High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) allow you to import lighting a real scene in your 3d work. Wonderful shadows and reflections in the scene can achieve the highest level of realism in the rendering.
High Dynamic Range images – or HDRI for short is the really realistic and rapid technique for hyperrealism renders.
This technology allows 3D-designer to spend a very small amount of time adjusting the lighting and reflection, a refuge from the fine tuning of several light sources, as well as long-term experiments by fitting the intensity and color in the scene. It allows to transfer the mood lighting from environment map directly to objects of the scene, keeping the dramatic colors of the sunset or the evening sky.
use HDRIs directly supports many 3D-applications, such as 3dsmax 6, VizRender 2005, Viz 2005, Lightwave (version 6.0 and higher), Softimage|XSI, Bryce 6, Maya & Mentalray, RenderMan, Autodesk VIZ4, messiah:render (Arnold), InSight (Integra), 3ds-max & VRay, 3ds-max & Brazil r/s (Splutterfish), 3ds-max & finalRender (Cebas), Cinema4D Version 8.1, Vue5, Lightwork Render System and many more.
Format: .HDR
Projection : Spherical Map (Latitude-Longitude, Equidistant, Equirectangular, (360/180, full spherical panorama))
Resolution : 5000X2500pxl
Dept : 32 bit per channel
Render example : Sketchup & V-ray