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====== Reflective Glass Tutorial ======

**Reflective Glass Tutorial** by Obmar

Virtual Reflective Glass.

I have put together a basic folder to be used with this tutorial. Please download [[http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass.rar|glass.rar]] and unpack to your models working folder in [[arma:tools:oxygen2|O2]].

Folder contains 6 files

glass_ca.paa\\
glass_ca.tga (targa copy for editing purposes)\\
reflect_co.paa\\
reflect_co.tga (targa copy for editing purposes)\\
reflective_glass.rvmat (material file)\\
glass-pass2.rvmat (material file)\\

These files can be used as a basis to apply reflective glass effects to all your models.


====== Step 1 ======

Open the model you want to apply the reflective glass to in the o2.

{{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass1.jpg }}


====== Step 2 ======

Apply the glass texture to the polygons you want to be glass or transparent, you can use the texture I have made (glass_ca.paa) or any other glass texture you want to use for your model.

HINT: I normally separate my mesh with the polygons I want to use as glass and give it a name in the "Named Selection" eg -glass. It is easier to work with when I apply the glass texture to the selection.

{{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass2.jpg }}

Now the texture is applied and the selection is transparent but does not look like glass yet.


====== Step 3 ======

Go to the folder where you unpacked the glass.rar file and open the reflective_glass.rvmat file with the Material Editor or by double clicking on the file. A Material Editor screen will pop up as seen in the image bellow.

{{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass3.jpg }}

NOTE: if you opened the file in the Material Editor by double-clicking on it you have to press File/Open and open the file in the editor again otherwise you cannot edit it. 

Don't know why it does that but seems to be a glitch with the software. Scroll down to the bottom of the material editor and only change the following entries.

a: is the specular power you want for you glass. 
HINT: the lower the value the more reflective the glass becomes, play around with the setting using the slider to suit your requirements.

NOTE: do not change the stage config no 1 as this is the standard FresnelGlass setting used by the ArmA graphics engine.

b: Stage 2 is for a texture that will give your glass a reflective aspect of the environment around you. I have used the standard BIS one as bellow but you could actually make one to suit your environment.

{{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass3b.jpg }}

This is also a good way to apply reflection to your models rear view mirrors. Just change the UV texture from the glass one to a non transparent mirror type texture.

Click in the Source Name field and select the reflect_co.paa file from where you placed it in your model's work file.

c: This is the link to a material file (glass-pass2.rvmat) with an alpha pass. You can look at that file but do not change anything as that is a standard setting.
Click Browse and select the glass-pass2.rvmat file from where you placed it in your model's work file.

Save the file and close the material editor.


====== Step 4 ======

Open your model in o2 and select the glass named selection or the selection you want to apply the reflective glass material file to.

{{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass4.jpg }}

d: Click on the yellow folder on the right of the material field and select the reflective_glass.rvmat file from where you placed it in your model's work file.

Press Apply and then OK.


====== Step 5 ======

View the model with buldozer and there you have it lovely virtual reflective glass.

{{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/images/wiki/RefGlasTut_glass5.jpg }}

You can play around with the Specular Power settings as in step a: above to get more or less reflection off your glass.

Hope this tutorial helps and gives a little understanding of how the ArmA material files are applied.


====== Notes ======

This tutorial was originally posted to [[http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=63943|BIS forum]] topic. Thanks for Obmar to let us host the tutorial in this wiki.
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