Need some help applying a glow map

[An3Micu]

This is pretty much my first time with NifSkope and I'm having a problem. I reskinned a bow based on the style of the Dwarven Black Bow of Fate. I am currently trying to apply a glow effect to it using BSEffectShaderProperty. It's not working, and I can't quite tell what I am doing wrong. I manually created branches based on the way they appear on the Dwarven Black Bow (which also has an orange glow effect). Instead of being used as it should, the glow map is simply being used as a texture (overlaid on the old texture), so whenever I move the camera it starts flickering. The UV maps are right, the animation seems OK.

 

I can upload the file here if needed.

[M48A5]

Have you read this article: http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/86406-how-to-add-glow-maps/

[spadesage]

BSLightingShaderProperty: change from "Default" to "Glow Shader". Under "Property Flags 2" (under BSLightingShaderProperty) make sure the Glow Map box is checked. Also check the location of the glow texture in the linked "BSShaderTextureSet": I believe glow maps must be placed in the 3rd slot (possibly the 6th, depending on the "type" of glow-- Daedric Armor glow uses slot 6).

[An3Micu]

Have you read this article: http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/86406-how-to-add-glow-maps/

I read it, it didn't really help since none of the images load.

 

BSLightingShaderProperty: change from "Default" to "Glow Shader". Under "Property Flags 2" (under BSLightingShaderProperty) make sure the Glow Map box is checked. Also check the location of the glow texture in the linked "BSShaderTextureSet": I believe glow maps must be placed in the 3rd slot (possibly the 6th, depending on the "type" of glow-- Daedric Armor glow uses slot 6).

Thanks, I tried changing those, but it didn't really work. Might be because I'm trying to use BSEffectShaderProperty, not BSLightingShaderProperty.

[spadesage]

Ah, I think I've figured out what it might be: is the BSEffectShaderProperty linked to the glow effect's NiTriShape? With that type of glow effect, the glow is applied over the entire NiTriShape (aka "object")-- you'll notice on the Blackbow that its glow is attached to an object made up of 2 thin strips: those same strips are merely clones of "BowMesh2" that are placed in the same spot--- this allows that part of the bow to still have a regular texture and glow at the same time.

[Urwy]

Here's the basic approach i usually take:

(With ingame screenshot of the result.)

 

Left: All the textures linked to the BSShaderProperty. Right: The BSShaderProperty's settings.

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/cxDz65L.png?1

http://static-3.nexusmods.com/15/mods/110/images/12087-1-1334602706.jpg

 

 

 

It's a weapon from my weapons resource. (The Azura's moon, contianed in the "Historical pack") So feel free to download it and tear it apart to take a closer look at the nif.

 

Hope that helps!

 

Edit:

Although i do believe that the Shader flags 1 shouldn't contain the SLSF1_Environment_Mapping flag..

Edited February 23, 2014 by Urwy

[An3Micu]

Tried everything, and it refuses to work. I'll upload the file in case someone wants to see it. If not, I may just keep the glowing circles in the texture itself and publish the mod.
By the way, in my first post, I said it's a bow. It's actually a crossbow but I don't think it really matters. Also, the glow map is a placeholder, and the orange circles are part of the texture.

link

Edited February 24, 2014 by An3Micu

[spadesage]

You were missing a few flags- it works now: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8sPnebI0EDlZ1pIR3JEcjZzSGM/edit?usp=sharing

 

You'll still need to make the .esp to get the weapon in-game, though (for testing I just swapped it with the regular crossbow).

I edited the texture paths so that all of them (even the unaltered dwarven crossbow normal and specular maps) point to the following path: textures\An3Micu\weapons\dbcrossbow\

(it's more organized that way- plus it makes it easier for the modder to find his work) ;)

 

By the way, in Nifskope, if you go to "Render- Settings" you can add the Skyrim data folder and any other folders that are set up the same way (as in the inside has the same basic layout-- \textures\etcetc...) to the texture paths for Nifskope. That way, whenever you select a texture from any of those paths, Nifskope will automatically shorten it to "\textures\yourpathhere\filename.dds": this makes it more compatible for potential mod-users (should you wish to publish your mod), since we don't all have the same directories (for example, mine's "D:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\Skyrim\Data"-- so if I were to use your original texture paths the weapon would not work).

[An3Micu]

Hmm, are you sure it worked? I downloaded it, moved all the .dds files (and changed the nifskope settings) and the only thing that changed is that the black parts of the glow map are now transparent in nifskope. The white lines are still just flickering. Thank you very much for looking into it anyways. :smile:
Also, I had already made the .esp, and tested it in Skyrim. In the game, right now, the glow map simply doesn't show up at all. Could it be another missing flag?

Edited February 25, 2014 by An3Micu

[spadesage]

The glow is supposed to be transparent when viewed in Nifskope (see the Blackbow; it also has a largely transparent glow, with white where the glow will appear- just as yours has). But I did take another look: turns out the problem was more a matter of clipping than anything else. So I edited the scale (by +.0001), and now it definitely works: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8sPnebI0EDlZEpFNjRjWHhFamM/edit?usp=sharing

 

I couldn't get the glow to appear on both sides with the same TriShape, so I duplicated the Glow branch and altered it's Y-coordinate to work on the inner part of the crossbow. If you dislike having glow on the outer-facing part of the crossbow, remove the Glow branch on top; if you don't want glow on the inwards-facing piece, remove the lower Glow branch.

 

It's a very neat effect, all pulsating and orange. I like it. :)