IBL... pre-linearize HDR images?

[shadevfx]

render theory question: Should we be converting our HDR images to linear before using them in v-ray?

ie: apply a .4545 gamma curve?

I gave this a go for the first time and got much, much better detail and falloff... but I am wondering if it is "correct"

thoughts?

thanks,
Bryan

[R2J2]

if the HDRI was created correctly, with raw images etc, it will already be linear.
but really what ever looks good IMO

[shadevfx]

well... we usually assemble them in photoshop, so I suppose they arent coming from the raw files (some reason PS doesnt like to do the HDR assembly from them)

But, I guess Im wondering what is "correct" workflow in vray.

While we had some interesting improvements in look... the level of GI noise became quite high.

So I'm just wondering what v-ray expects as input

[R2J2]

I have assembled raws from a canon in CS3, so that's interesting you can't

to get rid of noise make the HDR small and blury, use the normal size for reflections