solids turning black

Hi everyone, I am currently making my first map ever, Boot Camp 2, and I am making it so I would be able to post it here. But I had a few problems with it. One of the problems I realised recently is that when I look from a certain direction, most of the solids in the distance turn black. Could anyone possibly tell me how to fix the problem(if it is possible) without putting solids between to cover the view? I hope you understood most of the things I said. Please help and thanks in advance!

Assuming this is a Half Life question (and not HL2): Can you post a
screenshot of what you see? (Make it a jpeg and optimize it to fall
below 100K. </orph>)

You might have placed the solids too far away, try moving them closer
or change the "Max Viewable Distance" to a higher value in "Map->Map
Properties".

Sorry Fraggard, I'm havinig this problem with "map not found on server" and I haven't fixed it yet so I won't be able to post a screenshot just yet. :sad:

if a map compiled erroneously, there are only two possibilities i know of for the server not to locate it.

1) you forgot to put in a player/multi-player start.

2) you do not have the path set to the maps folder.

fix one or the other.

I just fixed the problem(the prolem "map not found on server"), and I will post the screenshot in a couple of minutes, also from some views, the sky goes black, just to let you know.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting **Dedi**</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I just fixed the problem(the prolem "map not found on server"), and I will post the screenshot in a couple of minutes, also from some views, the sky goes black, just to let you know.</DIV></DIV>

1st, you fixed what problem?

second, i just noticed, this is the HL1 editing forums.. you are not running in software mode are you???
if so, DON'T, if not, then increase your max view distance.

Oh, the problem was, as you've told me in another topic, the CLIP texture. I put it over the duct solid. And after that, it didn't work. When I deleted the texture, it worked. Also, something I don't know if I should post here or start another topic. When I press extract to dxf, there's some problem "Edge with both face id's already filled, skipping..." That problem comes and i have to click OK four times in a row. I have no idea what that's about, but that doesn't seem to have much effect on the map.

So now i fixed the "not found on server" problem, but I still got the black sky problem, and the solids not visible in distance problem. Help!!!

stares at screen till eyes hurt

dude, everything you just typed made no sense to me whatso ever..

in 5 years of mapping for HL too..

looks like you're gonna have to wait for someone a bit more gifted to come to your aide.

sorry.

My max view distance is 9999, and I put it to 99999, and still it's all the same.

Another thing, I just found out that I don't know how to post a screenshot

I know, English is my second language, so I'm sorry, and I am a Newbie.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting **Dedi**</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>

Another thing, I just found out that I don't know how to post a screenshot

</DIV></DIV>

1st you have to have someplace to upload it to.. there are some free host sites for this.. i cannot recall one off hand. google is your friend however.

second, in the game, press F5, this will take a screenshot each time you press it.

3rd, convert the screenshot from a .bmp to a .jpg. i prefer the XAT program, but anything that will do it and reduce the size to a fair amount will suffice.

4th, upload it to your host site.

5th, point the link, back here.
thats how you post a screenshot.

Edge with both face id's already filled, skipping...

This means you've got an edge with more than two polygons on it, which is impossible. You've been using vertex manipulation, haven't you? You seem to have screwed up really badly.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting **Dedi**</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I just fixed the problem(the prolem "map not found on server"), and I will post the screenshot in a couple of minutes, also from some views, the sky goes black, just to let you know.</DIV></DIV>

1st, you fixed what problem?

second, i just noticed, this is the HL1 editing forums.. you are not running in software mode are you???
if so, DON'T, if not, then increase your max view distance.

</DIV></DIV>
Thanks Orpheus, I just realised, THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, i had it in software mode. THANKS :smile: :biggrin:

Hey, some people don't have 3D graphics cards (okay, make that one in five million people), so you really should make sure the map works in software mode. People who use software mode might think your map really sucks 'cause stuff starts turning black.

Edge with both face id's already filled, skipping..

This means you've got an edge with more than two polygons on it, which is impossible.

Why is an edge with two polygons impossible? It is definitely possible.
You are randomly interpreting that error to mean something it doesn't.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Foxpup</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Hey, some people don't have 3D graphics cards (okay, make that one in five million people), so you really should make sure the map works in software mode. People who use software mode might think your map really sucks 'cause stuff starts turning black. </DIV></DIV>

true, but only just before you release it. you see, software mode can only draw 1000 wpolies.. a number easily achieved with a low grade compile. this number may not be indicative of the final results with a full compile.

software mode will also tell you if/when you have your func_walls and such not set up properly, they will appear in game exactly like in the editor. but you still should not run around in software mode all the time.
if someone must use software mode to play, then they don't need to play. or they can just deal with black solids.

lol, yeh software mode renders a bit weird,

here's a hosting site for images, www.imageshack.us for if you still needed one :smile:

Fraggard:
I have been using vertex manipulation for several years now, occassionally trying to create invalid brushes in any way I can think of. I have never been able to create an edge with two polygons, so I consider it impossible using conventional editing techniques. It's certainly invalid and definitely one of those things you [b]must avoid doing at all costs[/b]. I would very much like to know exactly how Dedi managed to do it, because I just can't figure it out.

/\ Gets out dictionary.

edge noun meeting-line of two surfaces

two surfaces, not more than two
I think I'm right on this one.

See the points at which all those objects meet? That's an edge shared by 6 polygons.

What I'm trying to say is, that error has nothing to do with illegal
solids. It is probably a feature of the DXF file format that pops up as
a warning.

If they're seperate brushes, then they're seperate edges. An edge can't be shared by more than one brush. And if that's all one brush (which I can see it isn't), then it's the most invalid brush ever created.

Then why do people speak of "edge multiplicity" as the number of
polygons that have the same common edge. That one in the picture
would be an edge with multiplicity of 6.

Foxpup, if the DXF format requires that every edge belong to only one solid, i suppose you're right.

It doesn't make sense though.

I can't tell if youre having problems with the black textures or with just taking a screenshot, but.... I resolved my issues with materials turning dark by not using textures that say "models/xxxxxxxx". Those materials seem to have a property that makes them turn black when applied to a brush.

WTF?!?

Wow, man, I seriously need to learn some English, because I didn't understand 50% of what you guys are talking about :sad: . And Foxpup did have a point about the software mode. I want it to be a map suitable for Software mode. I have 3 computers at home, only one of them can use 3D mode. And I want to be able to play with other 2 players, so I really need to fix this problem somehow.

But I have to know, how do those big maps like boot_camp and bounce work without turning the sky black and the solids invisible?

Check the number of polygons currently being rendered using the console command

/r_speeds 1

Make your map such that the w_poly never crosses 800. That's all
software mode can draw. Also make sure there are no long sight lines.
No far away objects visible across wide open areas, etc.

That should solve those two problems. And those are generally good practices for any HL map, irrespective of the target machine.

using the clipping tool, and making a cut along the edge or point of a brush instead of through it's main mass, can cause the "Edge with both face id's already filled, skipping.." warning to appear when you later highlight the brush in question with the vertex tool.

if you dont know what brush is causing this, then go into vertex mode and start clicking on brushes. the warning will show when you get to the bad brush.

Allright, thanks fishy. I'll try that.

Thanks a lot, fishy, that was the problem with the dxf thing. I just deleted the solid and it's good now. Thanks!!

Now all the problems I've got is the black sky and solids, but I'll do what fraggard told me and we will all live happily ever after!