Vexiphne,

I think I know why your shadows are different.

In the IBL light material, there is an IBL Contrast parameter. The default value is 3, which increases the contrast of the IBL lighting information. (Basically, it's a built-in Gain node.) You do not want this. Set it to 1. I always set it to 1.

The purpose of this parameter is to make bright areas on an IBL brighter and dark areas darker. But when you use a plain white IBL at 10%, the entire lighting pattern is dark. The IBL Contrast = 3 basically turns the entire pattern to black - effectively turning it off!

I've been waiting to get you squared away before I point out that I don't ever use a flat IBL pattern. It isn't realistic - it causes a signficant decrease in contouring of the shapes by light.

Once you get this problem squared away, we should talk about effective lighting using IBL. I want to start a new thread on that.

---

Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)