But an exposure value (in terms of HDRIs) is a measurement of the range of exposure. Typically you’ll see something like “12 EVs” which means that when they took the photos, for each camera angle they captured multiple photos at different exposures that encompassed a 12 EV range.īut what the heck is an EV in the first place? Well it stands for Exposure Value. As you might know, exposure refers to the amount of time that the camera shutter is open, and thus the amount of light that gets captured on the sensor. Let’s begin with what is, to me, the most important aspect of any HDR image that you intend to use for lighting.ĭynamic range is an indication of the contrast in an image. Just like art, the quality of an HDRI can be a subjective thing, but I think we can all agree that there are a few fundamental attributes that define (although not exclusively) how useful or accurate an HDRI is. So without further ado, let me explain… What Makes a Good HDRI In truth, this is an unending quest, but I’ve made some fair progress over the years. I wanted to create the perfect high dynamic range environment map that would give you perfectly accurate and realistic lighting as if you had teleported your CG scene to the actual location of the photo itself. So, after I created my first crappy HDRI and discovered how challenging it could be, I decided to embark on a quest. If you’ve got a half-decent camera, a tripod and some software you can even make them yourself.īut just like creating art in Blender, being able to do it at all is not the same as being able to do it well. FebruWhat Makes a Good HDRI and How to Use It Correctly

Neutral studio hdri