----Tutorials----
-Lighting and True Light-
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I was surprised how many people still haven't attempted lighting. So
I thought I'd create a tutorial to help ease you into it. Don't be scared.
Take my hand... also, you MUST be using version 2.x in order for this method
to work.
It's
absolutely impossible to create an even half way decent level without lighting
effects. So lets get right down into it. You will have to use red boxes,
so you'll have to be in the DOS editor. First, create an invisible platform.
The inside of the platform will be lit to the maximum brightness and on
the outside the light will fade off. Make your rectangle a reasonable size
and do not make the platform visible when the little red window pops up.
Now you should see another window that says "Set Platform Parameters" in
the title box. Beneath that is the platform elevation; you don't need to
worry about this for now. Select the "Assign Value to Register" and click
ok. Now another window will come up with two little red boxes in it. On
the top one you set the register and on the bottom you set the value of
the register. Basicaly if you put a register number between 194 and 223
you will be telling the engine that the rectangle is a lightsource- nothing
more. Before 2.0 was released this box determined the brightness of the
light but now
it doesn't really matter what number you put in. I always put in 222 because
its easy to remember. Anyways, in the "Value" box you need to put in the
number that will determine the brightness. Put 222 in just for kicks. There
you go. You just made a light source and it didn't hurt a bit. Now go to
"Test Level". Your going to have to have to "Edit Extra Data" before you
can see anything in your level. By default everything is lit up with "Normal
Light". Select "Set Level Options" from the "Editor" pull down menu. When
the window comes up you will see three options: Normal Light, True Light, Ambient
Only. Choose "True Light". This will make everything in your level dark.
Just like in real life, if you want there to be light you're going to have
to put a light there. Now you can save and exit. When you test your level
you should see your light source. If the light appears on the ground and
ceiling but not the walls you probably made your light source to small.
The light fade out distance is calculated by the corners of the wall and
floor panels. So if the light range doesn't reach all four corners of the
wall segment, their won't be any light shown at all. You can have up to
32 different light sources in one level. This does not include point
lighting. That's about it for creating regular lights. If you still
have trouble you can email me here.