In C4D, I use the 2 spehere method to generate a HDR scene. (You can find a sample setup on Maxons site in the tutorials section). I use the LDR for the Visual sphere and, of course, the HDR for the GI sphere. I have also found that when converting the images to C4D's "con" format, the probe conversion works best for the GI, for it makes the shadows more realistic. The cross works best for the Visual, as it makes the reflections seem less distorted. With all this said, here is are a few very simple renderings using this 2 image type setup.

I want to make the HDRI brighter without adjusting the +/- exposure and clamping. It has got to be in the making of the curve I think.... Maybe tinkering with editing the Visual LDR image to make the sky more prominent work better, or maybe this can be fixed with the first though... I have taken the LDR and 'touched it up' in Photoshop and re-introduced it into the scene. Because the HDR and LDR images do not exactly match, I have adjusted the HDR or GI sphere until the shadow matched the LDR or Visual image in the scene. This is the result. Comments and crits and tips welcomed. TMgraphics

The LDR Image tweaked some... Still not perfect but it will do! :> I think when creating the LDR, some more attention to the exposure settings will make the sky look better. TMG

Message edited on: 06/05/2004 20:23

On your spheres, Im noticing that I can see 3 corners of that square that's beneath them... I dont think that would happen in real life, and I wonder why it happens like that.

On your spheres, Im noticing that I can see 3 corners of that square that's beneath them... I dont think that would happen in real life, and I wonder why it happens like that.

Actually in real life the 3 corners will reflect in a sphere. I took a square piece of papaer and placed a chrome sphere, one of a pair of hand exercise type, and 3 corners were visable. The sphere will reflect up to 180 degrees. Thanks for pointing that out, I learned something new. TMG

Found an old scene and imported it to render with this HDRI. TMG

Cool work. These are nicely made probes. Will you be making copies available? And yes the three corners are correct. Actually based upon incidence angle/normal aspect as one approaches the limb of a reflective surface such a sphere may actually capture greater than 180 degrees of azimuth based on sphere center.