 am

So, these guys were being sarcastic?

dichtfux wrote:Yes, most of these shots are brighter. Looks like you added some details to your map.

I like this shot:
http://a.imageshack.us/img245/3946/shot0003bz.jpg

o'dium wrote:I don't see as much of an issue with the darkness now, in fact it looks ok. Keep in mind that when tis fullscreen, it will be a LOT brighter because the rest of your monitor is making your eyes think its darker than it is...

As for the pics, its looking better. You really do need to work on your trims and patch work as they are a bit of a mess right now, most of all around the door frame. Also remember to rotate your patches so the seams don't show up where the player can see them.

I have no idea, if they were being sarcastic and still couldn't see my shots how did they know what I done to my map?

Post by **Silicone_Milk** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:55 am

So I'm going to point out that I specifically said Fjoggs was being sarcastic. I never said anything about any other person.

Also, I have said that your newer shots are a bit brighter. They're still dark but they're bright enough to see something now. (They can still be a bit brighter)

As for O'dium - "I don't see as much of an issue with the darkness now, in fact it looks ok." This doesn't mean that the problem has been eliminated. It's still there, just not as severe as it was.

I'm not trying to be a dick here and it looks like you're taking it that way. I'm giving you some feedback that'll benefit you in the long run.

I'm going to re-iterate my points:
- make the screenshots brighter
- think about the screenshots you take and try to show more in your images. You want to present your map at its best angles. (Don't take pictures of just the fog for instance)

You could try increasing the field of view a bit and sitting your camera in a corner of a room to get a kind of a wide-lens sweep of the entire area.

Take shots from dramatic angles. Wide field of views and low corners or high sweeping views of the map!

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:16 am

I wasn't on about Fjoggs, it's either your monitors, the map or ImageShack. And to be honest, I never changed any of my monitor or Quake 3 settings when I took the new shots, so it's another problem.

-Make my shots brighter? Do you mean I should change my config settings of Quake 3 or my monitor? Because I really don't want to change any of my settings, it's bright enough.
-k

I don't like increasing or decreasing my FOV when I take shots. I always have it at 90 when I take shots.

What are you talking about? Fog? I removed the fog, I put green fog in one area and took shots of it to post them on here to see what the people think. It wasn't a shot of fog anyway.

Post by **Silicone_Milk** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:35 am

Dessicated corpse wrote: What are you talking about? Fog? I removed the fog, I put green fog in one area and took shots of it to post them on here to see what the people think. It wasn't a shot of fog anyway.

http://a.imageshack.us/img85/6754/shot0019a.jpg

?

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:37 am

Yeah, I was asking them if the fog looked good or bad.

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:59 pm

The point of posting screenshots of your work is to get some feedback. Don't be so resistive of feedback, people are posting to try and help you and offer suggestions.

IMO, your map is too dark. Add some light entities in your map. It looks like it is being lit entirely by some sparse areas of shader lights. I don't see any evidence of point lights. My monitors are routinely calibrated using a hardware calibration tool, so I know that it's not my monitor or settings that are too dark.

This one for instance:
http://a.imageshack.us/img836/9941/shot0031o.jpg

I don't even know what I'm looking at, it's pitch black. You might want to take a look at that other recent thread about lighting, I think that can help you immensely:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=44308

About the screenshots, they say, "quality over quantity". I haven't bothered looking at most of your screenshots, since there is just a sheer multitude of them taken from random locations and to be frank, they aren't all that interesting. Unless you are looking for specific feedback on something important, I suggest that you keep working on a single area until you have something that looks really good and polished and then take a well positioned screenshot to share. Right now, it's basically information overload and most people don't have time to look at every single screenshot.

I hope you don't take this too negatively, it's my suggestions on how to improve your work and your forum posting etiquette.

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:19 pm

(Mod Edit: Really, you don't have to keep quoting)

I just tried adding heaps of light just how other maps in Quake 3 are and it makes the textures fade out. They look too bright and take away the colors.

That thread is to do with Q3Map2 and I can't get that program to work at all. I said in my thread that Q3Map2 only comes up with an error.

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:21 pm

Of course you get that error. I would get the same error if I double clicked on Q3Map2.exe. That's not how you run the program. Do you actually bother reading what people have been trying to explain to you in that thread? I ask, because we've been saying, "no, THIS is how you do it" and you keep replying, "but I can't get it to work because I'm going to just keep doing what I originally did instead of what you suggest". How do you expect to learn and how do you expect anyone to help you when you completely ignore everything people have been telling you?

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:04 pm

Post by **monaster** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:20 pm

And in only about 30 seconds you can find several answers on how to use the win cmd for Q3 mapping just by clicking on "search forum".

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:26 pm

I've tried this example from the Wikibooks site, "C:\path\to\q3map2.exe" -skyfix -meta -v "C:\path\to\mapname.map". But it just compiles the map wrongly, I start the map and the lighting's messed up and the textures are very small.

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:20 pm

New area.

http://a.imageshack.us/img44/4785/shot0010w.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img835/3929/shot0011.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img691/8915/shot0012lg.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img715/8710/shot0013o.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img830/2851/shot0014.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img835/5039/shot0015d.jpg

Post by **Quack** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:19 pm

I would recommend using skylight and/or sunExt to illuminate this area, this way you can avoid using point lights if you don't feel comfortable making them look natural. You can also add torches and point lights to illuminate the hallway in the first screenshot. The best way to think about lighting is that it has to come from somewhere in the real world. Always remember that a light source should appear to have a source. Create a sky shader and make some openings in the ceiling, adjust the skylight and/or sunExt so that people can actually see what your working on.

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:26 pm

I can't because when I do that with certain areas (including that new one) it shows the whole map instead of the sky. And, which shot are you talking about?

Post by **Anthem** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:51 pm

Dessicated corpse wrote:I start the map and the lighting's messed up and the textures are very small.

Shit, I have the same problem. S:

Post by **Quack** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:04 pm

For this screenshot, http://a.imageshack.us/img44/4785/shot0010w.jpg There are some dark corners but this is looking better. The other screenshots are too dark. I think adding some torches with colored lighting, maybe yellow/orange, would provide some natural light. Although, that depends on what type of artistic direction you want to go. You could go with what you have right now, greyish or light blue color, and make it seem dark and dank if you don't want warmth. Just pick a color and a light source. Use a theme, and given that theme, think about what would light up that area.

I can't because

Do not say this. You can, you just don't know how to. Give us some examples of the problem. Start with skylight and try open the ceiling or walls to provide illumination. If you don't want the sky to be visible, pick a light source like a torch or something that glows, and use that to illuminate the area.

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:13 pm

The dark corners are actually black fog, don't worry, it won't be there for long. I am actually trying to add torches and that. I'm trying to give it a medieval/gothic theme.

Well, it won't show the sky, it shows you whats outside the map instead of the sky. I'm using hellsky and it is a texture. I will upload a shot of it later, I'm going to bed..

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:26 pm

Post by **sumatra** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:55 pm

It would be easier for me to judge about your progress when you load about less pictures and post them via img-tags. So I wouldn't have to click all your pictures links.

Some spots are still very dark, I like Quacks idea of the torches.
Are there plans to release an alpha version?
Is this supposed to be a FFA map?

Sorry I didn't read the whole thread, possibly some dumb questions..

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:13 pm

sumatra wrote:It would be easier for me to judge about your progress when you load about less pictures and post them via img-tags. So I wouldn't have to click all your pictures links.

Some spots are still very dark, I like Quacks idea of the torches.
Are there plans to release an alpha version?
Is this supposed to be a FFA map?

Sorry I didn't read the whole thread, possibly some dumb questions..

I released the pre-alpha and alpha version, the pre-beta version was never released and I'm currently at beta stage. I won't release it until I've made it playable enough. It's meant to be an FFA/TDM map. I haven't really though about the gametypes.

Post by **Dessicated corpse** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:09 pm

I'm testing out a new sky, it won't show much light on surfaces (might need help with that)...

Post by **Silicone_Milk** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:18 pm

Much better Dessicated Corpse.

How much do you know about shader editing?

Post by **fKd** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:41 am

yeah fully, you know what could be really handy for ya, if you post ya current .map file

id be happy to have a look and try help you out, do you use gmail or msn or some other chat program? or we can just use this forum here.

like shadowzombie said, its tough when ya start out. i forget that we need to be extra helpful, even when its usually the same few questions asked over and over. i tip my hat to obsidian who has been helping the noobs so patiently for such a long time.

we really want to help ya bud, just hang in there eh

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