Hi everyone , I have a simple question... how do you create a custom Skybox?

I have absolutely no probably with creating the 6 image split panoramas. I've made them in 2048x2048 which seems to be the standard resolution in comparison to whats in stock with GG. What DDS format should I be exporting as? I was originally exporting as DTX5 which was making the file size double that of the stock skyboxes. Also it didn't work in game.

EDIT: DTX1 seems to have worked out for me.


Mods feel free to move this to the media section of the forums.

Was able to get everything working fine. Just took a lot of work flipping various parts of the cube to match the other faces.

Try the 24bit R8G8B8 option under the extra setting for export.

This will produce a smaller file size and less banding.

As far as why we have 6 maps instead of one cube map, I am not sure on that.

Rolfy's Galaxy Seed sky..(Cant really call it a box), is pretty neat set up. Maybe take a look at that and see if this is easier to deal with. I noticed that he only has one base2.dds map, and some others to achieve the splendid effect he got.

Thanks!

I was able to get it working okay with the multiple textures but I'll definitely check out how set up his with a single texture.

Excellent.

I'm going to have a lot of fun with with this stuff. I've recently been creating custom terrains so to be able to also control the sky... this is the complete package for me.

Here is my first ever created Skybox:

I just did a Sky-Dome test and it looks pretty good. Though the Skyboxes are lighter for performance. If its possible to animate the skybox itself, my next goals will be to try something like these:















Guess we'll have to play with the shaders and layers, see what we can do. May require additional floating meshes and decals. I'm just glad to see things finally working to help with more creativity.

awesome, well done Teabone, I want to try the skybox stuff out also

Teabone, definitely want to do something like that myself!

Had a look at rolfy's galaxy seed sky last night with the intention of trying to work out how he achieved the result, but is still beyond me

Will have to look again soon.

Reliquia....

I noticed the new sky-scroll.fx in the effectsbank. Playing around with that has helped a lot. Can create some really creative effects with it for sure.

I think the only way to get cast shadows from clouds however would be to actually put the clouds in as a giant entity.

Of course my ultimate goal is to recreate everything in this video. We'll still need a particle system and a day and night cycle for that though. But in it you can see the skdome scrolling and the clouds scrolling on different layers. It creates a really immersive effect.



I just realized I made that video 3 years ago... the wait continues

Love decals.
definitely we need particle system in GG.

3com