HDRI in environment_.hdri vs. .jpg

[edgar_cg]

Hello,

Clear to me that I have to assign the HDRI file to the environment slot to get all the influence of its properties in the general lighting of the scene.

So then, what would be the difference of applying a .hdri file vs. a .jpg image to the background and the reflection slot? My logic tells me to put a jpg since it has less information (I guess) so that means slower render time.

Is that correct or else what are the differences?

Thanks to all,

Edgar

[Micha_cg]

Re: HDRI in environment_.hdri vs. .jpg

The difference is the dynamic of the images. JPG support only 8bit -> 255 grey steps per color channel. Per 23bit HDRI you can get very high contrasts. But sometimes, if a bright local lightsource like the sun is at the image, the calculation needs longer to be noisefree, because the random sampling need more samples.
Often, LDRI like jpgs cause a dull lighting.

An new book is available to this subject.

http://www.hdrlabs.com/book/index.html