The comparisons shown above are based on real world values, and compare reflection quality, lighting, etc to realistic standards. Default Render: Time: 1:09 Lighting: Sun, default setup. Unidirectional. Shadows: Hard, detailed. Reflections: Pure, highly specular, unrealistic. Colors: Flat, Lustless, requires material tweaks to compensate. Specularity: Sharp, hard, non-blended. Render settings: Default. Pros: Fast, acceptable for most renders. Cons: Colors lack vibrancy, light is constant and singular. Light Dome render, 201 lights: Time: 1:56:43. Lighting: 201 radial lights, hemi-dome arrangement. Surrounding. Shadows: Soft, no detail, photorealistic. Reflections: Less specular, still unrealistic. Colors: Darker, cold, hard to adjust. Specularity: No highlights, unrealistic. Render settings: Default. Pros: Good photorealism for single object groups, good static shadows, good fine detail. Cons: Huge render times, materials may require editing, lights do not mimic true light scattering, unidirectional shadows, interferes with other scene lighting. Offset global light render: Time: 8:12 Lighting: 2 lights and sun, global offset concept. Shadows: Soft but not photorealistic. Reflections: Blurred and soft, mimics radiosity effect. Colors: Bright and vibrant, easily adjusted 4 ways. Specularity: Multiple soft highlights, blends with reflections. Render settings: Soft shadows and blurry reflections at 16 RPP, 36 RPP render at 21:13 Pros: Controllable reflections, faster render time, good specular blending, radiosity effect, does not interfere with other lights in the scene, lights mimic true scattering, full scene illumination. Cons: Shadows lack true softness and contrast, materials may require editing, renders may come out too vibrant in color.

To fix your highlights when using a lightdome. Just increase the strength of the central light.

...or add 2 - 10% reflection on every mat.

Wow 201 lights. I find my renders look really no different if I use an array of 30 radials compared to an array of 120 (highest I've went.) Now, the shadows on the floor will look different, but that's about it. If it's softer shadows I'm going for I'll use maybe 20 lights and turn the soft shadows on to 25%-50%. Increases rendering time, but it renders faster than using 10x the amount of lights with no soft shadows. Nice comparison.

Not really about global illumination but does anyone know of a website other than debevec.org that has photographed environment maps? Their download page for HDRshop has been down for quite a while. Thanks