Now that I am finally getting into my Vue 5 Esprit package I found that there were not many HDR (otherwise known as High Dynamic Range Imaging) images included. This great 3d rendering option can really enhance the lighting in a rendered 3d scene but it needs those fancy HDR images to work right.

Below is a list of websites that I found offering free HDR images, ideal for testing those new lighting effects.

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• http://hdri.3dweave.com/
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• http://www.hdrimaps.com/downloads.html
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• http://www.evermotion.org/index.php?unfold_exclusive=84&unfold=exclusive
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• http://debevec.org/Probes/
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• http://www.shademaster.nl/
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• http://www.3dvalley.com/textures.shtml
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• http://www.aversis.be/extra_hdri/00.htm
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• http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/10152791/
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Once you've downloaded the images that you want you can use them in Vue 5 by going to the Atmosphere Editor and choosing the Environment Mapping Model. Then, under the effects tab you can double click on the big black square to load either an existing HDR image from Vue's install or to browse your hard drive to find other HDR images (i.e. the ones you downloaded.) Oh, and after you accept the image Vue will ask you if you want to "automatically setup your scene for image based lighting?" and you should choose yes.

Add a nice metal sphere to your scene and see what things look like

Tags: Hdri, free