Functioning/transparent windows

[Scrysis]

So I figured that I'd make a dwelling to suit my tastes in honor of Dawnguard coming (like so many other people, but what can I say? I just haven't found the player abode that makes me happy on either the workshop or the Nexus.). I'm just starting to get near to finishing the exterior model, and it occurred to me that some of the questions I have should be answered before I get too far.

 

The biggest issue that I have is that I want the windows to WORK. I've seen two ways of doing this -- A) you put the entire house in the exterior cell and B) there is some magic way of making it work for an interior cell. The exterior cell solution won't work for two reasons -- 1) I went a little crazy and the house is pretty big and going to wind up being rather detailed. I don't want that big of a drain on my computer if I can help it. Second reason is that I use Deadly Dragons, and I really don't want a dragon trapped inside of my house. That could get annoying really fast. (Really funny, but also really annoying.)

 

So, that leaves the magic interior cell trick. How do I go about making the windows work inside of an interior cell? Do I have to prepare for it at this stage of modeling, or is it something that is pure scripting? How would I go about doing this, or what key functions should I be looking into?

 

Second question: If I want high res textures for the abode, how big should my UV unwrap export be? (I use Blender.)

 

Thank you! <3

[Rustle32]

You might be able to create LOD images of the area you want to replecate, with a few strategic objects placed closer for the perception of depth. As long as you don't have an -outside- area in your interior cell, this effect should work for you. I don't think doing weather effects is possible in an interior cell, but you should be able to time of day sun lights. Some homes have this effect through small openings, though you can't see any world objects besides the sky. Not sure how they do this.

 

There is a mod that has working windows, though I can't remember the name of it, it's in one of the more recent Skyrim Mod Weekly videos, maybe in the 20s episodes.

 

In the movies they used to use a similar process before digital became mainstream. They would take a large scale photo, enlarge it on a large translucent drape and light it from behind. This would become the external view from an interior set on a sound stage. Looked very realistic, compared to painted backdrops.

 

Update: I checked Breezehome's cell properties, you can set the cell's exterior lighting with time of day and sky images. All you would need is the LOD Cyclorama backdrop. Or you could strageicly place rocks, stone faces and trees to block the view outside the window so you don't need the LOD.

[Scrysis]

You might be able to create LOD images of the area you want to replecate, with a few strategic objects placed closer for the perception of depth. As long as you don't have an -outside- area in your interior cell, this effect should work for you. I don't think doing weather effects is possible in an interior cell, but you should be able to time of day sun lights. Some homes have this effect through small openings, though you can't see any world objects besides the sky. Not sure how they do this.

 

There is a mod that has working windows, though I can't remember the name of it, it's in one of the more recent Skyrim Mod Weekly videos, maybe in the 20s episodes.

 

In the movies they used to use a similar process before digital became mainstream. They would take a large scale photo, enlarge it on a large translucent drape and light it from behind. This would become the external view from an interior set on a sound stage. Looked very realistic, compared to painted backdrops.

 

Update: I checked Breezehome's cell properties, you can set the cell's exterior lighting with time of day and sky images. All you would need is the LOD Cyclorama backdrop. Or you could strageicly place rocks, stone faces and trees to block the view outside the window so you don't need the LOD.

 

 

That is very helpful, thanks! I'll be sure to try and use it when my "house" is complete.