Skydomes

tdc

I apologize if this has been asked and answered before. I can't seem to find anything on it. It's difficult to sometimes search out an answer when I'm not sure what my issue is.

But, I can load a scene, render and everything is fine. UNLESS I load a scene in with a skydome. Then, it renders near black. All the time, every skydome. I've tried playing with the exposure value but, that doesn't seem to work well. All I can manage is a very dark, very grainy image. This happens even with a product that includes a scene using a skydome. The cameras that are included produce dark images too. I would think they were calibrated before placing them for sale. I know I must be overlooking something. Something simple I would guess. 

Any suggestions or similar issues?

 

MelanieL

Are you using Iray to render? Those scenes which load with skydomes were probably sold for the 3Delight render engine (the only renderer in Daz Studio before Iray was added as an option in about 2015).

If you don't need that particular skydome as a backdrop (for example if are happy to render using Iray Sun-Sky or have a particular HDRI you can load instead) then just delete the skydome and the Iray lighting should work.

There are ways to use a skydome - try this thread: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/77411/iray-renders-are-black-when-using-a-skydome
or this one: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/63014/yet-another-iray-skydome-technique

fastbike1

There are a number of HDRI skys and lighting products that include backgrounds.

tdc

MelanieL said:

Are you using Iray to render? Those scenes which load with skydomes were probably sold for the 3Delight render engine (the only renderer in Daz Studio before Iray was added as an option in about 2015).

If you don't need that particular skydome as a backdrop (for example if are happy to render using Iray Sun-Sky or have a particular HDRI you can load instead) then just delete the skydome and the Iray lighting should work.

 

I am using Iray. But I never checked to see if I am loading the proper one. I have been deleting the domes before rendering. But I've been wanting to experiment with night scenes and shadow which seems impossible without a dome. I could be wrong... But I'll try your suggestion. Thank you!

Oso3D

I’ve figured out ways to make use of skydomes in Iray... but honestly I would invest in hdris. Many of them work way better and more easily (for sky backdrops I would avoid hdris that include terrain and a lot of ‘close’ detail).

Orestes and DimensionTheory in particular have s lot of great sets.

 

fastbike1

@tdc

HDRI plus tonemapping and whitepoint. This is a daytime HDRI. There are also several nighttime / night sky HDRIs.

tdc

Oso3D said:

I’ve figured out ways to make use of skydomes in Iray... but honestly I would invest in hdris. Many of them work way better and more easily (for sky backdrops I would avoid hdris that include terrain and a lot of ‘close’ detail).

Orestes and DimensionTheory in particular have s lot of great sets.

 

I am leary about purchasing another skydome of any kind mostly due to the fact that there is no up-to-date tutorial on how to use them. The earliest one on Youtube is dated back in 2014 and the guy talks as if you already know how to use them. Everyone I've purchased renders black. No matter what light or what I read to light them. Black... always black... Only one skydome works in my library and it's just a blue color sky... nothing dramatic and I don't even understand why that one works.

Before I drop even one more penny on yet another skydome set I'd like to find out the issue of why -- no matter what I do -- my renders are just black.

The camera is not out of bounds, I can use a camera or perspective view and the results are always the same. Take away the skydome and it renders out nicely. My main issue is that I can't find a "From the start" tutorial.

I do find it odd that the makers of skydomes do not make one with settings that automatically load when you load a skydome. It's like buying a car and you don't get the keys...

Fishtales

Skydomes don't work with Iray without a bit of work as has been stated. The easiest way is to go to the Scene Tab, hide/delete the Skydome, open up the Render Settings/Environment Tab, click on the Environment Map Tab to load an image and use the Skydome image in the Dome, it will already be loaded so should show up in the list. If you can't find it unhide/reload the skydome, select it, go to the Surfaces Tab and select the skydome, click on the diffuse map and you will see a tick in the list next to the image being used. Remember where it is so you can find it again in the list when you click on the Environment Tab to load the image. Some are better than others as far as lighting the scene goes but you will end up with the intended background for the product.

tdc

Fishtales said:

Skydomes don't work with Iray without a bit of work as has been stated. The easiest way is to go to the Scene Tab, hide/delete the Skydome, open up the Render Settings/Environment Tab, click on the Environment Map Tab to load an image and use the Skydome image in the Dome, it will already be loaded so should show up in the list. If you can't find it unhide/reload the skydome, select it, go to the Surfaces Tab and select the skydome, click on the diffuse map and you will see a tick in the list next to the image being used. Remember where it is so you can find it again in the list when you click on the Environment Tab to load the image. Some are better than others as far as lighting the scene goes but you will end up with the intended background for the product.

...OMG! THAT WORKED!!!! I never knew what the bit of work meant... But that worked, the scene is rendering with light!

Fishtales

tdc said:

Fishtales said:

Skydomes don't work with Iray without a bit of work as has been stated. The easiest way is to go to the Scene Tab, hide/delete the Skydome, open up the Render Settings/Environment Tab, click on the Environment Map Tab to load an image and use the Skydome image in the Dome, it will already be loaded so should show up in the list. If you can't find it unhide/reload the skydome, select it, go to the Surfaces Tab and select the skydome, click on the diffuse map and you will see a tick in the list next to the image being used. Remember where it is so you can find it again in the list when you click on the Environment Tab to load the image. Some are better than others as far as lighting the scene goes but you will end up with the intended background for the product.

...OMG! THAT WORKED!!!! I never knew what the bit of work meant... But that worked, the scene is rendering with light!

I'm glad you could follow the instructions. It takes longer to write them than actually do it