Can anyone suggest what is causing this horrid mess and perhaps a solution to make it look better.

Which version of Max are you working in?

In 2011 Max like to create black spots and the only way I've found to remove them is apply symmetry (move the mirror so you have to separate objects) than delete the new one.

Using 3DS Max 2008.

I looked again at smoothing groups. Nothing seems amiss there.

I've looked at Aether, but tbh haven't quite got my head around how to do it yet. Well, it's not quite how to do it, but I don't have the lighting parameters in my version that any of the tuts have, so I sort of get stumped.

It's odd because I have released 2 previous maps (bc_raceway_final_mp and bc_carousel_mp) and neither of those maps had this problem.

Btw, this is a full quality radiosity using tool...

tool lightmaps levels\test\mapname\mapname mapname 1 0.0000001

So the quality is really disappointing and it's pretty much stalling further development of my project.
Edited by Black Crypt on Mar 23, 2011 at 04:45 PM
Edited by Black Crypt on Mar 23, 2011 at 04:46 PM

You sure it's not the texture itself? Like one of the hill cliff bitmaps have a darker edge than the other edge. Try using UVW and Gizmo to stretch it so the dark edge won't be seen.

No, it's definitely not the texture.