Heh! I know some of you more ARTISTIC Vue users will GAG at such a commercial looking image- but I'm having lots of fun trying out HDRI lighting for potential Vue 5 commercial applications...(BARF-O-RAMA!)

Like, if this was 1971, you might think this REALLY WAS an ad taken from a popular US magazine- when big "muscle cars" were all the rage (that is, if you weren't in the Volkswagen beetle camp- as I was then- because I could only afford a 1965 beetle- BUT ANYWAY...)

The car is Dudley's terrifically accurate 1971 Hemicuda Hard Top model. It's one of my favorites that he makes- but I like his '65, and '66 Mustangs also!

Note: The 'Cuda is actually by Alberto Russo. He also does the Shelby Mustang and some other highly detailed classics. Dudley does most of the other car models...

I think it looks great. I also would love to do something like that. Just worried what the learning curve is going to be. So far the HDRL stuff is whistling over my head. Waiting for pro, maybe once I have it, it will all come together... hopefully.

Attached Link: http://www.debevec.org/Probes/

Actually, its a lot easier than you might think! It's just a matter of finding a good HDRI file. The one I used for this image came from THIS website (they're FREE). I then loaded in the car and the DAZ cyclorama background from Poser. To give the car some nice high-lights I added two spotlights on the camera side of the car-- and Voila! --INSTANT 1971 Magazine Car Ad!

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12368&Form.ShowMessage=1958980

The way to think of a HDRI file is THIS: It's like a VUE ATMOSPHERE with a SUN. The difference is that the HDRI file totally REPLACES the Vue Atmosphere and Sun and provides it OWN UNIQUE atmosphere and light source. That's why each HDRI file is different and each creates a different look in your image. Here's the thread where I discribed how I did "My First HDRI Image" in Vue 5. The thread also tells you where to load the file and adjust the dome lighting...

Thanks. Just don't understand why the pictures on the spheres. Don't they show up in the pic. I saw the tut on making one, why photos? I know, I'm the dummy. Seems just when I grasp something, something new comes along. ~L~

The HDRI files are spheres mainly because they are used on an invisible "dome" or sphere that encloses your scene. That's really what a REAL atmosphere is, a 360 degree light source, with the SUN someplace in it (or NOT, if it's set). The HDRI Light Probe file captures much MORE of the lighting information than does a regular photo. (You CAN use a regular photo too, but it won't look as good- mostly somewhat FLAT as a lighting source).

Some of the interior HDRI spheres are really good (like St. Peter's)because they include a wide variety of reflections, secondary window-light sources, etc, which look especially nice on things like crystal or polished-up automobiles.

It's worth learning how to set up your own HDRI scene because you can re-use it over and over- just change the models, or the backgrounds, and you can have your own HDRI Photo Studio...

We're talkin' COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS here, baby...

I like that realistic effect. How long did those pictures take to render, Veritas?

The 1024 x 768 of the 71 HemiCuda took 24 minutes. The nice trick about using photo-real sets like the DAZ Cyclorama is that they render VERY FAST- so its mainly stuff like chrome reflections that slow down the most. The H2 Hummer Safari vehicle at 1600 x 1200 took about FOUR HOURS! I should'nt have made it so big for a test render (since the HemiCuda went so fast) but the Hummer REALLY SLOWED DOWN when it came to the wire mesh over the windows. The calculations for that went S L O W... ---However, if it was a FINISHED commercial project I would not have a problem setting it for 3072 x 2048 and letting it take 10 hours--- overnight--- to get TOP QUALITY. I've also seen the same thing with Poser babes- stick with KOZ hair (or a style made the same way) because some of the other hair models that use individual strands are VERY SLOW to render. Anything with a GRID or reflective mesh will really slow down renders. Radiosity is even SLOWER!

Wow, 24 minutes for the Hemi render ain't bad at all.

Tomorrow my Vue5 arrives. I am looking forward to trying some of your great techniques, Veritas. cheerio lululee

Hi Lululee-

You are going to have a lot of FUN with Vue 5! I like playing with all kinds of rendering styles- and this HDRI concept has really gotten my interest- since its much more of a photo-real look.

This is also the new Mil-Teen- thought that I would try her out as a Model in my HDRI car renders. This is a HDRI setting with a higher white level in the main dome and also in the two spotlights I use for "keys".

This is a variation with a slight greenish-gray tone in the HDRI dome and in the two spotlights. I wanted to see if I could soften the shadows a bit more. Both of these renders only took about 17 minutes for 1024 x 768.

BTW- HDRI lighting creates NATURAL soft shadows which render faster (I think) than increasing shadow softness in standard Vue lighting set-ups. The overall rendering time is actually much less with HDRI.

I also figured out WHY the H2 Hummer took SO LONG on rendering the wire mesh! I had shadows ON in my two spotlights- IF I had turned off the shadows it would have
rendered MUCH FASTER. So that's another tip to remember with HDRI lighting-- turn OFF shadows on your accessory lights...

Thanks so much Veritas. It is the quality and creativity of your images that drove me to purchase the upgrade. I really value all the inovation and sharing you provide us with. cheerio lululee