Snowy Forest Path HDRI distortion?
RenderPretender
Posts: 1,041
I'm using a lovely HDRI from HDRI Haven called Snowy Forest Path. The actual lighting is ideal, but the image seems to distord badly on the dome as if it's originating from the axes and fanning out toward the "equator". This is the case no matter whether I select Infinite or Finite Dome with Ground (I need the ground). How do I eliminate this image distortion? I have seen references to a "Visualize Virtual Dome" setting in Iray, but I can't seem to find it.
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Are you using the correct image? It should be the .hdr and not the preview or a .jpg
Yes, it's the correct image. The problem seems to go away when I select Finite Sphere or Box. Btw, is it possible to rotate the plane on which the ground is projected, or just raise or lower it on Manual?
Under the Environment tab of Render Settings, try changing (usually increasing) the Ground Texture Scale. There are other settings you might need to play with. It's down to trial and error as not all HDRIs are created equally and I'm not familiar with yours. For faster testing, hide all scene objects and characters and just use a primitive sphere as your object placeholder set up to a similar scale to your main character/object.
That was the first thing I tried, but to no avail. Selecting Finite seems to have fixed it. I'd still love to be able to rotate the ground plane though. It's a snow scene with a vehicle, and I'd like to be able to align tire tracks into a more authentic position.
Don't move the ground...move the camera and the object and zoom in and out with the camera to get the scale right. Once they are aligned then you can raise or lower the ground under Manual to get the tyres below the snow, you can do the same with water to make it look as if the object is sitting in it :)
Getting the tires below the snow was no problem. I'd like to "spin" the ground plane to get the tire tracks more in line with the car's position. but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that.
As I said. move the camera.
All the same same just moved/zoomed the camera.
https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/3960376/#Comment_3960376
That doesn't achieve the desired result, unfortunately.
It is trial and error. Move the camera/move the object, zoom the camera/ move the object, zoom/move the camera/ move the object :)
Another one with the object in the water.
https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/2493966/#Comment_2493966
I'm perhaps not being clear. I already have my shot lined up. The image is composed in the frame. All I need to do is position the tire tracks parallel to the car instead of more perpendicular to it. But there doesn't seem to be a way to do that using the ground plane. Moving the object or camera is not the solution because it blows the shot and the lighting.
I used one of the HDR Snowy Forrest Path and a car.
2021-01-23 17:20:40.687 Total Rendering Time: 45.34 seconds
Click on image for full size.
That's excellent. But what happens when you move the camera to shoot another vantage point, say from the driver's side? Then you have to start from square one, right?
Thank you. Unfortunately you are stuck with the orientation of the hdri and it is difficult, to near impossible, to get the view you want based on it.
Well, thanks for your help anyway!
@RenderPretender This is as best as it gets.
2021-01-23 20:16:42.139 Total Rendering Time: 45.20 seconds
Click on image for full size.