Skydome HDRI - Clear Winter Sky

3docean

The Skydome HDRI-brand is a collection of high-dynamic range images that display only the sky-portion of an outdoor setting. These images typically feature cloudy and detailed skies, showcasing natural exterior lighting conditions without any artificial sources. They capture all aspects of natural lighting with incredible precision. A clear winter sky captured in high detail serves as one example of these HDRI-images, designed for use in image-based lighting. Since only the top half of the HDRI-sphere is shot, users can leave the "Spherical: full-dome" option unchecked when using VrayLight with the Dome-setting enabled. The massive resolution of 13208×3658 allows the sky to be rendered directly from the viewport with considerable detail, even at up to 2000 pixel wide renders. This high level of detail ensures that the image remains sharp and clear, making it ideal for a variety of applications. 18 megapixel processed backplates are included for better compositing freedom. These backplates were captured using an 8mm Samyang fisheye lens and then straightened to remove distortion. The result is a seamless integration with the HDRI-image, allowing for more creative control over the final composition. The HDR-images in this collection were captured using a 5-step 2-EV settings via the Magic Lantern HDR-Bracketing Feature. This technique allows for a wide range of exposure options, enabling users to achieve the desired level of detail and realism in their images. A DIY no-parallax rig was used on top of a "basic" tripod to capture these HDRI-images. The camera used was a Canon EOS 60D, paired with a Samyang f3.5/8mm fisheye lens that offers an impressive 180 degrees of horizontal field of view. These HDR-images are not limited to any specific use case. They can be used in various 3D-formats to produce physically accurate lighting conditions, recreating the exact scene which was captured from the panorama. The most common usage is for achieving lifelike light conditions in architectural renders, but they can also be used to bring life to your fantastic 3D-scenes, elevating them from ordinary 3D-renders to the hyperrealm domain. For those interested in learning more about HDRI and its applications, I recommend checking out the following resources: * About HDRI: http://northlogicvfx.com/2013/10/30/about-hdr/ * HDR in Vray and 3DS Max: http://northlogicvfx.com/2013/10/30/hdr-in-vray-and-3ds-max/ Note that the backplates provided are based on images taken with the 8mm Samyang, which were then processed to remove excessive curvature done by the lens. You can find more information about this collection and other related topics on my website: * http://northlogicvfx.com