CoronaSun Link To HDR

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One thing is bugging me though, why do you really need a corona sun if your HDRI can also provide good shadowcasting?

If you have high quality HDRI (and you're satisfied with what you're getting), then no. Read about it here, Mental ray forum but never mind, i tested it with Corona and it works beautifully.

http://forums.cgarchitect.com/75415-mr-photons-ibl-fg-nothing-thime-better.html

[fellazb]

Thank you for the link.

So it all comes down to good quality HDRI's with a high EV value. I recently tried some HDRI from HRDmaps but couldn't get decent shadowcasting. When looking at the specs those only have an EV of 2 which is very low and therefor not highly contrasted for suitable shadows. They also produce a too pronounced color grading to the overall image...

I will look into the CG-source or Guthrie maps. If someone else can get some good info on this it would be highly appreciated. For now I stick to a Corona sun with a spherical backplate for the reflections.

[Midge]

I actually wrote a small piece on how Dynamic Range affects lighting with HDR's.

http://www.themantissa.net/blog/2014/2/1/the-importance-of-high-quality-hdr

It was interesting to see the effect visually between the different techniques.
Everything but the car was renderred with Corona. :)