What are "backplates" with HDRI?

mavante

And what are you supposed to do with them.

E.g., this product says "20 (4 each) Backplates/Background Images to use with the included scenes in .jpg format":

MEC4D HDRI Abandoned Industrial-Megapack

Why? Other HDRIs are the images for the scenes. Why do some need jpg "backplates," and where do you put such backplates if you have the HDRI loaded as the dome in the Render Settings/Environment?

nemesis10

mavante said:

And what are you supposed to do with them.

E.g., this product says "20 (4 each) Backplates/Background Images to use with the included scenes in .jpg format":

MEC4D HDRI Abandoned Industrial-Megapack

Why? Other HDRIs are the images for the scenes. Why do some need jpg "backplates," and where do you put such backplates if you have the HDRI loaded as the dome in the Render Settings/Environment?

You can use an HDRI just for lighting or your own lighting and render with the dome off and the backplate in the Render > Environment Tab to create a backdrop.

mavante

nemesis10 said:

mavante said:

And what are you supposed to do with them.

E.g., this product says "20 (4 each) Backplates/Background Images to use with the included scenes in .jpg format":

MEC4D HDRI Abandoned Industrial-Megapack

Why? Other HDRIs are the images for the scenes. Why do some need jpg "backplates," and where do you put such backplates if you have the HDRI loaded as the dome in the Render Settings/Environment?

You can use an HDRI just for lighting or your own lighting and render with the dome off

Then where does the HDRI go for lighting if the dome is off?

nemesis10 said:

and the backplate in the Render > Environment Tab to create a backdrop.

Into which "Environment Tab," if the dome is off? Where and how do either the HDRI, or the Backplate, show up if the dome is off? Maybe you could show an example with a screen grab.

 

barbult

HDRI goes into the Render Settings pane. That is also where you turn the Dome off. Select the Editor tab of the Render Settings pane and then select the Environment category on the left. Load the HDRI into the Environment Map. In the Draw Dome control, click the On button to change it to Off.

The backplate image goes in the Environment pane as a backdrop image. (If you don't have the Environment pane visible, add it from the menu Window>Panes (Tabs)>Environment.) Click on the Type drop down menu and select Backdrop. Then click the down arrow square to select an image file for Background. Choose Browse... and select the backdrop image.

mavante

barbult said:

HDRI goes into the Render Settings pane. That is also where you turn the Dome off. Select the Editor tab of the Render Settings pane and then select the Environment category on the left. Load the HDRI into the Environment Map. In the Draw Dome control, click the On button to change it to Off.

The backplate image goes in the Environment pane as a backdrop image. Click on the Type drop down menu and select Backdrop. Then click the down arrow square to select an image file for Background. Choose Browse... and select the backdrop image.

Thanks very much, barbult. That thoroughly explains the situation.

My confusion arose because in browsing (lots of) sites with HDRIs, at least one of them offered a "backplate" that was a spherical shot like the HDRI itself, which was pretty confusing. Maybe the offerer was the one most confused.

It brings me to another related question, though, if you happen to know the answer. It has to do with sIBL packages, which have a bunch of files in the package, e.g.:

HDR 112 River Road 2.ibl
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Bg.jpg
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Env.hdr
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Prev.jpg
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Ref.hdr
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Thumb.jpg

The "Ref.hdr" is the biggest in file size, but the "Bg,jpg" file is essentially the same size in dimensions. It seems that the jpg is supposed to operate like a giant spherical mapping for the dome, but of course doesn't have HDR information for lighting. I get the idea that some 3D programs can handle the whole sIBL package, but it seems that Daz can't use anything, in any practical sense, but one of those files mapped to the dome.

Is that right? And if so, which? Is it the "Ref.hdr" file? It seems it would have to be, because the "Env.hdr" is very small and low resolution. Maybe that's just for lighting only?

(Now if only I could get a doctorate degree from somewhere at the end of all of this study ...)

barbult

mavante said:

barbult said:

HDRI goes into the Render Settings pane. That is also where you turn the Dome off. Select the Editor tab of the Render Settings pane and then select the Environment category on the left. Load the HDRI into the Environment Map. In the Draw Dome control, click the On button to change it to Off.

The backplate image goes in the Environment pane as a backdrop image. Click on the Type drop down menu and select Backdrop. Then click the down arrow square to select an image file for Background. Choose Browse... and select the backdrop image.

Thanks very much, barbult. That thoroughly explains the situation.

My confusion arose because in browsing (lots of) sites with HDRIs, at least one of them offered a "backplate" that was a spherical shot like the HDRI itself, which was pretty confusing. Maybe the offerer was the one most confused.

It brings me to another related question, though, if you happen to know the answer. It has to do with sIBL packages, which have a bunch of files in the package, e.g.:

HDR 112 River Road 2.ibl
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Bg.jpg
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Env.hdr
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Prev.jpg
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Ref.hdr
HDR_112_River_Road_2_Thumb.jpg

The "Ref.hdr" is the biggest in file size, but the "Bg,jpg" file is essentially the same size in dimensions. It seems that the jpg is supposed to operate like a giant spherical mapping for the dome, but of course doesn't have HDR information for lighting. I get the idea that some 3D programs can handle the whole sIBL package, but it seems that Daz can't use anything, in any practical sense, but one of those files mapped to the dome.

Is that right? And if so, which? Is it the "Ref.hdr" file? It seems it would have to be, because the "Env.hdr" is very small and low resolution. Maybe that's just for lighting only?

(Now if only I could get a doctorate degree from somewhere at the end of all of this study ...)

I don't know enough about the sIBL system to offer advice over what you already have figured out. I think the sIBL system assumes some additional light in the scene, over what the HDRI provides. A Google search for "daz studio sibl" turns up some information. I have had pretty good luck with HDRI Haven free HDRI files, and I don't bother to try to mess with sIBL files. 

mavante

barbult said:

I have had pretty good luck with HDRI Haven free HDRI files, and I don't bother to try to mess with sIBL files. 

I think that probably is the voice of wisdom, and I think that I shall heed it.

nemesis10

barbult said:

HDRI goes into the Render Settings pane. That is also where you turn the Dome off. Select the Editor tab of the Render Settings pane and then select the Environment category on the left. Load the HDRI into the Environment Map. In the Draw Dome control, click the On button to change it to Off.

The backplate image goes in the Environment pane as a backdrop image. (If you don't have the Environment pane visible, add it from the menu Window>Panes (Tabs)>Environment.) Click on the Type drop down menu and select Backdrop. Then click the down arrow square to select an image file for Background. Choose Browse... and select the backdrop image.

You do the work of the angels; I was having too much hay fever to do illustrations...

Platnumk

If you want lighting only then use the Env.HDR & if you want to use Lighting with the dome ON then use the Ref.HDR

mavante

Platnumk said:

If you want lighting only then use the Env.HDR & if you want to use Lighting with the dome ON then use the Ref.HDR

Great. Thanks, Platnumk.