HDRI is a key factor when generating three dimensional objects that are required to be photorealistic and look as if they live within an existing environment or image. It is the way that these objects are lit that either hides or reveals the fact that they are indeed generated in 3D. By doing HDRI on set we are able to capture the exact lighting exposures, intensities and directions that the footage was filmed with and apply this to the three dimensional object/s. We do this by taking a 360 degree photograph at 3 or more different exposures. This then captures the High Dynamic Image Range! The photograph is then stitched together to form a 360 degree environment with the exact lighting values that were on set. This technique not only helps us where lighting is concerned by also gives us the ability to capture the environment for compositing.
