Grotto Background Horizon Depth Question

OminousAutumn

I am interested in purchasing the Grotto (http://www.daz3d.com/nature-grotto) and wondering if the level is so small, how do you get the depth of the trees in the distance AND and sky that you want? If and when I buy this, I would like to have that same depth of the trees into the horizon but with a cloudy sky jpg I have that I use as a background. Are the examaple photos using a background that has the sky and photos as one jpg? If so is that not a perspective dependent? Are the trees and the sky seperate images/elements and if so, where are they placed within Daz? What is the procedure/formula to make this work? Sorry for all the questions!!! :p

barbult

I don't own this, but I would guess that the trees and sky in the distance are part of an HDRI image used in Iray for lighting and background. The store description page does not specifically say that an HDRI comes with the product, so I would guess that it does not. You could use any HDRI image that you own in the Iray Environment map in Render Settings. The HDRI will provide lighting and background. If the HDRI has distant trees and cloudy sky, that is what you would see. If it has sunny skies and a castle on a hill, that is what you will see, etc. The close leafy and bare trees look like they are part of the product.

OminousAutumn

barbult said:

I don't own this, but I would guess that the trees and sky in the distance are part of an HDRI image used in Iray for lighting and background. The store description page does not specifically say that an HDRI comes with the product, so I would guess that it does not. You could use any HDRI image that you own in the Iray Environment map in Render Settings. The HDRI will provide lighting and background. If the HDRI has distant trees and cloudy sky, that is what you would see. If it has sunny skies and a castle on a hill, that is what you will see, etc. The close leafy and bare trees look like they are part of the product.

I appreciate that. I dont suppose you'd be able to give me a link within Daz or Renderosity of HDRi's that I could purchase of mountains or stormy skies etc? I just don't want to purchase the wrong thing! Never done anything with HDRi's before as you may be able to tell :p

barbult

These might work for you. I don't have this particular set, but I've never been disappointed in a Dumor3D product. In a forum thread, Dumor3D said "Included with that set is a Quick Start Guide to the Iray Dome and the Use of HDRIs." I bet that will help you, too.