MilkShape 3D - chrome material? Created 15 years ago2009-02-16 18:17:34 UTC by Berntsen

Hi.

I've been mapping for some time and decided to try out modelling as well, to make some simple props for my maps and whatnot. I'm using MilkShape 3D and figured out how to make a simple box and apply a material, which I want to have a chrome effect (like on Barney's helmet). When I choose my material in MS3D, I choose "sphere map", to get the desired effect. I compile the model just fine using StudioMDL, but when I open the model in Jed's Half-Life Model Viewer, the material is "static", i.e not chrome... and when I check the "chrome" tab in the textures window, the model's material turns solid white. If i try to use the model in-game after checking "chrome", it also turns out a solid color. The material I'm using is "glass_bright" from halflife.wad, but that isn't the problem - I've tried using materials created from scratch, the material used for creating Barney's chrome helmet effect, not checking "sphere map" in the materials tab in MS3D and then checking "chrome" in JHLMV... the result is still the same.

Please help! This is driving me insane!

Sphere maps / Chrome effects work best on rounded objects really, thats what they're meant for.

Ok, I tried doing the same with a sphere, but the same thing happens - no sphere map / chrome effect. And I vividly remember seeing a completely flat, boxy model with a chrome material applied to it in-game in a mod, although I can't remember which...

Any idea what the problem is, if it's not the shape of the model?

Not sure sorry. I've been using MS3D for years to do simple hack jobs and retextures but I've never encountered this problem. The method you described always works for me. However, I compile with MS3D itself rather than use StudioMDL.

Chrome must be used on faces belonging to a smoothing group, otherwise you get this shiny-crystal look, and sometimes renders white depending.

Also, if the texture is prefixed with the word chrome, i.e. chromeMYTEXTURELOL it will work. You can also set the chrome flag on in Jed's HL model viewer, which will also turn the chrome on, then save the model as a new version.

you... are... not... alone.

So I made the box part of a smoothing group, and that seemed to do the trick - it was still solid white in HLMV, and I started to get increasingly pissed, but for some reason, it worked when I tested it in-game, chrome effect and everything.

Thanks for the replies.