Slide 4 - Build A Skybox

This exercise teaches you how to project U/V values for the skybox.

Build A Skybox

When we built the skybox it was positioned from (-3000 meters X, -3000 meters Y) to (3000 meters X, 3000 meters Y). This will be difficult to texture easily unless we make a quick change to the geometry. Parametric modeling is useful!

  1. Examine the hierarchy.
  2. Double click the modifier named RectangleGeometryModifier.
  3. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  4. Set Minimum X to 0 m. Be sure to include the m.
  5. Set Minimum Y to 0 m. Be sure to include the m.
  6. Set Maximum X to 6000 m. Be sure to include the m.
  7. Set Maximum Y to 6000 m. Be sure to include the m.
  8. The mesh construction history automatically updates the mesh.
  9. Now the U/V values for the projectors can be configured with ease.
  10. Examine the hierarchy and double click the modifier named PlanarProject: TopSideFace.
  11. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  12. Scroll down and find the Planar Project Texture property group.
  13. Notice the Origin X, Origin Y, and Origin Z parameters.
    This defines the origin of the U/V values in world coordinates. 0 provides a very convenient frame of reference which is why we modified the geometry a few seconds ago. This skybox is 6000 meters wide, 6000 meters long, and 6000 meters high. Thus we can set the projector values to variations on 6000 along X, Y, and Z.
  14. Set Width Axis X to 6000 m.
  15. Set Height Axis Y to 6000 m.
    Now you should see the sky texture fit perfectly over the top face.
  16. Examine the hierarchy and double click the modifier named PlanarProject: FrontSideFace.
  17. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  18. Scroll down and find the Planar Project Texture property group.
  19. Set Width Axis X to -6000 m.
  20. Set Height Axis Z to -6000 m.
    Now you should see the sky texture fit perfectly over the front side face. We used negative values to make sure the image was correctly oriented.
  21. Examine the hierarchy and double click the modifier named PlanarProject: RightSideFace.
  22. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  23. Scroll down and find the Planar Project Texture property group.
  24. Set Width Axis Y to -6000 m.
  25. Set Height Axis Z to -6000 m.
    Now you should see the sky texture fit perfectly over the right side face. We used negative values to make sure the image was correctly oriented.
  26. Examine the hierarchy and double click the modifier named PlanarProject: BackSideFace.
  27. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  28. Scroll down and find the Planar Project Texture property group.
  29. Set Width Axis X to 6000 m.
  30. Set Height Axis Z to -6000 m.
    Now you should see the sky texture fit perfectly over the back side face. We used negative values to make sure the image was correctly oriented.
  31. Examine the hierarchy and double click the modifier named PlanarProject: LeftSideFace.
  32. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  33. Scroll down and find the Planar Project Texture property group.
  34. Set Width Axis Y to 6000 m.
  35. Set Height Axis Z to -6000 m.
    Now you should see the sky texture fit perfectly over the left side face. We used negative values to make sure the image was correctly oriented. If you're examination of the skybox shows any errors, check the values in your ProjectionModifier against the values listed above.
    This is a picture of the worksheet.

Transform The Skybox

This series of instructions teaches you to transform geometry.

  1. Examine the worksheet.
  2. Hit SPACE to set the software to select.
  3. Hit H to set the software to select faces.
  4. Left click any face in the skybox and hit CTRL+A to select all the remaining faces.
  5. Hit SHIFT+T to create a TransformModifier in the mesh construction history.
  6. Examine the hierarchy and double click the modifier named TransformModifier.
  7. Set Position X and Position Y to -3000 m.
  8. This centers the skybox around the world origin on the X/Y plane.
  9. Save the file and leave Scenome running. Proceed to the next exercise or use this as a save point.
  10. If you wish to continue, leave MATERIAL_PALETTE.BOX open and open \EXERCISE\LANDSCAPE.BOX in the current copy of Scenome.
  11. The next exercise in this series will be published later this week.