Author Topic: Converting a spherical skybox into a cubemap skybox (Read 4956 times)

Xalos · December 30, 2013, 04:58:19 PM

I have a spherical skybox that I want to use as a backdrop, except that I have no idea how to convert a spherical skybox into a cubemap skybox.

How would I go about doing so?

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Demian · December 31, 2013, 01:02:19 AM

Scavenge the web for a spherical to cube skybox converter that may or may not be some demo/trial version bullstuff and might cost money or contain malware or just put the sky into Blender and render an environment texture.

BluetoothBoy · December 31, 2013, 09:49:13 AM

You could do it this way (untested):

- Open Blender.
- Delete everything from scene.
- Add camera to center.
- Apply spherical skybox to sky.
- Set camera to orthographic, square resolution, about 4000x4000.
- Rotate camera to any 90� - 90� - 90� configuration (so it's always facing at right angles relative to the other camera positions).
- Render one image per direction (six total).

Now you should have six square images that can be used in a skybox. I think by using orthographic mode, you won't have problems with edges lining up, but it is untested.

Demian · December 31, 2013, 10:45:52 AM

I personally prefer rendering an environment texture (an actual texture type) into a cube. It does all six sides in one go but you do need to manually separate the sides from the resulting texture.

Xalos · January 03, 2014, 10:00:21 PM

Well I've tried and failed the various methods suggested, so clearly I'm just skybox-incapable.

The skybox in question

Demian · January 04, 2014, 12:22:34 AM

Released: http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=249004.0