Sky only HDRI vs full 360 HDRI?

[0x38cf04d3]

Maybe a noob question, but what is the outcome difference between using a Sky only HDRI (for example Peter Guthrie skies) vs full 360 HDRIs? Do you set it up and use it the exact same way?

[mferster]

It only makes a difference if you are not using a ground plane in your scene.

For example, if you are using an hdri in dome mode and using a shadowcatcher material as your ground plane with an hdri projected on to it for compositing purposes.

[Designerman77]

It is a huge difference without ground plane that has real vegetation, etc.

A full 360 HDR will deliver you much more realistic lighting, especially in interiors, since the ground colors (grass, etc) will reflect nice color variations onto the upper part of your walls & ceiling.
Your interior lighting will look much more realistic and not so generic.

Guthrie Skies... well to me they are only half of the real thing.