learning HDRI

[CC Rider]

First baby steps learning to light with HDRI/Radiosity setup...
The room itself looks like a swinger from the 70s time traveled to present day, bought himself a new HDTV and went back to hang it on the wall in his new house.
I'm no designer...just trying my hand at new lighting concepts.

:D

[flakester]

Looks ruddy nice from where I sit. Maybe could use a touch more light - but I'm really no expert with these things.
Really like the texture on the floor and the recessed wall, groovy.

Cool job. :thumbsup:

flakester.

[lmings]

Looks good.

Do you mind sharing your setup? I too am trying to better understand HRDI used in interiors.

[CC Rider]

Looks good.

Do you mind sharing your setup? I too am trying to better understand HRDI used in interiors.


Be happy to. Keep in mind, I'm just learning myself so there is no doubt that there are better ways to do this as I'm sure others will point out, this is just where I am at the moment...

After creating the room set, I created a ball as a separate object, flipped the polys so they are facing inward and mapped the HDRI image to that surface. Make sure to give that surface an appropriate luminosity value which you will want to tweek...I started at 70, and I also added a gradient with a bit of orange to it to warm up the lights a bit. (The HDRI image is pure white so I needed this to add some color...)
Now I can experiment with the lighting just by rotating the ball around the set. I added a single area light @ low power to create some shadows and the rest is the Radiosity settings (which I am still trying to wrap my head around)

Hope this helps.

:D

[lmings]

Thanks, it does help.

One of the things that I did not know how to handle was the ceiling. I thought that using your setup would cause the room to be dark because the ceiling would block the light from the HDRI or othe outside light. It looks like because the polygon normal face down toward the room, it allows light into the room but not out, so it can "bounce around". Is this correct?

How long was your render time with twelve bounces?

[CC Rider]

I've actually change the setup quite a bit since that last post but I believe render times were around 5 minutes or so, not too bad. (I have an 8 core machine)
Some crits that I received about the image as it is, is that its too even and you can't tell where the light is coming from. No definable windows or any natural reason for the light to be there. While that's really not a problem for me, I thought I would try a different approach and make and HDRI window as the only light source instead of using the globe trick. While it does look more believable, it took considerably more render time (48 minutes on my 4 core machine) and RPE set to around 3000. For most of my work, real world believability is not imperative, I can get away with more of a "studio" lit look and be just fine, but I want to learn both ways just the same. Here is a post of the new setup and the subsequent render. I'm still tweeking the settings to find the right balance but this is where I am now. Still a work in progress...

As far as the single sided polys working for you, that's just the way I happened to build it this time. There may be some current wisdom here on the boards that can explain why this is a bad idea...I don't know. But it worked okay for me in that case.

:D

[lmings]

Thanks...again

I did not mean to give you the impression that your set up was wrong. I just meant to comment on my misconception on how all that work. I do like the second image better. It seems more natural. I am assuming the first was so evenly lit because the HRDI you used was all white.

Again thanks for your input.

[CC Rider]

Thanks...again

I did not mean to give you the impression that your set up was wrong. I just meant to comment on my misconception on how all that work. I do like the second image better. It seems more natural. I am assuming the first was so evenly lit because the HRDI you used was all white.

Again thanks for your input.

No problem, I wasn't defending my work, I just didn't want you to think this is the way it should be done when in fact I really don't know. As I said, I'm just feeling my way through this myself...
Part of the challenge with this setup is that there really isn't anything of interest in the shot, just an empty room. I may have to put some furniture in there to give your eye some place to go.

[CC Rider]

further lighting adjustments, and switched the tortise shell floor for hardwoods...
still not thrilled about the hard hit where the where the light comes in...not sure how to combat that without compromising the rest of the room yet

[CC Rider]

More tweekage on lighting...
Also swapped places with the picture and the TV. It was a little retarded looking to have the track lighting pointing at the TV instead of the painting...
Also, added an alarm keypad...

:D

[Bliz]

For interiors like this, I like adding a skylight, not a CG skylight but an architectural one (big hole in the ceiling). Also in your case you might want to pretend that there is an open door or window just arund the corner of that hallway so that there is an extra lightsource.

[CC Rider]

For interiors like this, I like adding a skylight, not a CG skylight but an architectural one (big hole in the ceiling). Also in your case you might want to pretend that there is an open door or window just arund the corner of that hallway so that there is an extra lightsource.

Great idea...I considered the open door idea before and maybe have a shadow of the door creeping into the light a little.
I like the skylight idea too. I'm also planning to add some photometric lights using the track lighting which will help add some interest and depth...

:D

[archijam]

Just a coincidence, was using these today, perhaps they come in handy to someone (they ar not new):

http://www.evermotion.org/index.php?unfold_exclusive=84&unfold=exclusive

[CC Rider]

Just a coincidence, was using these today, perhaps they come in handy to someone (they ar not new):

http://www.evermotion.org/index.php?unfold_exclusive=84&unfold=exclusive

Thanks for the link ARchijam!
Looking forward to trying these out.

:jam:

[Iain]

For interiors like this, I like adding a skylight, not a CG skylight but an architectural one (big hole in the ceiling).

So you're allowed to redesign the interior?

The lighting in these is very nice, CC Rider. I like the second one best.

[CC Rider]

So you're allowed to redesign the interior?

The lighting in these is very nice, CC Rider. I like the second one best.

Sure...this is just a personal/experimental project just to help me learn my way around the GI settings and HDRI etc...

Thanks, I like that one best too...
:D

[Iain]

Sure...this is just a personal/experimental project just to help me learn my way around the GI settings and HDRI etc...


Yes for personal stuff it's fine but I was replying to Bliz saying he likes to add a skylight.

I don't have many clients who'd be happy with me redesigning their architecture so I can get more light in!
(Wish I did :))

[CC Rider]

Yes for personal stuff it's fine but I was replying to Bliz saying he likes to add a skylight.

I don't have many clients who'd be happy with me redesigning their architecture so I can get more light in!
(Wish I did :))

Oops! Sorry...I thought you were talking to me.
:foreheads

[CC Rider]

making some changes, added a faux finish to the walls and change a bit of geomotry here and there...