Does HDRI really make sense in this situation?

#1

I’m adding a 3D object into a camera tracked live action background using 3dsmax. I’m filming with a Canon T2i.

I take a still for matte/shadow/reflection camera map.
I take another picture of a chrome ball for reflections.

Now here’s my point:
If my footage shows blown out highlights (coming through the windows), then the .jpeg of the chrome ball and still shot will show the same. If I make/convert to and HDRI which compensates for the exposure, then my reflections won’t be accurate to my footage (blue sky instead of blown out light). In that case, I would think .jpegs make more sense to “accurately match the footage”.

Please correct me if I’m wrong or missed something as I would like to do this the best way, but not overly time consuming.

Thanks,
Moneytime

#2

It’s not an easy quick science to use HDRI and even if you try to do proper white balance etc, you still almost never get where it all works on the first try imo. But at least you have the raw materials to do a good job with some tweaking.

To answer-
Jpeg is only one exposure with no extra light info-
HDRI has multiple bracket exposures of light info combined in one file.

There’s no way to get the info from a jpeg… If you want to see why try comparing a render with HDRI IBL to JPEG IBL

Also you can speed things up with SIBL

#3

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