newb lighting questions

[drbob]

Hey, I'm just getting into mapping 'cause lets be honest, mapping is like a whole new game in itself

I've just got two quick questions, and I've linked to my map and the map source file so that you guys can look @ it and look at how I made it and hopefully answer my questions better.

1) How can I achieve better lighting effects on an entirely indoor map?
Its a pretty small map and I hung 9 flourescent fixtures and put "light" entities next to each one of them yet the whole map is still incredibly dim.
(I also added an outside landscape and a window and that helped things but it wasn't really supposed to have an outdoors plus that was just an experiment :F)

2) I've watched plenty of Source SDK mapping tutorials today and lots of different people say not to use the carve function of the SDK, why?
I used the carve function to make a little maze (which kind of broke b/c I made it way to small and no player could fit in that crawlspace >.<) and it worked out well I don't really see whats wrong with it, it seems a lot easier than making like 5 or 6 blocks to make a straight stretch of land w/ a hole cut out of it...

thats all I've got if anyone could help me out w/ those two questions I'd greatly appreciate it...

P.S: About the map: Its a combination of a lot of different tutorials and my attempts at a crazy divided jail (push the button and it spawns an M4/Deag/Nade in the case ^^.)


(Also: What does light_dynamic do, and how do I get it to work? light works, but light_dynamic does nothing >.< even after I aimed it and stuff...)

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=335abc61f6c2f8952fb2ca15d7ea42d9e04e75f6e8ebb871

 

[pickles]

To answer number 2,

They say not to because it will sometimes cause your map to leak which will screw you map. There are also some other reasons, but I forgot them right now :/

 

[drbob]

is using the carving tool fine so long as its not on an outside wall / the skybox then?

 

[Tee Hee Hee]

light_dynamic is the only light you can "move" so to speak...as it has the parent to function. So it can be attatched to something that will move and still work.

I've downloaded your map and I'll look at it later today and get back to you about those issue/questions you had about it OK?

 

[drbob]

light_dynamic is the only light you can "move" so to speak...as it has the parent to function. So it can be attatched to something that will move and still work.

I've downloaded your map and I'll look at it later today and get back to you about those issue/questions you had about it OK?

cool peas, and thanks for clearing that up, that doesn't really help me though 'cause as of right now I have no idea how to make things move, except doors.

I did figure out what was wrong with my lighting though, apparently you can write in a 4th value for the "Brightness Field" and it'll make it brighter, I put it at like 750 and it looks good, plus I added a skybox.

Also my lighting problem was b/c I was using a models/x texture and apparently you can't use the "models" textures?

 

[Valiant Fluffy]

Do not carve. when you carve Jesus Kills a kitten.

This is because it creates microbrushes, because it doesnt think logically

 

[CS:S Shadow]

I'll take a look at it.. in the meantime, a good way for light to be made on a map, regardless on whether it's indorrs or outdoors are light_environment entities. One should be placed in a map only also. It gives the map light, while adding a outdoorsy, natural look, like the sun. It's a great entity to use for any map. Try it for yours perhaps?