This may seem like a very vacuous question, but how does one implement their own custom sky-dome into a level using programs such as Autodesk Maya, Photoshop, and/or Vue xStream?
Thereare various ways to create skydomes. Each way have their own pros and cons.
Here is tutorial from 3d motive:
It’s most straightforward way to make sky. But it have various cons like:
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Distorted texture (although it’s not that big of an issue.
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Mesh maped from top. This mapping only really fit textures that are created in the way shown in tutorial
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It’s bit hard to make it dynamic. Or just to big noob in it. But setting up proper materials with textures on such UV mapped object was bit hard to say at least.
Other approach is, to cylindrical mapping of sphere.But:
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It extremly distorted on top. And you can easily see it.
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Textures for it are quite easy to make.
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It’s much easier to animate.
You can also try to create skybox. I know you may think “but heyyy… sky is not looking like a box”. Well you are right.But on other hand sky mesh is usually so big, that it really doesn’t matter as long as you peoperly blend textures, mapping to box might be the easiest for start.
Another way, is to make mixed sky using dome for top, and cylinder for horizon. You probably run into blending issue, on intersection, but texture mapped to cylinder is very easy to animate and is not distorted unlike on cylindrical mapped sphere.
In the essence, creating static sky is not that much of an issue. Tricky part is creating sky with mving clouds that blend with moving sun light.
Thank you very much for your help!
Hi Ethan,
Thank you for your question. The SkySphere that is built into the editor should be a good example of how a sky-dome should be set up. It is a simple sphere Static Mesh that has an emissive texture and does not cast shadows. Is there something more specific you are trying to accomplish with a custom sky or are you interested in a general concept-to-completion workflow?
Cheers,
Alexander