Why all HDRI tutorials requires VRAY?

[berbay]

Hi all,

I would like to achieve sharp shadows via hdri map... But unfortunately all the best tutorials seem to require vray... I don't have a vray license and I believe sharp shadows can be achieved with using only corona . Right? Any help will be appreciated!! Best!

[AscotDesign]

You can use a Corona Output map to adjust the gamma of the HDRI, which you could do in the Vray HDRI map. This will enable you some control over the sharpness of shadows to a certain extent.

[maru]

Usually if something is possible in Vray, it is possible in Corona too. :)
If you can tell us how you would approach making shadows sharper in Vray, we would help with doing the same thing in Corona.

[berbay]

You can use a Corona Output map to adjust the gamma of the HDRI, which you could do in the Vray HDRI map. This will enable you some control over the sharpness of shadows to a certain extent.

I am very newbie...

Thank you  AscotDesign I will try with corona output!

thank you Maru, I will try AscotDesign's suggestion... Then I will try other tutorials, if I can not achieve I will let you know.

[JGallagher]

This video on the Corona Renderer YouTube channel explains how to get sharper shadows using a HDRI at around the 8:30 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo8uxUDC29c

[CiroC]

I use a ColorCorrection node a tweak the Gamma/Contrast

[Jadefox]

The problem is 2 fold.
1.Quality of the HDRi ie EV
2.Is the sun shining in the HDRI ( seems silly but many times I used to use a cloudy HDRI and subsequently never had sharp shadows )

So for me at least, irrespective of VRAY hdri loader or even slotting it into an ouput node check the above
You cant go wrong with the following : PG skies , HDRI Haven ( very high EV's ) or CG source

Again just double check that the sun is clearly visible in the actual map and you are not trying to get sharp shadows
with an overcast HDRi map

Hope this helps

[peterguthrie]

Hi Berbay,

email me at pgskies@peterguthrie.net and i'll give you a code for a free sky to try out

Same goes for other readers of this thread, well, maybe the first 10 or so that email... my generosity is limited!