Cubemaps

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We did it! With a little help from Mother Science.
The Engineer after successfully building new cubemaps
Default icon.

Cubemaps store data about a reflective object's surroundings, and are used to correctly render its appearance. Most Source engine games rely on cubemaps, including Team Fortress 2.

Implementation

Cubemap entities are placed at eye level (about ~64 Hammer units (Hu)) to create the most realistic reflections. If an area of a map differs in lighting or size, another cubemap is typically placed.

Once lighting is compiled and the map is running, the map author uses the console command "buildcubemaps" to generate the reflections.

Missing cubemaps

If no cubemap entities are placed in a map and built, reflections default to the skybox texture or to a purple and black checkerboard pattern. This issue is common in maps that are still under development, although mapmakers sometimes use more palatable placeholder/dummy textures.

There is no default cubemap in Team Fortress 2 per se, and therefore it must be built manually when necessary. This is usually achieved by entering buildcubemaps in console when mapmaking, for example.