Sky backdrop without environment lighting?

shoeleatherheart

Is there any way to use the skydome without the environment lighting the character?

I like to use lots of shadows and backlighting and the environment light won't let me do that.

Tobor

If you have a photo editing program that can import HDR/EXR images (Photoshop will do this), you can then resave the file as a standard JPG. Use that file instead for the map. The reduced image will have very little dynamic range, and though it will still  produce light -- even a solid gray image will do that -- the shadows and highlights will be much less distinct. 

Otherwise, if you don't even want the ambient illumination, you can render Scene Only, and save using an image format that allows a transparency. Render again with scene and dome, and hide all of the scene elements. Combine the two in Photoshop, GIMP, or whatever you have. You'll get the background image, but no lighting from it.

mjc1016

shoeleatherheart said:

I like to use lots of shadows and backlighting and the environment light won't let me do that.

Do what they do in the movies...add supplemental lights.