Having Problems With TF2 Hat Lighting

TheBoxman

UPDATE: Okay so, I believe I know what the problem is. For some reason, the model for the hat is ungodly far away from the origin point when viewed by itself in the Model Viewer. However, if I try to move the model in Blender (the program I use) it moves away from the correct position on the Engineer's head. Does know of any way I can fix this? That way I can properly use the $illumposition command to light it properly.


I'm currently making a hat for the Engineer based off of "Double-D's" ski cap from Ed, Edd and Eddy. The model is fine and everything has compiled well enough, however I seem to be having some odd lighting issues.

Here's how it looks in the SDK Model Viewer...:



...and the Backpack Menu:



Yet, for some reason the hat looks different in an actual game scenario as seen below:



As you may be able to notice, the white lines on the cap have shrunk and are darker than the other examples. In fact, the entire hat is darker overall for some reason and I can't seem to figure out what is wrong.

Also, in some areas of a map the lines seem to disappear completely. Example below:



I'm at a loss. If anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it. Here's the .vmt file for the texture if it makes any difference:

"VertexlitGeneric"
{
    "$baseTexture" "models\player\items\engineer/the_sockhedd"
    "$bumpmap" "models\effects/flat_normal" 

    "$yellow" "0"

    "$phong" "1"
    "$phongexponent" "10"
    "$phongboost" "0.1"
    "$lightwarptexture" "models/player/pyro/pyro_lightwarp"
    "$phongfresnelranges"    "[.25 .5 1]"

    "$rimlight" "1"
    "$rimlightexponent" "4"
    "$rimlightboost" ".65"
    

    "$cloakPassEnabled" "1"

    "Proxies"
    {
        "weapon_invis"
        {
        }
        "AnimatedTexture"
        {
            "animatedtexturevar" "$detail"
            "animatedtextureframenumvar" "$detailframe"
            "animatedtextureframerate" 30
        }
        "BurnLevel"
        {
            "resultVar" "$detailblendfactor"
        }
        "YellowLevel"
        {
            "resultVar" "$yellow"
        }
        "Equals"
        {
            "srcVar1"  "$yellow"
            "resultVar" "$color2"
        }
          "ItemTintColor"
          {
               "resultVar" "$colortint_tmp"
          }
          "SelectFirstIfNonZero"
          {
               "srcVar1" "$colortint_tmp"
               "srcVar2" "$colortint_base"
               "resultVar" "$color2"
          }
    }
}

Thanks!

Zipfinator

Only your first image is showing up for me so I can't see what's wrong in game.

TheBoxman

Odd, let me try and fix that.

Zipfinator

They work now. First thing that comes to mind is the mipping is destroying the lines or painting is turned on somehow and messing it up. Are you testing it through the itemtest system or replacing another hat?

TheBoxman

I've currently replaced the Ellis Cap to view this in game.

Noors

I'm not sure where your variables are defined. Not that i get how that shit is working, but are you sure about the "Proxies" part ? Maybe some variable isn't properly set ? Tint...Color...

TheBoxman

Hmm, I think I see what you're getting at. Let me try fiddling around with that there...

EDIT: Okay. After removing the color tint proxy the lines are a bit more prominent now, but they become almost invisible when walking through moderate shadow. Any ideas how I could make them less disappear-y?

Zipfinator

Is the Ellis Cap you replaced painted?

Also you shouldn't replace the Ellis cap. Compile it as its own hat and type "itemtest" or "testitem" into the console. You can load your hat in game through there.

Also those proxies should be fine if you copy/pasted them from another texture.

cman2k

look into using $illumposition

Your model is lit from it's pivot point. If that pivot point is offset so it's inside of something or somewhere weird, then it's not going to get lit very well.

I believe you can view your $illumposition in HLMV. Alternatively, you could just try and add some value to the middle number (Y-axis) so that the pivot is moved ABOVE the hat/head and not INSIDE of it.

TheBoxman

Zipfinator wrote: »

Is the Ellis Cap you replaced painted?

Also you shouldn't replace the Ellis cap. Compile it as its own hat and type "itemtest" or "testitem" into the console. You can load your hat in game through there.

Also those proxies should be fine if you copy/pasted them from another texture.

Would you happen to know of a tutorial I could follow for this procedure? That'd be very helpful.

cman2k wrote: »

look into using $illumposition

Your model is lit from it's pivot point. If that pivot point is offset so it's inside of something or somewhere weird, then it's not going to get lit very well.

I believe you can view your $illumposition in HLMV. Alternatively, you could just try and add some value to the middle number (Y-axis) so that the pivot is moved ABOVE the hat/head and not INSIDE of it.

Okay, i'll give that a shot.