# The Surface Inspector Select a texture and then press the S key. This will bring up the Surface Inspector (SI), where you can alter the selected texture. The Surface Inspector--ghosted numbers are reserved fields for future versions of QERadiant. Don't like the standard Q2 window glass? Turn any texture into an interesting window by checking window and trans33, and then un-checking solid. Having problems figuring out which direction your lava should flow? Apply the cur_0 texture found in e2u1. Plug in the rotate values and keep an eye on the arrow in the 3D preview window (That's why iD made this texture!). Once you know what values are needed, re-apply your original texture and check flowing. Build 147 of Radiant added a nice feature to the Inspector. By selecting a brush face and then bringing up the SI, you can input numeric data. Then, by pressing the RETURN key, the change takes effect. If you don’t like it, backspace over the number and plug in a different number and hit RETURN again. When you’re satisfied, press RETURN TWICE to close the Inspector, or Tab to the next box. In earlier versions, pressing RETURN closed the dialog, making numerous texture adjustments tedious work by constantly having to re-open the Inspector. Wally users may balk at the SI, claiming that Wally can do the same thing and more of it. True, but the SI allows you to have different versions of the same texture without having to save redundant copies. For example, suppose you had eight pools of water textured with varying degrees of brightness using the light flag. Maybe one or two have slime and lava properties. By clicking on the texture in the water pool, you can bring up the SI and alter the texture properties without having to save 8 or 10 copies of the same basic texture. Beginners, before you start changing a texture's properties, understand what they do to avoid sudden leaks, and other errors.
Copyright 1999, by Terry DeLaney. Permission is granted to distribute this file as long as the author receives credit.