how to use HDR's as a background image

[werticus]

I'm not sure how to do it - I have a normal front on image taken with a camera, and bracketed the shots, then merged them in ps to a radiance image

if i use 'vray hdri' as the background map, then there is no option to use it as a 'screen' image, it has to be one of the environment type of deals, which distorts this plain image as its not spherical or cubic or anything.

and if i use 'bitmap' then how can i control the brightness properly?

[joconnell]

Map it on to a plane in your scene or alternatively use it as an environment map in screen mode and then use the environment and reflection override in the vray render dialog to get the correct spherical version for your lighting and reflections.

[werticus]

okay but how can i control the HDRI's exposure? do i use the bitmap output function for RGB level or for output amount?

[jacksc02]

you can turn the multiplier of the hdr down in the vrayhdri map loader