Lighting problems on prop_physics

I am having problems with the lighting on a map I'm making, for some reason any props I place start off to dark until moved from their origional location, if the lights start off they are to light and strange colors, if i make a light switch and flick the lights off and on it fixs the problem but there must be another way of getting round it. I know its not my graphics drivers because the official maps dont do this.

I get no compile errors at all, but this happens on every map I try on anything using prop_physics. I was using prop_detail (on a CS map), but for some reason hammer has suddenly started not liking it and deleting objects using it when I compile the map.

Anyone got any ideas or have this problem aswell?

Try placing env_cubemaps around your areas (near the floors and ceilings I use) - have a look at dm_lockdown for an idea.

Then compile the map, run it, bring down the console and type "buildcubemaps".

Hmm how do I get the cubemaps to load when the map does automatically?

You can't, Nasher. Every time you want to check the cubemaps for a newly compiled BSP you have to type it.

When you finish a map you have to make sure you buildcubemaps for the most recently compiled BSP.

Did it work, BTW?

Didnt work, I still get screwed lighting on props :sad:

I just made the ground into 1 big switch that quicly turns the lights off and on at the start, seems to be working for now :smile:

place an info_lighting in the area you are having problems and give it a name.

There should be a (not at my comp so...) ambient lighting or something like that in the properties of the prop_ in question. Place the name of the Info_lighting in that location.

I had this same problem and thats how i fixed it. Now all my Prop_ are tied to an info_lighting

(edited for wolfguard having a case of "the stupid")

Didnt work, I still get screwed lighting on props :sad:

I just made the ground into 1 big switch that quicly turns the lights off and on at the start, seems to be working for now :smile:

No offence, but that's the worst idea ever. Post your compile log, it could be a leak.

Its not a leak, there are no errors in the log at all. It seems to be something to do with hammer (I know there are a few weird bugs with it). The only way I can find to get rid of it is by flicking the lights, otherwise all the props stay really dark. It doesnt do it if I use prop_static.

(Btw the info_lighting thing didnt make any difference :sad:

what graphics card have you got?

ATI 9800 pro (crucial's version of it with the faster ram :smile: )

I get no problems on other maps though, so I know it cant be that. Its either something I'm doing thats causing it but its not being picked up as an error, or something messed up in hammer :/

If you have a prop, like a pipe, that sticks half way into a wall and its origin is
inside the wall it will look dark. Use info_lighting, give it a
name like "room_1_light" then place that name in the info_lighting box
of your prop.

I've tried the info_lighting thing and it makes no difference, also I'm getting the random invisible prop bug to now :/

hmm... i think i had a similar problem... though you're using an actual prop or just a brush you textured and then tied to an entity? because i know that when i made a brush, and used a model texture on it, in game the texture would flicker between normal and black and sometimes even turn rainbow. I guess you're just not supposed to use a model texture on anything but the model itself. If that is indeed the problem, you'll either have to pick a different texture or make a similar custom texture and use that instead.

can you post a screen shot or two?

I dont have any ftp to upload them to atm :/

I've been fiddling with it a bit more and found that sometimes 1 or 2 random props have the correct lighting, but it changes everytime i load the map. Its doing my head in

make a test map.

Place your props in the same way that causes you to have problems. Then place a light and a cubemap in the test map.

info_lighting takes light info from where it is and gives it to the
prop. So if your info_lighting isn't in a good spot then if will
still mess up.

Cube maps help alot with lighting, you must place cube maps in your map
then once your in game testing your map run 'buildcubemaps'

I found what the problem was, I forgot to make some walls into func_wall. Weird how that can make so much difference to the lighting.

Anyway now I have a new problem where the light can pass through func_walls so I cant have a totaly dark room :/

try using a brush inside your func_wall that's textured with the block_light tool texture (you could just use a normal texture as well) The brush won't been seen since its inside the func_wall, but will also act as a visblocker and block light

I had that exact same problem. I had a few prop_physics working and in other area, they were too dark, until I moved them from their original position. My problem was with the lights. For some reason, it happened because the nearby lights had tha SAME name, even though they werent tied to anything. No switches, etc etc. Just plain lights. As soon as I removed the names from all of them, the prop_physics appeared perfect.