What kind of image are you supposed to load in an IBL light?

A random image off the web or some kind of specialized file?  I've seen those images of a circular ball, what is that all about?

The circular ball images are normally called light probe images. The purpose being, you have a spherical environment and have one of those ball images of the same environment image plugged into the light so that you can approximate the lighting of the environment. Check out SIBL archive. They have the images that go on the sphere for the environment and the light probe image that goes with it.

Laurie

The format is officially an angular map. Light probes can be in several formats, but Poser only supports angular map.

However, that doesn't mean it can't show arbitrary colors - any image will produce light, just not necessarily in some pattern that represents a real-world lighting situation. But the light probe isn't highly detailed - it isn't used for environmental reflections, for example - so anything at all - even random splotches of color - can be used. Can be in this case means that as an artist, you can choose to do anything you like, and if the result is unpredictable, it may still be pleasing.

I save an unrendered image of the scene then attach that to the IBL within the scene. Seems to work well enough.

I've used a 100% reflective ball primitive (medium size) in poser, used a filling light and rendered from the front view camera. Crop it square in a graphics app and use as the IBL

EDIT -might be better light the room as you want it with props but no characters

Quote - There's a site somewhere (lost the link!) that shows someone using a mirror ball to get photograph an IBL image.

I've used a 100% reflective ball primitive (medium size) in poser, used a filling light and rendered from the front view camera. Crop it square in a graphics app and use as the IBL

That works. If you want a more accurate IBL of your scene, use this:

https://sites.google.com/site/bagginsbill/free-stuff/genibl---ibl-generator

Quote - > Quote - There's a site somewhere (lost the link!) that shows someone using a mirror ball to get photograph an IBL image.

I've used a 100% reflective ball primitive (medium size) in poser, used a filling light and rendered from the front view camera. Crop it square in a graphics app and use as the IBL

That works. If you want a more accurate IBL of your scene, use this:

https://sites.google.com/site/bagginsbill/free-stuff/genibl---ibl-generator

You have talked about this a few times now and everytime I go to the site - it's not possible to download it, there is no active link anywhere.

Same thing with the Environment Sphere.

It's rather frustrating.

Quote -
You have talked about this a few times now and everytime I go to the site - it's not possible to download it, there is no active link anywhere.

 

Same thing with the Environment Sphere.

 

It's rather frustrating.

Go back and have another look. Especially towards the lower right corner of the page: there's a little arrow, which is the download link, just above the 'Comments' section.

Sorry that Google, in their infinite wisdom, decided to remove the obvious link (the words) for attachments. Indeed, that tiny arrow is the only way. I would change it if I could.

My site costs me nothing. If it was even $1 per year I would abandon it.