HDRI tutorial

“HDRI tutorial ” by Joshua Murphy
To find an image like the one above, simply do an image search in google or yahoo until you find a picture that is satisfactory. Now that we have the picture that we will be using, it is time to begin. Open the picture with Photoshop. For my render, I have made the image size larger. I set my render size to 1600×1200. If your HDRI image is much less than what your render size is, your reflection will look pixilated. So I made my image size in Photoshop to 2048×1024. If you are rendering out in your 3d application at a size of 800×600 or smaller, the image size of your HDRI should be at least 800×600. If you are rendering out larger, simply adjust your image size in Photoshop to a larger size. After you have resized your image to the appropriate size, you want to save out the image as 1.psd. Next, with the same file open, you want to add a Levels channel. To do this, you go the Layer menu, New Adjustment Layer, and then select Levels.

When you select Levels, a dialog box will pop-up asking for a name of the layer, name the layer Level 1. After you have done that, another dialog box will come up asking for Input Levels. Simply move the black value slider to about 45. Anywhere between 35 and 45 is fine. If you have preview selected, you will see the image get darker. After you have done this, save it as 2.psd.

Next you want to do is repeat the step until you get to the Input Levels selection again. Now you want to put in a value of anywhere between 75 and 85. You will see the image get really dark, don’t worry it will be ok. You will understand shortly; after doing this, save as 3.psd.

Next you want to do just the opposite. We are going to lighten the image with different levels now. With your image still open, bring up the Input Levels dialog box, and instead of sliding the black value slider, slide the white value slider. Slide it to the left to around
210. Save it out as 4.psd

Then again to around 185, save it out as 5.psd.
Again, set it to around 145, save it out as 6.psd.
Finally, set it to around 125, save it out as 7.psd.
After you have completed all of the steps, you will want to add a lens blur. To do this, go to the Filter menu; select Blur, and then Lens blur.

 
             

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