Correct default scaling and radius for dome?
RenderPretender
Posts: 1,041
in The Commons
Hi -
Does anyone happen to know what the correct default scaling and radius for the dome is when using HDRi lighting? I know about the Default button, but I seem to have done something unknowingly because I can actually see the whitepoint behind the character when I rotate the dome behind her or to the sides of her. I don't think that's right. And is Finite or Infinite the default?
Thanks.
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Comments
Which white point? You are working with the environment dome, in nVidia Iray preview mode, rather than a modelled skydome from a 3Delight set?
Yes, working in Iray Aux Viewport.
Apparently, the dome was somehow at 130 in the Y axis instead of 0, but it's still doing it. I'm set on Infinite with Ground. I don't think I'm supposed to be seeing that light source regardless of rotation angle.
I'm still not sure what it is that you are seeing.
You can find out the default setting of a parameter by clicking the gear icon, then clicking Parameter Settings. The dialogue box that appears will contain information on the default settings of that parameter.
That's handy, thanks. I think it had something to do with dome scaling or size. I was using Dreamlight's Wow lighting, and was literally seeig the whitepoint of the HDRi environment image in the Iray render preview. That should not have been happening, I'm quite sure.
I am having an impossible time trying to enlarge and position an indoor HDRI dome relative to my character. Finite Dome with Ground is enabled, but the dome/environment does not seem to respond to any axis or size/scaling adjustments. What am I missing? I'm using an 8K image from HDRi Haven.
To get the character where you want it in the HDRI you use the camera, not change the dome settings, other than turning it. Use the zoom on the camera, change the focal length, move the camera closer or farther away or do a combination of all three. Move the character to suit the framing.
Been there, done that, but that's not the solution. It's almost as though the image I'm using is not correctly mapped to the dome or something. The environment is simply too small for me to use for the scenes.
The HDRI will fit on any size of dome you make and look the same, that is the way it is designed. The Dome radius is in metres so at 1000 it is 2Km across.
Are you sure you are using the correct image. There should be an HDR/EXR image and some .jpg ones, the HDR/EXR one is the one to use.
It's an HDR from HDRi Haven. Something is definitely wrong because it's not displaying as expected. I have reloaded it several times and fiddled endlessly with it. If I could find some decent indoor HDRi environments at DAZ, I'd just ditch it.
This issue seems to have something to do with the relationship between the Dome Scale Multiplier and Dome Radius. I simply can't gat this image to display correctly. Here's the one I'm using. It's the 8K one.
https://hdrihaven.com/hdri/?c=indoor&h=lebombo
If you are trying to use the HDRI as the environment and adding objects to it to make a render it wont work. As soon as you move the camera or zoom it you will have to reposition all those objects. That isn't the way HDR images are used. Once you have the camera set for the shot you then lock it in place and then place the objects moving them about until they sit where you want them. If they don't fit then you will need to resite the camera and then resite all the objects, even then it will be hit or miss if you get everything in the places you want them.
Hmmm, that seems to defeat the purpose of having a Finite with Ground setting. What you're describing sounds like the dome/scene behavior when it's set to Infinite. Having an environment that you can't add objects to (say, a car), and then rotate the camera around the car and have it remain stationary in the environment seems counter-intuitive and fairly pointless.
I think you are looking at this the wrong way. You can use them the way you are describing, what I am saying it isn't straight forward. I use the Finite Sphere at a 400 radius all the time. If it covers the area required then I leave it at that. As I see it the Finite Dome setting sets the distance which light will bounce before it is deemed finished by the renderer, which might be completely wrong
The Finite Box I have used to get ambient light inside a room with the Height, Depth and Width set to the interior dimensions, some work some don't.
I have also found it also helps to use Ground Position set to Manual instead of Auto for some.
You can move objects around what you can't do is set them up and then move the camera
Your last statement. if true, will cause me to chage tracks and go back to scenes/props or background images on a plane. I thought the HDRi would sove a lot of respurce issues for me, but it's just too much hassle for serial images. Thank you, though!
It's the nature of an HDRI, they are taken from a fixed point of view and perspective.
You're apparently correct. Sadly, that's really limiting, especially if you're trying to get away from using geometry- and texture-heavy scenes or having more than one character interact. :(
I've been learning a lot about HDRI use from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uH4IQKBoIE&list=FLJoKcgEtLQlqBSBCTE0SgYw
Some very helpful information.