A tutorial on specular maps?

slayer20 · March 2010

I don't mean Normal maps, I'm talking about the texture that decides how bright or dark or shiny a texture is.

For some reason when I try adding a specular map to my image, it turns out like this:
<img src="http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3918/evalogoerror.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

If someone could just write up a quick tutorial, that would be great.

<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><material>
    <maps>
    <map type="texture" value="materials/logo/EVA_logo_dirty.dds" />
    <map type="bump" value="materials/logo/EVA_logo_dirty_norm.dds" />
    </maps>
</material></div>

How I made my spec map: I just took my image and desaturated it, lower the levels on it so it was darker, then I set the image in the Alpha channel and saved it.
<img src="http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2695/slphalayer.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/585/evalogospec.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Pipi · March 2010

It happens to me sometimes, on and off.. not sure the specular map really is the problem.

SgtBarlow · March 2010

Try copying it from the Red channel and then only use the Brightness/Contrast option to dim it.
Thats how I do it, Not had a single problem.

UncleRay · March 2010

Did you create the Alpha 2 channel layer for it? It's supposed to be blueish gray, with bumps or places where the material is to be shiny.

willy-wilson · March 2010

Your specmap seems to be working, don't quote me on this but that looks like it could be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mipmap" target="_blank">mipmap</a> error.

slayer20 · March 2010

A mipmap error? How would I fix that? My image size is 900x900

Draco_2k · March 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (slayer20 @ Mar 12 2010, 04:14 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758979"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>A mipmap error? How would I fix that? My image size is 900x900</div>
Not sure if it applies, but you may want to try a power of four resolution. E.g. 1024x1024.

Cruor · March 2010

Yes I would think that is most likely the problem, the textures like in most other engines have to have it's dimensions be multiples of 2.

2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048 etc. etc. yadda yadda, ooglie ogglie

Kester · March 2010

It's not multiples of 2, it's powers of.

Cruor · March 2010

of course, I stand corrected.

slayer20 · March 2010

I bumped my texture up to 1024x1024 and that fixed it! Thanks guys!

A tutorial on specular maps?

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