Learning Hammer

[Bunglo]

I've been wanting to learn Hammer and get familiar with the source engine for some time now, what would you guys recommend I focus on? Aside from the obvious of learning how the editor works. My goal at the moment is to make basic maps with it and eventually throw my own content in it. I'm comfortable with the UDK and CE2 but as an aspiring environment artist, I've never focused on making maps in them, just getting my art in engine and setting up materials, lighting, etc.

Hopefully the question isn't too vague. Perhaps a better way to rephrase it, knowing what you know now, what do you all wish you learned when you first started?

[Warby]

i wished i had understood from the beginning how the entire bsp vis leaf compiling cluster fuck works:

http://rvanhoorn.ruhosting.nl/optimizat ... r=visleafs

[Skjalg]

oh teh lulz

[Sentura]

i wished i had understood from the beginning how the entire bsp vis leaf compiling cluster fuck works:

http://rvanhoorn.ruhosting.nl/optimizat ... r=visleafs

i understood that the momemt i saw how spaces were rendered in game... theres that nifty toggle where visleaves will be shown

[Campaignjunkie]

Ctrl + E = center 2D grid views on selected object

Ctrl + Shift + E = teleport 3D camera view to selected object

Shift = clone object

[Minos]

Ctrl + E = center 2D grid views on selected object

Ctrl + Shift + E = teleport 3D camera view to selected object

Shift = clone object

shift + Z: Maximize/minimize current viewport

shift + x: clipping tool

shift + v: vertex tool

On texture alignment tool: Select a face, hold alt + right click another face: use this to transfer texture UVs from one face to another. Really useful to texture curved things since you don't need to guess the texture angle.

Oh and the most important of all: CTRL + S. Use this every 5 seconds if you don't want to become a sad person.

[madgernader]

Shift + S: selection tool

Shift + A: Face Edit (Texture alignment tool as called by minos)

Shift + B: Block tool

So far sounds like shortcuts are good to know

[Puddy]

Oh and the most important of all: CTRL + S. Use this every 5 seconds if you don't want to become a sad person.

QFT

[dux]

ctrl + alt + del. Go use something else.

[Bunglo]

Thanks everyone, any specifics regarding the more technical aspects such as Warby posted? I don't want to start doing certain things and realize down the road I've been going about it wrong.

ctrl + alt + del. Go use something else.

Haha, is it that bad? It's not like I've never used the editor before, I just haven't gotten deep into it yet like I want to. Perhaps waiting until Valve releases their updated toolset would be a better option?

[dux]

It's ancient and clunky.

Unreal and Radiant are from the future and Hammer is from the past.

[the0rthopaedicsurgeon]

Shift + B: Block tool

I literally use this once for every map I make. everything else is a shift+drag copy, and if i need another cube and only have angled brushes, i clip the sides straight.

another shortcut i only learned recently which is sometimes useful - hold space and drag to pan the 2d viewports. for years i've been zooming out and back in again to pan around, so that can save some time.

[madgernader]

Shift + B: Block tool

I literally use this once for every map I make. everything else is a shift+drag copy, and if i need another cube and only have angled brushes, i clip the sides straight.

another shortcut i only learned recently which is sometimes useful - hold space and drag to pan the 2d viewports. for years i've been zooming out and back in again to pan around, so that can save some time.

Makes sense, I do the same a lot of the time.

Nice find on the 2d view port thing, I also always zoomed in and out with the mouse to move it around never really thought about it.

[hessi]

func_detail the hell out of your map! serious! use them a lot. if you want to cut out a window in a building: make the wall a func_detail. just beause it bares the name detail, doesnt mean you should only use it for small pieces. but remember: func_detail does not block visibility and hence it can reduce can reduce compile time drastically.

[Sentura]

func_detail the hell out of your map! serious! use them a lot. if you want to cut out a window in a building: make the wall a func_detail. just beause it bares the name detail, doesnt mean you should only use it for small pieces. but remember: func_detail does not block visibility and hence it can reduce can reduce compile time drastically.

yup. set func_detail as your default entity, then just use ctrl + t to make everything func detail. also ctrl + m is transform modifier, i use this alot.