How to Skybox [Updated, all variants explained.]

[ÜberKiller 7.5k]

Now, I've been asked numerous times after my Village HD release:

"How do you get the skybox to work so well? Other images I try are either too stretchy and don't loop well or it has black boxes everywhere. There are so many errors and I don't know what to do!" - An example question
 
Well, there are easy methods to pull off a skybox. And Mine-imator supports three variants (However! Only two if you are using a version before 0.7 beta)
 
Variant 1: The panoramic variant. (A single image that loops, available in both versions of Mine-imator)
 
Now typically these images are a wide-screen like image that are rectangular. The width must exceed the hight for this to work! Typically these images should be over 1920x1080 for the best results.
 
Here is a proper panoramic skybox:
 

 
And when looped in mine-imator it looks like this:

 
What to tick:
Skysphere - yes
Stretch to fit - optional (I've seen that this does no effect to it whatsoever)
 
Pros - Easiest one to use, and good for beginners.
Cons - This annoying bug, harder to find on the Internet.
 
Variant 2: Cubical Skybox (Only available in versions (0.7 beta and up)

This one actually takes an image and loops it around in a tile square fashion. Best used for images of clouds or single color skyboxes.

 

Make sure the image is x by x long (Whereas x is the size of one side of the image. Meaning it has to be square. Like 20 x 20 or 512 by 512.

 
Pros - Seamless. No bugs.

Cons - Not a great effect if used with the incorrect image.
Variant 3: Single image skybox (Available in all versions of Mine-imator)
This is a rarer used skybox variant, mainly because it's like a sprite. No matter where you look the image will always appear the same way in the viewer's line of vision.
 
Best images to use for this one are clouds or simple sky colors. You can use any image with this and it will be bug-free. But it doesn't always produce the best effect.
Pros - Best version of a skybox for beginners
Cons - Using the wrong image produces a bad effect.

 

FINAL TIPS

- Be sure the lighting matches with the skybox. An orange-y skybox should have the world's lighting to have an light orange tinge in certain areas. (Preferably the center light)

- Don't use really large images or use tiny images. These make the skybox either stretched out or pixelated. If it's what you want, go for it. Otherwise leave it be.

- Use a different resource pack in the animation. Better skybox means better textures. Try searching for some resource packs here and see what works the best.

- Keep the skybox in a constant location. Never leave it on the desktop. If you move it or accidentally delete it after cleaning some files, it could be lost forever. Unlike most files in mine-imator, this one does not keep a backup for the skybox.
 
This is as far as I know how to skybox. If you have any questions, list them below with a reply!

 

Remember, if I helped you. Leave a +1 behind on your way out. It doesn't hurt. Not at all. (Okay it might a bit)

Edited February 21, 2014 by ÜberKiller

[Popboy8 818]

Thanks! +1

[Spiderman 897]

i really need a skybox pic, i need like a daytime one. trying to find a good one as good as this..

[SuperSpooky Speedy 160]

It's sometimes hard to get a pic to look great when using skybox