darkish models :< Created 14 years ago2010-05-08 16:48:51 UTC by ninja defuse

the screenshoot explains everything

Isn't it because it's sitting in the shadow?

Right, there is a few ways to solve this.

First off, is the origin of the model in the ground?

If not, then open HL1 Model Viewer, extract the textures of the model, increase the brightness and import them back, (all using the Model Viewer).

If you can't do the second solution... pm me with the model in a .zip and i'll do it for you.

Don't models recieve the lighting from the lighting on the brushes below them?
You might try putting a brush below the tree, and rendering it null except for the top face, which you will put any texture you want.

make that texture a texlight, and make the whole brush a func_illusionary, and render it it invisible by using the following rendering properties:
rendermode: texture
renderamount: 1

for the textlight, you can use the info_texlight entity by:
1. shift/copy and rename a info_player_start to "info_texlights" (no quotes)
2. hit the button to add a new key
3. "key" will be the name of the texture you want to make the textlight.
4. "value" will be the color and brightness of the textlight e.g.
255 255 255 100
would be pure white light, with a brigtness of 100.

Start with a brightness of 100 and see if it helps. This idea might not work at all but it's worth trying if you can't solve it another way..