Creating a Skybox using a JKA Map

Creating a Skybox using a JKA Map
Szico VII

• Title: Creating a Skybox using a JKA Map
• Subject: How to turn a 3D scene created in Radiant for Jedi Academy into a Q3 skybox using a little script trickery.
• Written by: Szico VII
• Tutorial written for: JK3
• Similar concept work like in: N/A
• Difficulty level: 03/10
• Expected time to complete for first attempt: 5-10 minutes
• Prerequisites: JA SDK and BehavED installed, knowledge of map creation and compiling, ideally a monitor that supports resolutions of 1024x1024 or greater.

Getting started:

First off copy the code below into a txt file and save it into base/scripts.
 

//Generated by BehavEd

rem ( "Skybox Screenshot Script" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ ENABLE );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ MOVE, $tag( "cam1", ORIGIN)$, 0 );
rem ( "===========================" );
rem ( "sky_rt" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ PAN, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, 0 );

affect ( "player", /*@AFFECT_TYPE*/ FLUSH )
{
sound ( /*@CHANNELS*/ CHAN_VOICE, "sound/chars/r2d2/misc/r2d2talk03.mp3" );
}

wait ( 4000.000 );
rem ( "===========================" );
rem ( "sky_bk" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ PAN, < 0.000 90.000 0.000 >, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, 0 );

affect ( "player", /*@AFFECT_TYPE*/ FLUSH )
{
sound ( /*@CHANNELS*/ CHAN_VOICE, "sound/chars/r2d2/misc/r2d2talk03.mp3" );
}

wait ( 4000.000 );
rem ( "===========================" );
rem ( "sky_lf" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ PAN, < 0.000 180.000 0.000 >, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, 0 );

affect ( "player", /*@AFFECT_TYPE*/ FLUSH )
{
sound ( /*@CHANNELS*/ CHAN_VOICE, "sound/chars/r2d2/misc/r2d2talk03.mp3" );
}

wait ( 4000.000 );
rem ( "===========================" );
rem ( "sky_ft" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ PAN, < 0.000 270.000 0.000 >, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, 0 );

affect ( "player", /*@AFFECT_TYPE*/ FLUSH )
{
sound ( /*@CHANNELS*/ CHAN_VOICE, "sound/chars/r2d2/misc/r2d2talk03.mp3" );
}

wait ( 4000.000 );
rem ( "===========================" );
rem ( "sky_dn" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ PAN, < 90.000 0.000 0.000 >, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, 0 );

affect ( "player", /*@AFFECT_TYPE*/ FLUSH )
{
sound ( /*@CHANNELS*/ CHAN_VOICE, "sound/chars/r2d2/misc/r2d2talk03.mp3" );
}

wait ( 4000.000 );
rem ( "===========================" );
rem ( "sky_up" );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ PAN, < -90.000 0.000 0.000 >, < 0.000 0.000 0.000 >, 0 );

affect ( "player", /*@AFFECT_TYPE*/ FLUSH )
{
sound ( /*@CHANNELS*/ CHAN_VOICE, "sound/chars/r2d2/misc/r2d2talk03.mp3" );
}

wait ( 4000.000 );
camera ( /*@CAMERA_COMMANDS*/ DISABLE );

Then open it up in BehavED and compile it into an IBI file.
Then, you must make a ref_tag in your map where you wish the "camera" to take pictures from, and have a spawn point trigger link to a target_scriptrunner which activates this script.
Give the ref_tag a targetname "cam1"

COMPILE THE MAP (Duh.)

Load up Jedi Academy SINGLE-PLAYER mode.

Open the console and (depending on your maximum screen resolution) set a custom resolution of 1024x1024 or 2048x2048 using the following commands:
r_mode -1
r_customheight 1024
r_customwidth 1024
vid_restart

(You can also try cg_fov to get different results)

NB: You could use values in-between, say 1600x1600 pixels, just be aware you'd have to re-size them afterward to 1024 or 2048 pixels.

Now run your map using the /devmap mymapname command.

It will boot into a cutscene - Your job is to take a screenshot (bind it to a number key, say "2") every time the view changes, without allowing the 'screenshot xxx taken' message to ruin your lovely pictures.

The script will show you 6 views from the point you placed your ref-tag, which you can then use as your 6 skybox images. It will make a beep noise as it changes view, and it changes every ~4seconds.

Now rename the screenshots to skybox_bk, ft, lf, rt, up and dn as appropriate.

VOILA.

Examples: