HDR Light Studio
By: Lightmap
Description
HDR Light Studio 4 brings interactive creation and control of image based lighting to 3D rendering software. It provides a fast and precise way to light a 3D scene with photo-real results, while fitting into all major 3D pipelines on the market. HDR Light Studio creates HDRI maps that are visually perfect containing highly controllable Synthetic Lighting and Picture Lights. The HDRI map is dynamic and can be adjusted at any time; lighting and effects are node based and resolution independent. Final renders lit using HDR Light Studio look real because HDR image based lighting creates illumination and reflections that work in perfect harmony.
HDR Light Studio 4 can be used stand-alone by importing 3D scenes into LiveLight, or used in conjunction with any number of Live plug-in partners including: KeyShot, Maxwell Studio, VRED, Patchwork3D, SprayTrace, SAP Visual Enterprise Author, Maya and Houdini – where lighting updates are seen instantly in the host render view providing a totally ‘Live’ lighting experience.
HDR Light Studio 4 New Features
Now on PC, Mac and Linux
HDR Light Studio 4 contains all features and connectivity, including the Live plug-ins in a single product edition that's available for the first time on Windows, OSX and Linux.
Commercial and Educational licenses are available as node locked or floating seats.
LightPaint
New LightPaint technology enables lighting artists to point in the rendered view directing the light to the exact location where it is needed on their models. Slashing the time taken to light a 3D scene and enabling the precise placement of lighting and reflections.
"LightPaint has revolutionized our lighting workflow. No more trial and error and waiting for re-renders, just instant visual feedback as you move lights around. LightPaint takes the guesswork out of placing light..." Tom Painter, Bigman
"HDR Light Studio 4 became my default lighting solution after about 15 minutes of playing with the Beta... I love placing lights by 'touching' the model, it's so intuitive and a huge time saver." Jim Cascarina, MGV
New User Interface
- Faster and smoother interaction
- 15% smaller footprint than version 3
- New selected light preview image
- Canvas Exposure Slider
- Interact directly with falloff curve
- Picture Light Browser previews under mouse
- Dynamic update of Zup/Yup setting
- A 'no canvas guides' option
FilmBack
Explore the shot with pan and zoom in LiveLight to light details using LightPaint
LightCam
Look through a selected light on the HDR canvas and use the camera navigation to drive its location
SunShade
Take control of the brightness of light sources in existing HDRI maps
Better connected than ever
New Direct Exporters
Push scenes from Modo, Cinema4D and 3DS Max direct into HDR Light Studio for real-time image based lighting creation and control.
New Live plug-ins
New Maya and Houdini plug-ins
Created using the HDR Light Studio 4 new python interface. Fully adjustable for your workflow.
Output Presets
Select your 3D software and renderer combination for correctly mapped HDR output in Live and file export.
Features
Accomplish these lighting tasks in real-time with HDR Light Studio
- Create custom HDRI maps for your shot – a faster alternative to creating CG light or emitters
- Create complex and precise lighting & reflections for reflective objects like products and cars
- Create professional studio lighting environments containing real studio light source captures
- Load and control existing HDRI maps with local adjustments to exposure, color and saturation even adding additional lights. Re-light the HDR to emphasize the beauty of the subject, whilst maintaining he character and detail within the original HDRI.
- Create convincing lighting for CG objects placed into photographic backgrounds using color matching tools
- Create a HDR environment as the foundation to your shot containing the majority of ambient lighting – as a result add far less CG light sources than ever before only where you need them.
Key Features in HDR Light Studio:
Dynamic HDR Canvas: Real-time creation of lat-long image based lighting environments
Synthetic Lighting: Powerful procedurally created lighting system for studio lighting and effects
Picture Lights: HDR captures of photo studio lighting, windows and more
LightPaint: Place and select lights directly on the rendered view, put reflections where needed.
LiveLight: The interactive lighting viewport in HDR Light Studio, load 3d scenes and light
Background Options: HDR gradient with luminosity and color ramps, HDR/EXR files or transparent
SunShade: Take control of the brightness of light sources in existing HDRI maps
Advanced Color Selection: Color tuning grid, kelvin picker, match colors in HDR/LDR images
Improved Interface: Smoother, faster and more space efficient
Cross Platform: Windows, Mac and Linux compatible
Single Edition: Including plug-ins for KeyShot, Maxwell Studio, VRED, Patchwork 3D, SAP Visual Enterprise Author, Maya and Houdini.
Direct Export: Push scenes from Modo, Cinema4D, 3DS Max & Maya direct into LiveLight
Output Presets: Select your 3D software/ renderer combo for correctly mapped HDR output
Python API: Create and tailor HDR Light Studio 4 Live integrations for your pipeline
Compatibility Chart
Picture Light Packs
Real Suns - Picture Light Pack
Add ‘Real Suns’ to existing HDRI location captures, adding drama and life to your renders.
Add 'Real Suns' effects to your studio lighting setups.
This Light Pack contains 8 highly varied HDRI Sun captures. These Suns can be positioned and adjusted like any other light source in HDR Light Studio 2.0. Ideal for adding drama to car renders.
HDRI Maps
HDR Lighting - Volume 1
9 HDR Photo Studio Lighting Captures
For use as HDR lighting and reflection environments.
Images supplied as 2,708 x 1,354 pixel HDR files.
3 soft box setups inside a white cove
3 spot light setups inside a white cove
3 light tent setups
Partner Software
SprayTrace for Maya - v1
Instant feedback on Maya MentalRay scenes
SprayTrace provides an instant preview of your Maya MentalRay scene, providing real-time feedback on shaders, textures, lighting and camera adjustments. The SprayTrace preview is faithful to the final MentalRay render, but at a preview quality. It's very easy to use... no settings, just one button to launch. SprayTrace uses CPU only, so no special graphics cards are required either. It's the essential new plug-in for Maya MentalRay artists. It also supports a HDR Light Studio plug-in for real-time lighting direct onto your Maya scene!
Version / Release Updates
Autodesk Showcase Professional users can now use HDR Light Studio 4 to create and edit HDRI maps, lighting their scenes with tailored reflections and enjoying maximum realism and creative control. The HDR Live connection enables instant updates in the Showcase Professional viewport, providing a virtual lighting studio.
• Create perfect custom HDRI maps to light scenes quickly and easily
• Use professional studio lighting with captures of real studio light sources for added realism
• Load and control existing HDRI maps with local adjustments to exposure, color and saturation, even adding additional lights where needed
HDR Light Studio 4.1 is a free update for HDR Light Studio 4 users
Videos
HDR Light Studio 4 from HDR Light Studio on Vimeo.
HDR Light Studio 4 - Standalone Workflow from HDR Light Studio on Vimeo.
Specifications & Licensing
System Requirements
Hardware recommendation
At least 4 processer cores for LiveLight, 4GB RAM, Installation requires 1.5GB of hard disk space
3 button mouse for camera navigation, Internet connection for licensing and support
Software is delivered by a download only.
Includes upgrade to future 4.x versions
Licensing
Additional Info
Upgrades / Support
Includes upgrade to future 4.x versions
Related Products
Enhance your pipeline with the following products:
- Autodesk 3DS Max
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk Softimage
- Luxology / The Foundry modo
- Maxon Cinema4D
- Newtek Lightwave
- Next Limit Maxwell Studio
- SAP VEA
- Side Effects Houdini
Compatibility Chart