How not to be a n00b mapper, part 1

We were all n00b mappers once. I remember the days of surrounding my map with a huge skybox textured hollowed cube, making lights that come from nowhere and carving everything. Still, I've learned from my mistakes, so here are my rules for not looking like a total idiot:

1) Place a light_environment

For the love of God please do this: fullbright (where every surface is as bright as possible) maps look horrible. Even if you don't adjust the colour or brightness at all, just place one of these. Maps look so much more natural with a correctly set up light_environment.

My eyes are burning!

Much better