Anyone using HDRI’s of skies with exterior scenes? Good quality? Any examples to show? I was thinking of buying a library of HDRI skies, but want to be sure first that it will be worth it. Thanks.
There’s lots of useful HDRI skies used for exteriors. I would have to say that most of them are exterior shots to begin with. If you buy them, generally you can guarantee they will be high resolution.
But for now, try to use the ones found at this site first as they’re free:
I guess sky hdri images will be real killers when used with Hdr mapped dome lights 
(in next version). Have u seen the samples vlado posted?
Where are those imagaes?
Also remember that HDRIs are just as important in Specular as they are in Diffuse. I explain how on my first DVD. In fact, every feature I have worked on, HDRIs were heavily used, but only used in Specular (renderman doesn’t do diffuse scatter to well ;))
nice plug for your dvd chris!!
i seriously need to buy that one of these days
was worth the money for me
-dave
has your render times and image quality been affected?
Has anyone by chance used these HDRI’s by Dosch? I was thinking of purchasing these…or maybe there is another better collection out there.
http://www.trinity3d.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=712&cat=268&page=2
I heard their old skies looked like they were created with Dreamscape. These radiant ones look different. However, if you want some good quality free HDR skies created with Dreamscape (same method I believe), then head on over to Evermotion:
I have used the Dosch Skies, for instance on this image:
They are OK, “natural”, but they give a bit flat lighting. Perhaps the Radiant Skies are a better option.
Well the Dosch extreem high res HDRI’s are amazing. They were captured with the Spheron camera, and IMHO, there is no better quality HDRI out there. It is extreemly high res, and has an AMAZING dynamic range. Some of the HDRI’s have values for the sun in the 35,000’s… So high in fact, that is it hard to use with the regular environment skylight without artifacting unles you clamp it.. But with the new sky dome… mama mia!!! Talk about sharp shadows.
I also use the Sachform HDRIs. Those are great and well composed. Plus there are tones of them which is always good. You wnat a lot of HDRI in your library. It is like having lots of lighting rigs.