Source SDK Tutorial - Optimizing

func_areaportal and hint / skip textures explained in this tutorial. Probably the most difficult tutorial for me to make to date, I've been at it for over 7 hours today.
Download the vmf here: www.mediafire.c...
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● 3kliksphilip: / 3kliksphilip
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● Website: 3kliksphilip.com
● Twitter: / 3kliksphilip
● PC Specs: Intel 6300 @ 2.6 Ghz, 8 GB RAM, Radeon 4850 512 MB.

[@Bladeclone]

0:37 The desktop of a madman.

[@MrAuro]

+Bladeclone -- I had to make a Maps file so that wont happen, the lin, bsp, vmf, and more..

[@Tani_D]

Bladeclon

[@Architector_4]

I took a screenshot of it: gyazo.com/8ed8ef2041366abccd47a1cbd305648a Big part of it are sound files and .sfk files(which, as far as I know, are Sony Vegas files).

[@donsknots6510]

looks like my mothers desktop

[@milkywayish9315]

@@Architector_4 "Jizz in my pants"

[@Headcrabman9999]

Probably the most helpful tutorial for optimization I've seen. Now I ACTUALLY understand how to use hints and areaportals instead of spamming them dumbly.

[@MrGermandeutsch]

Even after so many years, I always come back to this.

[@badhaloninja]

Hello there

[@Antek1234l]

Future

[@Ultra289]

I always show this to unexperienced mappers And sometimes to valve on Twitter...

[@MrGermandeutsch]

@@badhaloninja oop-

[@MrGermandeutsch]

@@Ultra289 lmaooooo

[@CoolDudeClem]

So THAT's what those hint things do! I had a look inside some of Valve's Portal 2 maps and couldn't figure out why they were there, I literally thought it was something to give the player a hint on how to play or something like that, no wonder it didn't seem to make any sense.

[@Antek1234l]

I also thinked that works like instructorhint

[@Sliphantom]

TREES? WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE TREES!

[@user-qx7tm5df8j]

GFYS AHOLE

[@Sliphantom]

Drama Stuhl someone didn't get the reference

[@user-qx7tm5df8j]

Sliphantom you actually think im serious

[@Sliphantom]

Drama Stuhl You wouldn't believe the stupid shit people will say while being totally serious.

[@thefoolishgmodcube2644]

NOT THE TREES!

[@0Blueaura]

Going back over and over again to learn such "simple" things, thanks Philip

[@unfa00]

It's awesome to see how far Kliksphillip has come!

[@stoneybalogne4821]

I know this video is over a decade old but I will never stop appreciating the areaportal tool texture zooming in at 3:50 like it's going to come out of my screen and snatch me like it does all the props around the corners.

[@endles1322]

This tutorial is not even pure gold, it's pure, polished platinum

[@Kkcomics]

Looks like a func_train

[@z1pline487]

this is the oldest comment ive seen

[@luaking84]

Nice! I liked the func_treetrain at the end there.

[@PublicServiceAnnouncement]

Guys, if your areaportal isn't working, load a pointfile, under Map > Load Pointfile. It will point out exactly where your areaportals are leaking from: where you have to place the areaportal/have to extend the areaportal to fill the gap.

[@Deux-ex-machina]

Gamzee Makara thanks, I had exactly that problem and thanks to you I could fix

[@user-it6jd1sb6k]

Searched for hint/skip usage a little bit. I didnt understand it from other youtubers (they show examples but not how it works). Nice explaining now I understand!

[@SidewaysEscalator]

You should have talked about the nodraw texture a lot of people don't understand it (or don't know about it) and it is very useful. I'm glad you made this, it'll help me make my level run so much smoother.

[@SnabGaming]

You could do an updated version of this :p

[@doubled6490]

+Martjin .Ishøj why?

[@Captain0Terror]

Best, most concise description for source mapping i've seen :o

[@ArcadeFL]

that three was best :D

[@patrickkloiber741]

h

[@Fejszi]

Arcade? You? Here? wat? i didn't know that you played Counter-Strike

[@KennyThaKoala]

Will you please update this video philip?

[@dildodickgollum]

doesnt it still apply though?

[@obi-wankenobi9871]

dildodickgollum it does

[@OddworldCrash]

You're really making it easy to understand for mapping-noobs like me. Thanks a lot!

[@pangtundure]

Loved the tree bit 🎄

[@WimpoD]

Haha, great ending. 3kliks, I've followed your videos for a long long time, used your tuts in my final year project back at uni and still using them now. Another great tut.

[@amirranjbar1995]

Ubisoft should learn a thing or two from you :p

[@TheCatOfWarCSGO]

amir ranjbar Or the guys who made Arkham Knight

[@amirranjbar1995]

TheCatOfWar | CS:GO Stuff lol those guys are hopeless XD nothing will make them better haha

[@Gary-Eng]

i can just imagine a rebel about to be crushed by that tree screaming "no... No.... NOOOOOOOOOOO"

[@thefanofspam]

Thanks for the great tutorial! I now finally know how to use hint and skip, and they're actually pretty simple! :D

[@gtafanattic]

Really good and informative, well explained too. I wasn't aware of the possibility of optimization, but this has definitely been worth watching. Thanks.

[@bschou]

Thank you. This explained the optimization tools in a very easy to understand tutorial. I never quite understood if from just reading the tutorials but this made it very clear. Appreciate the upload and effort went into making the vid. cheers

[@Dosycool1]

"The Killer Tree" Coming this Summer.... Nice tutorial by the way :D

[@Wokkelp]

Optimization is not the only thing that is useful, this video is too. Rated 5

[@DavidMcGuireRaceVids]

One thing people need to realize is that they have to have optimization in mind when designing the whole layout of the map. I think people should start out trying to make maps for cs 1.6, because a lot of people playing that will have slower computers, optimization is a lot more important, and the core design of the map needs to be made with an idea of how vis works. I've learned a lot about optimization making a few cs 1.6 maps. I wish goldsrc had area portals! It would be so helpful!

[@ComputersAreRealCool]

how did you do that tree? Surely when it broke the top part of the door it broke the area portal thingy? Great tutorial by the way, it was really helpful.

[@031000ron1]

ComputersAreRealCool I'm guessing it did, however, I don't think it slowed his map down that much or at all.

[@Avenger460]

+031000ron1 it did break the portal since theres an extra space not portal'd and he made a func_ somewhere when he reached that place the tree moves automatically and kill him , so easy to do it

[@Niker107]

+ComputersAreRealCool The top of the door is not a part of the world geometry. It's an entity that breaks into pieces when the tree moves into it. Areaportals only care about sealing off world geometry, they "don't see" entities. So, Philip just extended the areaportal to the top of the ceiling, ignoring the top part of the door.

[@XKDUBSTEP]

I love your videos, they're entertaining to watch even though I haven't used hammer in over a year.

[@LmaonadeUK]

Brilliant tutorial, I think this may be why my map was messing up, I had no Optimization at all, so as I'm looking up at the whole tower everything inside it is being rendered. Will be trying this out now.

[@shadesoftime]

Show this tutorial to authors of gmod workshop maps

[@VisceralSoul]

wow... I'm gob-smacked, you just made the difficult things easier. EXCELLENT Tutorial, you are god of hammer tutorials, seriously, lots of people reccomend you for mapping tutorials.

[@ZooL_Smith]

how can i do this on a HUGE map, which haven't brushes like your ? (only a skybox and a lot of displacement, 25% are brushes)

[@google61yt]

Zool Smith Oh hi! :D WhEn CLaSsiC oFfeNsIvE wIlL bE oN sTeAm? :D

[@starcachehq]

@3kliksphilip Love your tutorials. Little addition to this comment - If you're mapping for other-than cs:s, you can use func_illusionary to achieve the same effect.

[@Beardactal]

I think the way he made that tree kill him is by parenting that tree to a trigger_hurt entity. Then he creates a func_tanktrain and parents that to both of the other entities.

[@Dajan456]

if i have a surf map where ther are many blocks but no closed rooms is it good to make everything funk_detail?

[@BigBang1112tm]

yes

[@nikosyv]

great that you are finally making tutorials again :D nice tree by the way.. (;

[@2Fluttershy]

1)Prop_static, select tree model, name the prop 2)Put Func_tanktrain brush with nodraw texture inside Prop_static 3)Make two path_track(s) and name them (path1, path2) 4)Make the First stop target in Func_tanktrain named path1, go to flags and flag this things (No User Control, Fixed Operation, Is unblockable by player) 5)Put the path_track named path1 where you want your tree come from :3, and do next thing inside it (operation type No change).

[@WtFCBermudaCake]

Thanks for this, I always find your videos entertaining and helpful! Quick question, though: If I optimize by hand, do I need to set VIS to normal, or will fast do?

[@nanutek]

So much thanks :) You explain very well how the Source engine works, and now i understand how to optimizating my maps. I'll take care of that tree later :P

[@caseytubes]

@3kliksphilip I think he means put the hint block in a wall so that nothing on the other side is rendered, like if you have a wall infront of you, and you want to not render anything on the side.

[@2Fluttershy]

6)Make a trigger_hurt and trigger_once 7)Name the trigger_hurt and parent it to Func_tanktrain(if it possible :3) 8)Go inside trigger_once properties and go to output(s) and do this: OnStartTouch *your func_tanktrain name* StartForward 0.00 9)Put it inside your map and have fun with tree :P

[@jammerthegreat]

Hi thar i need your help once again. I'm making a map with 2 different sections. These are both connected througha tunnel problem is 1 section i want foggy and the other section i dont want it to be foggy. Is there anyway of doing this like maybe a huge brush or a special entity?

[@j.37]

Somehow the algorithm got me here

[@RedX3010]

This was way more useful than it looked like :d

[@AndvarYT]

This video has scarred my for life. I have cut down the tress in my yard and will be terrorified of any others I see.

[@acrilyk4672]

Do Hintskips have to cover the entire area? Like make the covered space airtight? Or are they somewhat like occluders, as in they don't care?

[@LambdaHidden]

Is it ok if i follow the grid on the 8 unit scale? By the way, i'm making a large map (9196 x 4144 units). Also, it's a good idea to turn small world brushes that aren't supposed to split visleafs into func_detail.

[@thebloodminister988]

yay a very useful video in my suggestions today :)

[@CookieAsArrow]

How high do they need to be in a open skybox level? they fell useless when i need to bring them to maximum hight, because you can just see them from everywere.

[@DaManWitDaPower]

Very helpful! Thank god you spent 7 hours on it!

[@oddnonymousgaming]

Do the "Doorways" have to be empty or can I have actual doors or windows within the area portal so long as its touching the outside/inside of the "doorway"???

[@jammerthegreat]

Yrh say if you had a 2 buildings what where different heights and parts of them stuck out more what would i do then ? :3

[@ValerianAndStuff]

wow your voice has changed drastically

[@CrashingThunder]

Great tutorial and I'll keep an eye out for trees, thanks!

[@alecom]

that tree was awesome :D nice tut

[@Alexander-gv6oh]

How about fading models out smoothly with fog? First of all, is it a bad idea to begin with? I am making a large indoor level taking place in an old creepy mansion. I have so far come a significant way on the project and I was thinking that adding fog might add to that creepy feel, -- while mixed with model fading, work as a form of optimization aswell --. So I need the "Start Fade Pixels" and "End Fade Pixels" in the Map Properties explained more thoroughly. I currently have them correspond with the values of the properties that has the same names in the fog controller. But all that leaves me with are invisible props that unfittingly fades in when I come up about 1 meter from them. Is there a quick way for you to explain these "fade" values to me?

[@xpLict134]

Thanks for the tutorial. Great tutorial like always, and I was wondering what those textures do =P

[@TriWaZe]

So my question is when I decompile a map, in this instance Nuke as Im trying to make changes to it that benefit the t side using BSPSRC. When I go in game the spots where there are areaportals, everything behind them disappear and all I can see is sky. I tried to delete all of them and then I got portalnum > numareaportals. How could I fix this?

[@TriWaZe]

I unchecked reallocated areaportals and rebuild areaportals in the visgroups and it seems to be working now.

[@josiahct]

LOL at the tree really nice tut there phill i think it's the best one yet AND... ...i could understand it! :D that must have taken you ages too get it all understanderbul? anyway good job can't wait 4 da next one :D biggist fan...you know who :P

[@Remi749]

Great tutorial once again, and this is something I didn't know! :D I love the tree part at the end, you used trigger for the breakable debris/brushes and trigger for sound right and moving_pane or what it's called? Or am I wrong?

[@caseytubes]

nice ending. didnt expect that

[@Gabezen101]

If your maps not nice and tidy 3kliksphilip will map your face in the middle of the night.

[@AnimationStationS]

Have fun, and watch out for trees!

[@zolika1351]

What happens if you block the tree? Since you control the world anyway

[@Bozebo]

to continue... with ideal client and server conditions, if the map is badly optimised (but still runs at 1000 fps server side and 100 fps client side) the hit reg will still suffer, the reasons behind it are highly confusing. But one suggestion is that every time a player changes visgroups the server and client have to do a lot of recalculations which mean - for a split second - the frame rate drops. The most important factor is the constant frame rate 500 is just as good as 1k if it is solid.

[@dos785]

think you have this wrong i think the hint works by giving the computer something to do optimizion from without it needing to find out where to put them itself so it will load in what it thinks your seeing not by where the hint is

[@andrewpozenel2931]

+3kliksphilip How did you make that "cutscene" at the end when tree moves in, crashes the upper door-wall and move on?

[@CeretPenyok]

i've watch your videos, its really helpful, and quite funny with the trees. :D

[@mrfcukmylife]

have fun and watch out for trees!

[@adood101]

Pretty cool. Didn't know that... I'll most likely use this in my map. I mapped out my home.

[@doomayam]

Oh okay. I ended up deleting it but I will try to put another one in there. I was really just wondering why it wouldn't already have been set to that when I just opened the map and never even touched that portal. Great tutorial, btw.

[@dexjester]

I was glad you stressed the cleanness of level's using the grid system. It took me a long frustrating time to figure that out. The only problem I have is clipping or resizing object that becomes off grid, I try to use snap 2 grid but it doesn't always work on angles?? Any suggestions.

[@NeoXF]

You could have also mentioned about nodraw-ing all of the stuff you won't normally or ever see in your levels, like high roofs or background backwalls... BUT, 1. this is a fantastic video/tutorial, as always; and 2. optimisation is a big thing, surely you will do a follow up at some point. :)

[@Fluzoo]

hopefully you read this. I'm working on a really huge surf map for cs:go. The problem is, that I can not render the map now... I was able to render the map with fast settings but the water bugged. So I've finished the map and I wanted to compile the map with normal settings. If I do so, the compile process stucks on PortalVis for hours. I compiled 20 hours without process. so I've tried to make the map as optimized as possible. the Problem is I cant really use the hints and area portals because the map is very "open". you can almost see the whole map all the time. so I've tried to make almost everything a "func_detail" and now I cant even compile on fast settings (before it worked in around 10 Minutes). After all the hours I've spend, I dont know what to do. please help :(

[@akianaray651]

I know that this comment is old but you probably have a leak.

[@Fluzoo]

+Executed thanks for the reply. I dont know. I guess its a problem with the lightning... I couldnt fix it till now sadly

[@Bozebo]

oi, it's also about the server side performance and hit registration. for ideal reg both the client fps and the server tick need to be at exactly 100 (or 101) fps. with cmd and update rates at 100 (101) on the client and rate 25000 or 30000 (depnding on how much data needs to be sent, its rarely over even 20000 in intense areas but we dont want choking when it would be) again, the server needs to be over 500fps. but the most crucial thing is correct map optomisation

[@Aaronmiles2]

Your tree made me laugh a LOT. You're awesome.

[@konata1810]

1:05 Hey, that looks like my map

[@InfamousCast]

@hummer4200 On the camera viewport (default top left) if you hover over the top left corner, there should be text appear saying "Camera". Click on that and you should get a list popup. Click on 3D Textured to see the textures, or Shaded Textured Polygons for slight lighting. Hope this helped! :)

[@Evaldas256]

Oh and in the demo smoother,when you fly in a place that the player ain't there,will the objects still be where you are flying,because ive seen on cs_italy in a door way it was cliping when in drive mode,so i guess not?

[@EhBoing]

So does the hint skip technique need to be closed like the area portal or is it fine the way it is?

[@Johnny1nOnly]

could you do a tutorial on how to make a wall break into pieces like what you showed with the tree?

[@Nallieheai]

Do the skip/hints only make it so you dont render props? Or is it for normal brushes as well? (A wall or something thats made from only using the block tool)

[@Nallieheai]

Sorry if it's a stupid question, but when you say behind you mean behind it as in if i were in game looking at the invis hint brush, anything behind the hint that i can't see won't' render? Or is it behind it in hammer? Because if so i'm not entirely sure what's behind and what's infront, haha. Anyways thanks for the response!

[@Nallieheai]

Thank you! I don't mind the long comment haha, again, thanks! This makes stuff a lot easier to understand.

[@dexjester]

I see what your saying. I think my problems are in not using the vertex tool and creating brushes that are not within grid spaces. When creating so many and such large brushes I can't always tell without zooming in intensely weather or not the brush has been drawn on the grid. Any suggestion?

[@ethosaur]

ok lets say i make a mine made outta displacements with nodraw behind them.. fully sealed by nodraw and you cant see the nodraw and there is 2 openings in each ending of the mine. is it best to have one area portal in each ending? they lead to each side of a big map. i am pretty sure this will make compile time faster and smoother gameplay too.

[@Die-Coughman]

source 2 tutorials please(you don't need to i just find the way you explained the other stuff to be understandable and easy to grasp)

[@NoVIcE_Source]

Thanks, Philip, thank you alot!!

[@TheZollyz]

em please answer, in the end the tree braked the wall, but i made a phys door whit carve and stuff so it is in small parts but it is frozen anyway when i start the map. how to i make it unfreeze when i shoot/hit the wall?

[@doug4317]

pretty big typo on the thumbnail

[@QQjesus]

@3kliksphilip Dammit, I wish I knew this before I did a 1x1 - 8x8 map :( ... Hmm Would grouping them with func_detail help to clean up my common area? (The area where my map opens up into a huge section) :D tys for your wise knowledge :)

[@Bozebo]

to continue. vvis often seems to divid up where I intend on the visleafs being. say I have a room with 2 doorways in (the geometry round the doors thinner than the walls and the geometry above the door being func_detail) and I have a skip/hint box placed right in the doorway. That room becomes 2 or more visgroups, carved along my hint texture correctly - but sub divided for NO reson inside :(. After checking, I realise that these 2 visleaves can both see the same ones - so it makes no sense.

[@DameiusLameocrates]

Hey dude, I have a question. You know when you make a room and you put a door the that leads to the outside it allows the light_environment to shine light passed the door, how would you go about stopping it going through until you open the door?

[@PliskinNH]

Would there be any reason the VVIS would ignore hint/skip brushes? In optimizing I've added some hint/skips, but when I check my map on wireframe 3 it's not splitting the visleafs where I'm telling it to... I tried it compiled both fast and at normal.

[@Matray2]

Bloody excellent tutorial, thanks!

[@L3G3nD0001]

3kliksphilip, is it possible that you could add a hint texture on the other side of the skip brush? I.e. for multiplayer maps demonstration purposes.

[@valyrius9556]

Thanks,this helped me so much!

[@knollyshlem2859]

so, this would help speed up my compiling? mine takes a extremely long time on the part where it gets stuck

[@LethalAxis]

Philip answer me this. After i place all the neccessary hint and area portal brushes should i still compile the map with "normal"visleafs?