Lack of shadows on HDRI render

[Brute Guy]

Afternoon/morning all,

 

I've just this mintue purchased a HDRI from HDRi studio. I've set up a test scene and dropped some glossy shapes in (HDRI is also my light source).

 

I'm a bit concerned of the lack of shadows/dark spots under the objects, this is not just this occasion as I often get this even when I'm using vray lights as a light source... weak shadows. I'm using linear multiply under my colour mapping drop outs with gamma 2.2 which I set up from the tutorial on averbis.de.

 

I'm sure i'm doing something wrong here, also what's the crack with using photometric lights with vray, is it a no go?

 

Could anybody help me here?

 

TIA

 

Marc

[Nic H]

well putting your objects on a self illuminated white plane wont be helping things!

 

how are you using the HDRI?

 

For best results lighting with HDRI you need to use them in the vray dome light, it will allow you to get sharper shadows and control the sampling better than using it in the GI environment slot.

[puciorek]

There are certain HDR's which will give you more defined shadow lines but you have to modify them yourself. I usually add additional light source at low intensity to get the more defined shadow. Just make sure you align your light with the light source in your HDR. I have noticed just recently that desert and dawn backgrounds from Dosch will do the work just fine, I use them in exteriors which might be different to what you are using them for.

Good luck!

[Brute Guy]

Hi,

 

Thanks for both your feedbacks, to answer your question Nic, I drop my HDRI files into a slot into my material library, then drag this slot into the GI environment tab (one in light source and one in reflections). As far I am aware, the plane is just assigned with a vray white material, no reflection, just white in the diffuse slot. I shall try the HDRi dome technique.

 

Darius, how do you align the light with the light source in the HDRI, do you do it by eye or is there a way you can see the hdri in the scene?

 

Thanks

 

Marc

[thomasj]

i usually play around with mental ray exposure. final gather