Paul said, "my mistake. But looking again - both renders are incorrect. You've got WHITE as the FRONT color showing in the ball, but white is also at the centre of your background. The centre of your background should be grey." where would this gray come from in the center of the background (caths lattitude map) which is clearly white ? Makes no sense . The outer edges of the angular map (gray)represent rear .... so if the light is working correctly and we are facing a white section of a backdrop why would it turn gray ? Or for that matter why would you want your whites to turn gray ? thats silly. No matter what direction the spheres center will face you , and be white because as you rotate it its center becomes what you face. IBL center = white on this particular test map so only from the top veiw can you see gray on back , top center white , yellow ring , left and rights reds and blues , base green. IBL 3 dimensionally lights is assigned colors to each grid and the direction on object is set relative by software. we want color continuity from forground to back , left to right top to bottom , on reflect , spec , and precieved radiosity to know our light rig is correct. Of course the center of the sphere is white, its a white sphere that the IBL map is projecting its color values onto it. just as the IBL map must also project matching color values onto the color grid back ground(lattitude map). left and right of sphere and girl , top and bottom ect. Also white on the IBL color map represents center (all centers). either way if you flip the IBL map in the light node or conversly the background map(equals same effect) you create an out of phase projection. Very easy to see in the 2 renders. Actually using these maps really makes it clearer than using dark horizion IBL maps and backgrounds where the color values are so low the spec , diffuse , reflect and radiosity cannot be gauged. By flipping you create a new problem that you ask to hide by turning off reflection , but that can still be precieved on the edges by diffuse and radiosity effect combine by reversed image and image based light. Just like mixing opposed color paints. Very simply by flipping... the red on the IBL light now projects on the green side and the green on the IBL light projects on the red side of the back ground , causing color mismatch as can easly be seen in 76-77. either way by flipping the IBL map or the back ground (lattitude map) Thanks.