How to Use/Make Billboards [TUTORIAL]

[Kyle]

How to Use/Make Billboards

Side note: If the pictures don't work, click the link next to each one.

Firstly, you need to have a window that you are going to use adding billboards. If you have already added light to it, keep it. On the left side of the editor, there is a button called "Billboards". Click it. On the right side of the editor next to "Material", there is a "...". Click it.

Spoiler below!

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff49...t=tut1.png

The first one on the list is "billboards". Select it and click OK. Select "bb_yellow_lightray.mat" and then click OK.

Spoiler below!

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff49...t=tut2.png

Place one of them and move them up to your window. Keep them a little away from the window. The way the arrow is pointing should be pointing in the opposite direction to the way you want the billboard to shine through the window. With it still selected, under "Billboard Type", set it to "Axis". Change the size based on the length you want of the billboard to shine. The first number for size edits it's width. It is best to keep it at 1. Keep the second number to at least 10, for this determines it's length. Click on the little white box that labels "Color". Click it. Change it based on the color of the window. If it's yellow, hit cancel without editing the color. If you want it to be for a blue window, set R to 0.5, set G to 0.7, and set B to 0.9. Keep A at 1. Click OK and the color of it should change.

Spoiler below!

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff49...t=tut3.png

Make sure the billboard is barely visible when looking at the window when the lights are on. Match the billboard to a seperate section box of the window. Copy the billboard with the shortkey or do it manually. The shortcut is "CTRL-D" while the object is selected. Move the billboard to another box that hasn't already been taken up by a billboard. If you have curtains, make sure you don't put a billboard in the ones that are covered.

Once that's done, you can click on "Particle Systems" on the left side of the editor. And next to "PS File" on the right side, click on the "...".

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Spoiler below!

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff49...t=tut4.png

Go find the "particles" folder and find "ps_light_dust_large.ps". Select it and then click "Load file".

Spoiler below!

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff49...t=tut5.png

Place 1 of them right inside of the window. There you go! Now you should know how to use use/make billboards. If you have any questions, comments,

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or concerns, post them here and I'll answer them. I added a light and this is how it looks now.

Spoiler below!

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff49...t=tut6.png