On this IBL render, I purposely did NOT use any outside lightsource. ALL lightings is generated between the hdri map and the atmospheric settings. The hdri map is again, Agent smiths. Admittedly, it has become one of my favorites, in that the lightings is VERY powerful, is not directional, and casts NO color. I used a setting of 20, 20, 32, and as you can see, yielded bold, bright light. My error totally for the washout, I "neglected" the sun/moon portion of the skylab, and had my shadows at 30% intensity, soft shadows on, but used white for the sun color instead of black (as you know, you can use something of an abstracted sky setting to have shadows cast from/by the sun"light", this method is commonly used in GI set-ups).

Having waited the 5 days, 5 hours and 7 plus minutes for the render to complete (at a mere 1200x900 at 72 dpi mind you!!!), in seeing the results and comparing/combining others experiences and results, for a better render I would definitely change the sun color, and decrease the intensity in the ibl room.

I think it was VERY close, but the lack of convincing shadow and the wash out pretty much kills it :(

Still, its what you learn from the experience, and how you carry that into the "lab"...

Peace :)

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