Surfacing in TF2

rockhoward · 04-28-2012, 10:56 AM

I've been playing around with item creation and I notice my models get a weird toon shader like effect once I place them in the game. Other people's items seem to handle shadows across them smoother. What surfacing should I be using in my 3d program or is there a way to make the shadows display less harshly across my surfaces?

themunty · 04-30-2012, 05:56 PM

You should probably post some pictures to help demonstrate your query.

It'll most likely be either the vmt settings or the smoothing groups. From your post I guess vmt settings.
Use gcfscape to extract a .vmt file for an item similar to yours. (a gun for a gun etc) and modify it to your purposes (texture names etc).

rockhoward · 05-02-2012, 12:05 AM

Well here is a look at one of my models.

I'm using just a lambert on it with no real alterations and I have no idea who to alter surface details within source since I'm just using the itemtest. I tried downloading that program but it doesn't support .vmts and it seems when I compiled through my model it didn't output one.

The pictures

http://i.imgur.com/U9iJW.jpg

Big red arrows trying to point out where these harsh shadows are forming.

http://imgur.com/wnHJV

This is just taken in my 3d proggy to show it's not really a shinny texture like that or anything, it shouldn't be having that harsh of a shadow I feel.

04-28-2012, 10:56 AM	#1
rockhoward Join Date: Jan 2010 Reputation: 7 Posts: 6	Surfacing in TF2 I've been playing around with item creation and I notice my models get a weird toon shader like effect once I place them in the game. Other people's items seem to handle shadows across them smoother. What surfacing should I be using in my 3d program or is there a way to make the shadows display less harshly across my surfaces?

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04-30-2012, 05:56 PM	#2
themunty Join Date: Jan 2008 Reputation: 24 Posts: 295	You should probably post some pictures to help demonstrate your query. It'll most likely be either the vmt settings or the smoothing groups. From your post I guess vmt settings. Use gcfscape to extract a .vmt file for an item similar to yours. (a gun for a gun etc) and modify it to your purposes (texture names etc).

05-02-2012, 12:05 AM	#3
rockhoward Join Date: Jan 2010 Reputation: 7 Posts: 6	Well here is a look at one of my models. I'm using just a lambert on it with no real alterations and I have no idea who to alter surface details within source since I'm just using the itemtest. I tried downloading that program but it doesn't support .vmts and it seems when I compiled through my model it didn't output one. The pictures http://i.imgur.com/U9iJW.jpg Big red arrows trying to point out where these harsh shadows are forming. http://imgur.com/wnHJV This is just taken in my 3d proggy to show it's not really a shinny texture like that or anything, it shouldn't be having that harsh of a shadow I feel.