Hammer Source Interface Crash Course in 15 Min

November 30, 2010
Category: Left 4 Dead 2 Mapping, Left 4 Dead Mapping, SourceSDK/Authoring Tools

Hammer Source Map Construction Breakdown-->

Hammer Source Interface Crash Course in 15 minutes. The tutorial covers the entire interface to get you started mapping in Hammer Source. Most commonly used functions are covered.

After watching the 15 minute video you will be comfortable navigating around the viewports in Hammer Source and you'll be ready to start mapping.

If you don't have Hammer Source or don't know how to get it, make sure to check out this tutorial.

Selected notes are provided.

Launch Steam, SourceSDK or Authoring Tools

Launch Steam.

Then head over to Library --> Tools

Launch the Hammer Source Editor with either SourceSDK or Authoring Tools.

Start New Map

Once Hammer Source is launched. Go up to File --> New

Set Your Grid

First thing you want to do is check and set your grid options.

Go up to Map --> Snap to Grid/Show Grid.

Check to see if these two options are checked.

Grid Settings

Increase/Decrease Grid by using the bracket keys. This hotkey is going to be very commonly used throughout your mapping in Hammer Source.

[ - smaller grid

] - larger grid

Snap On Grid Setting

On bottom right notice the Snap On Grid value. This value and option tells your current grid size and if your grid has snaps turned on.

[ - smaller grid

] - larger grid

Always Stay on the Grid and Snaps Turned on

Super important is to always stay on the grid and have your grid snapping turned on.

Ctrl+A

Autosize 4 views.

Camera Perspective Viewport Options

In perspective viewport you will notice camera text. If you click on camera, view options for that viewport will come up.

Here you can change how you are able to view your objects within that viewport.

Perspective viewport should be kept in:
3D Wireframe
3D Flat
3D Textures (most commonly used)
3D Shaded Textured Polygons (most commonly used)
3D Lightmap Grid