How do you know when to use Cubemaps?

[Lazy_Moron]

Ive been mapping my map for a while, and think cubemaps might help make it look better. How do you guys know when to use them. Do you just place them in random spots then run the buildcubemaps command in the console? Or what?

 

[Geronimous]

A cubemap is something like a skyboxtexture that reflective surfaces use to reflect. the reflective surfaces use the nearest cubemap.

read this as well:
http://www.valve-erc.com/srcsdk/Levels/cubemaps.htm

 

[Dead-Inside]

Well, if you still don't get it, use this as a general rule;
1. Always get a cubemap near the center of any water you have and bind it to the surface (In the cubemap's properties). Edit: Don't forget to place it near the center of it for best results.
2. Place a cubemap in every room, hallway and any other places where lighting changes from one kind to another.
3. You almost never want to bind cubemaps to anything else then water, leave them free.
4. Place all of your cubemaps at eyelevel, 64 units from the ground.

 

[Lazy_Moron]

Ok thanks, I just added some cubemaps, and my map looks a ton better. Fixed some lighting problems I had to.

 

[TheArabianKnight]

How would you use cubemaps to make a stained glass window in a church?

 

[JFry]

You would need to use shaders, like in the stress test.

 

[PvtRyan]

Basically a cubemap in every area that's in contrast with the previous. So if you have a red and a green room, place a cubemap in both.

 

[TheArabianKnight]

I used Garry's mod and saw they had a preexisting shader to make a stained glass anything. Hell I had a stained glass GMan lol. Is there a way to put a shader effect on breakable glass or would it have to be unbreakable glass?