Hello,

i’ll do my best to explain what i mean:

as the subject says, i’ve got an interior needs to be lit with HDRI approach..

Let’s say, the interior itself is in a cube and now here’s the problem:

- we know that image based lighting only works ‘outside’ of the cube (in this scenario) because the the interior is covered by 6 sides of the cube itself (it resides in the cube)

- i tried this once by using textured sphere which acted as IBL inside the cube, but the result was inaccurate and less satisfactory.

i tried to imitate the technique mentioned below, but using MR.

that image is from this behind-the-scene article:
http://www.ronenbekerman.com/making-3d-render-winter-interior/

My question is: is it possible to do an IBL/ HDRI lighting for interior in XSI?

Many thanks in advance!

Better to light the interior with a direct method. Or use a portal light to make sure the exterior illumination is getting into the interior space. Direct lighting (spot or infinite light coming through the windows) is better because it will be much brighter and there is more to work with in terms of total illumination and shadow casting. You can always use the HDRI as a background plate.

1) plug your hdri into environment

2) add an exposure photographic lens shader

3) use portal lights

the portal light is the one that makes the illumination from hdri environment spread into the room.
Be sure to check what cm^2/ factor you are using, it might be 1 at default and you render black, then rise it up to 10000 in the photographic exposure.