VMT

Introduction

A material is a .vmt ("Valve Material Type") text file that defines a two-dimensional surface. It contains all of the information needed for Source to simulate the surface visually, aurally, and physically.

Creation

To create a .vmt file simpely create a .txt file and change the extension.

Standard Material

Here are some of the parameters used when creating a texture.

1. $basetexture: defines what texture to use for the material (vtf)
2. $basetexturetransform:
3. center: defines the point of rotation
4. scale: fits the texture into the material the given number of times
5. rotate: rotates the texture counter-clockwise in degrees
6. translate: shifts the texture by the given numbers

1. $detail: texture that will be used to add high-resolution detail to a material when it is viewed up close (vtf)
2. $detailscale: fits the detail texture onto the material the given number of times
3. $detailblendmode: how to combine the detail material with the albedo
4. $detailblendfactor: controls the amount that the detail texture affects the base texture
5. option 5 and 6 can be used to make the detail glow in the dark

1. $bumpmap: textures that contain 3d lighting details (vtf)

1. $reflectivity: how much light the material should bounce off

1. $phong: turn on phong shading for better reflections
2. $phongboost: overbrightening factor
3. $phongtint: color of the reflection

1. $selfillum: allow brightness in the dark
2. $selfillummask: dedicated mask texture for the effect. (vtf)

Animated Material

An animated material can also use all previously explained parameters.

1. Proxies: allows the engine to manipulate material properties
2. AnimatedTexture: specify a list of properties for an animated texture
3. animatedtexturevar: the animated texture (vtf)
4. animatedtextureframenumvar: frame variable to increment
5. animatedtextureframerate: speed of the animated in frames per second