HDRI Light

[rohdan]

Hi... i have a problem. I, using a HDRI from CG-Source for my light setup. I have a intensity of 30, then the render is to dark (Picture 1). If I raise the intensity, I get overexposed regions in the sky (Picture 2). Same when I raise camera exposure.
Any Suggestions for my problem?

[aleksandar.kasabov]

Hello rohdan,

In the Exposure layer in the VFB, try setting the exposure to your liking and then reduce the highlight burn to avoid overexposing the sky. Let me know if that helps.

[YunalZobu]

Hi rohdan ,
I'd suggest a few simple steps:

• start with proper camera exposure for an exterior setup
• make sure your hdri has enough range / ev stops (difference between the its brightest spot and its shadows)
• use the highlight bun in the exposure layer to control how mellow your brightest spots should be
• optionally: add a tonemapper or a curve for finer control

[rohdan]

Hi rohdan ,
I'd suggest a few simple steps:

• start with proper camera exposure for an exterior setup
• make sure your hdri has enough range / ev stops (difference between the its brightest spot and its shadows)
• use the highlight bun in the exposure layer to control how mellow your brightest spots should be
• optionally: add a tonemapper or a curve for finer control

Thats usually my workflow. For calibrating the camera I take a VRAY Sun and Sky Object. Camera should be ok.
The when I change to a DomeLight with the HDRI from CG Source its way to dark. So I set the Intensity to 40, Highlight Burn to 0.60. Now its ok. The Problem ist, with that much Highlight Burn I lose a lot of Contrast.

How do I make sure, that the hdri has enough range? I always thought, If I buy I high quality hdri, its ready to use.

[sirio76]

Beside the exposure layer add a filmic tone mapping and if needed use a LUT.
If you look on our YouTube channel we have an exterior tutorial (museum scene) it will explain also how to get rid of overexposed parts and still keep a nice contrast:
https://www.youtube.com/c/3DRenderandBeyond/videos

[rohdan]

Beside the exposure layer add a filmic tone mapping and if needed use a LUT.
If you look on our YouTube channel we have an exterior tutorial (museum scene) it will explain also how to get rid of overexposed parts and still keep a nice contrast:
https://www.youtube.com/c/3DRenderandBeyond/videos

Thanks Sirio...very helpful and great Tutorial!!
One Qustion: at 11.00 in Part III, you use a custom setup of the dome light. I could not see, how you did that. Can u share the secret of this custom setup?

[rohdan]

Thanks Sirio...very helpful and great Tutorial!!
One Qustion: at 11.00 in Part III, you use a custom setup of the dome light. I could not see, how you did that. Can u share the secret of this custom setup?

Found it! Thanks anyway

[GMTJay]

I don't know if it's supposed to be automatic or not, but I have found that I sometimes have to deliberately set the color mode for hdrs to "Linear" for them to work right (or, at least, predictably)

[sirio76]

Using standard c4d loader you can use embedded or linear, using Vray bitmaps loader you can use gamma corrected or linear. On Vray bitmap it should be set to gamma corrected by default for HDR but for some reason it is using sRGB mode that gives wrong results.

[GMTJay]

Using standard c4d loader you can use embedded or linear, using Vray bitmaps loader you can use gamma corrected or linear. On Vray bitmap it should be set to gamma corrected by default for HDR but for some reason it is using sRGB mode that gives wrong results.

Yeah, I would definitely check to see if it's sRGB, and if it is switch it.