I know this is an old thread but... whenever I try to use this I get an error stating the mat_overlay.skill1 is an unknown keyword. Obviously I am doing something wrong. Are started definitions only for Pro?

In the new version use entSkin instead of texSkin and make sure, that the material is defined above your starter function.

Thanks. I already changed the texSkin and the starter is after the material. I also get a "nonexistant/empty action mat_overlay_init" error. Don't know what's going on. The only reason I am trying to get this to work is that I want to see if it indeed does "fix" the zbuffer sorting problem. I have a ton of double-sided polygons with alpha channels.

I was getting both errors you posted before I removed the ... from the Starter.

starter mat_overlay_init
{
...
mat_overlay.skill1=pixel_for_vec(vector(127,0,0),0,8888);
}

action matoverlay
{
my.material = mat_overlay;
}

Good luck!

btw. far cry uses the same method for foliage.

Hey its me again, The Shader Newb . I finally got rid of the errors but I'm not seeing much in improving the zbuffer sorting. I'm using double-sided polygons with 32bit TGA skins. Is that something that is in the code or do I need to do some research and add it myself? Thanks... again.

what was causing the error? ...there shouldn't be any sorting errors with this material. could you post a screenshot?

I'll explain what I'm doing so that if its wrong you can yell at me. I'm using a model with "double sided" polygons with a 32bit TGA skin that has an alpha channel. The leaves in the shots are duplicates in WED of the same model. The stem is a seperate model. I didn't assign any action or material to them because I'm assuming that the shader is assigned to anything using transparency right... maybe?

Shot #1 showing the error

Shot #2 showing the model layout

You must not set transparency, because then the polygons are not sorted. Only overlay, but no transparency or alpha channel (dont use a TGA skin).