Studio Lighting and Rendering - 3D for Graphic Designers - page 265

Using High Dynamic Range (HDR) Environments
Sometimes, more-complex scenes are required for lighting and framing a subject. These scenes can give nice
detail, complex lighting, and clean reflections to your scenes. The problem is that this can increase render
time significantly. The use of HDR environments can speed your workflow and decrease render time while
preserving high-quality results. These environments come in a variety of types and price ranges. A lot of
free environments are available from various locations online. A simple web search for high dynamic range
environments will provide a wealth of options both free and for sale. Figure 7-40 shows a render done with
a free environment.
Figure 7-40: HDR environments can provide excellent light and reflections with great render times.