Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Image-Based Lighting in Cycles
Next,we'll turntolighting. Cycles hasmanyoptionsforlighting, anditcanusemostoftheBlender lamptypes
already.However,Cycleshasagreatadvantageofbeingabletousehighdynamicrange(HDR)imagesdirectly
as light sources. HDR images can provide complete lighting in Cycles, including cast shadows. Image-based
lighting is exceedingly useful for CG effects that are meant to be composited into live-action video.
Settingupimage-basedlightingisverysimple.SimplyclicktheWorldiconontheNodeEditorheadertoget
to the node setup shownin
Figure 4-21
,
including a Background node and a World Output node. By default, the
Background node is set to a slate-gray color. This needs to change.
Figure 4-21
A Background node
To change the Background color, add a Texture node by pressing Shift+A and choosing Texture > Environ-
ment Texture, as shown in
Figure 4-22
.
