hdrls 4.3 installation guide

TM

hdrlightstudio 4Featuring

lightpaint

installation guide

HDR Light Studio 4 - Main App

Installing & Licensing Page 3

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Native host supportInstall HDR Light Studio

main app only

User guide includedin this document

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Install HDR Light Studioapp + additional plug-in

provided by Lightmap

Connectivity

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Partner 3D Software

V-Ray for Rhino

Maxwell Studio

KeyShot

Visual Enterprise Author / Deep Exploration

VRED

Patchwork3D

Autodesk Showcase Pro

Maya

3DS Max

Houdini

MODO

CINEMA 4D

DeltaGen

Installers for additional plug-ins can be downloaded from your store account.Each includes a dedicated PDF guide for installation and workow.

Online help is available at: www.hdrlightstudio.com/help/4

or go to the Help menu in HDR Light Studio software

Please consult your VRED, Patchwork 3D and Showcase Pro documentationfor information on the HDR Light Studio 4 integration.

VEA 7.1 and higherUpto DE 6.5

HDR Light Studio 4 - Installation & Licensing

Installing HDR Light Studio 4 - Single User LicensePlease note, if you have purchased oating licenses, Lightmap will contact you shortly after your order has been placed with installation instructions for the HDR Light Studio licensing server.

Step 1: Run the HDR Light Studio software installerInstall HDR Light Studio 4 software with the provided installer for your platform.(Linux note: Extract archive to destination folder. Ensure environment variable HDRLS_HOME_V4 points to the base of the installation folder. This is best set in the users logon script - eg, in ~/.bashrc)

Step 2: Launch HDR Light StudioRun HDR Light Studio software for the rst time.

Step 3: Locate the User Key and copy to DesktopGo to Help > Open License Directory in HDR Light Studio software.

This will open the directory revealing the location of the user key le on your computer. The le is called HDRLightStudioV4_User.key . Copy this file on to your Desktop, so its easy to nd.

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Step 4: Register the End User with Lightmap

Log into your account at the Lightmap Store (www.lightmapstore.co.uk) by clicking on theMy Account link top right

Once you are logged in, go to the Purchased Products section

Locate the product you want to get licensed in your list of purchased products.Each item you buy has a unique ITEM ID that you can use to identify it.

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Register the name and email address of the Registered User using the Register/Change User link.

Step 5: Upload your User Key fileNext upload your user key le using an Upload User Key link which is now available.

A single user license allows a Primary and Secondary installation of your software.There is an upload link for a user key generated by each computer.

Once your User Key has been submitted, you will need to wait for the License Key to be created.

Step 6: Getting your License keyOnce Lightmap have received your user key le via the store, we will generate a license key le. Licenses are generated in ofce hours GMT. The license key will be emailed to you once it is created. It will also appear in the store account under your user key and can be down-loaded from there too.

Please Note: Whilst waiting for License Key creation, you can submit the User Key le for the 2nd computer. A single license key is created containing the license for both computers. Use the same license key to enable HDR Light Studio on both computers.

If you already have a license key available for download, please no not assume this license le is instantly updated when uploading a user key. You will be emailed with the updated license once ready.


Step 7: Installing your License Key

Go to Help > Open License Directory in HDR Light Studio software to reveal the licensing directory and put the HDRLightStudioV4_License.key le in this directory with your user key.

Restart HDR Light Studio and your software will be fully activated and can render and save your lighting designs.

Important Note:If you have purchased HDR Light Studio for MODO, HDR Light Studio for Bunkspeed orHDR Light Studio for V-Ray for Rhino - the software will report being unlicensed when its run standalone. This is normal! Please close HDR Light Studio and launch it in a live connection with your host software, and the license will enable HDR Light Studio.

Step 8: Picture LightsDownload the seperate Picture Lights zip le from the store. Install the Picture Light les into the correct location using Help > Open Warehouse Directory. The .hdp les in the zip le provided need to be placed in that folder. A restart of HDR Light Studio is also required.(Linux note: Please extract the archive to a directory called "warehouse" next to the HDR Light Studio executable).

Please note:For HDR Light Studio to function it uses TCP/IP communication internally on the computer.Please esnure these ports are made available for HDR Light Studio in your rewall.LiveLight is communicated to/from port 9001/9002Live plugins communicate to/from port 9550/9551

Important notes for pre HDR Light Studio version 4 users:Installing HDR Light Studio 4 will override the opening of earlier Live plug-ins.Projects saved with HDR Light Studio 4 will not be backwards compatible.Once HDR Light Studio 4 is installed, project les embedded in earlier partner projects may be automatically updated to HDR Light Studio 4 without notice.

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HDR Light Studio 4 Live - Maxwell Studio

2. Install HDR Light Studio 4

3. Launch Maxwell Studio software.

4. When the environment is set to IBL, options now appear for setting HDR Light Studioin the various environment slots - Background, Relfection, Illumination and Refraction.

5. Press the HDR Light Studio button to launch HDR Light Studio Live

6. HDR Light Studio lighting designs are embedded in Maxwell Studio scenes. Render a production quality HDR/EXR le and this is automatically used as a HDR le in Maxwell Studio.

Installing - HDR Light Studio Live for Maxwell StudioCompatible with Maxwell Studio 2.6.1+ on Windows64 and Maxwell Studio 2.7.20+ on OSX64

1. When installing Maxwell Render - if available, makesure the HDR Light Studio Live option is ticked andinstalled. This installs Maxwell components that enableMaxwell Studio to work with HDR Light Studio Live,and this can also installs a demo version of theLive plugin to play with.

Follow these instructions to replace this demo versionwith the full version you have purchased.

The HDR Light Studio Live interface and features found in the plug-in are identical to the standaloneedition. Please consult the HDR Light Studio User Guide PDF included in your installation to learnabout the features of HDR Light Studio.

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5. Go to Project, Environment tab and you should now see a button called editthats next to the environment le slot. Press this button to launch HDR Light Studio.

5.

HDR Light Studio 4 Live - KeyShot

Using HDR Light Studio Live with KeyShot 3+Compatible with KeyShot 3+ on Windows, always use the latest KeyShot build for best stability.

4. Go to the Plugins section and make sure HDR Light Studio is there and enabled... if not select Install new plugin and locate the le: hdrls_wrapper.dll

This plug-in le is created by Luxion and acts as the link between KeyShot 3 and HDR Light Studio Live.


2. Launch KeyShot 3

3. Go to Edit > Preferences

3. 4.

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HDR Light Studio 4 Live - KeyShot

The HDR Light Studio interface and features found in the plug-in are identical to the standalone edition. Please consult the HDR Light Studio User Guide PDF included in your installation to learn about the features of HDR Light Studio.Here we describe the worflow of the plug-in with KeyShot.

Once the HDR Light Studio Live plug-in is open, the HDRI environment is replaced in KeyShot with the HDR Canvas from HDR Light Studio. Now you can design lighting in real-time directly onto your KeyShot scene. Cool!

To see a higher resolution version of your lighting design on your model press Render and select from the drop down list under EXR and HDR file formats to select the Live setting. Now when you render, the hi-res render is sent straight into KeyShot and not saved as a file.

When you are happy with your final lighting design press Render and select the HDR file format and you can then save your final HDRI design as a file. This new HDR file will automatically be used and added to your KeyShot Environments Library.

If you now change your lighting design in HDR Light Studio Live, the canvas data will replace the saved HDR file, so you will be in a Live lighting session again.

The lighting design in HDR Light Studio is also embedded into your KeyShot file. So next time you open your saved KeyShot scene, and launch HDR Light Studio Live, the design is already in place for you so you do not need to save the lighting design separately.

HDR Light Studio Live for KeyShot - Workflow

3d model: Tim Cooper

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HDR Light Studio 4 Live - Visual Enterprise Author

Installing - HDR Light Studio Live for Visual Enterprise AuthorCompatible with Deep Exploration 6.5 and above, and Visual Enterprise Author 7

Visual Enterprise Author comes with a Demo version of HDR Light Studio already installed.Follow these instructions to replace this with the full version you have purchased.


2. Launch Visual Enterprise Author

3. Make sure you are in HDR Realtime driver mode in the viewport

4. Right click on the top tool-bar and select HDR Light Studio from the dropdown menu to create a button for it on the tool bar. If you can not see it in the list, thengo to Help > Plugin Manager... and make sure the HDR Light Studio plug-in is activated.

5. A HDR button has been added to the tool-bar... press this to launchHDR Light Studio Live.

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HDR Light Studio 4 Live - Visual Enterprise Author

The HDR Light Studio Live interface and features found in the plug-in are identical to the standalone edition. Please consult the HDR Light Studio User Guide PDF included in your installation to learn about the features of HDR Light Studio.Here we describe the workflow of the plug-in with Visual Enterprise Author.

Once the HDR Light Studio Live plug-in is open, the HDRI environment is replaced in Visual Enterprise Author by the HDR Canvas from HDR Light Studio. Now you can design lighting in real-time directly onto your Deep Exploration scene.

To see a higher resolution version of your lighting design on your model press Render and select Live from the drop down list of file formats. Now when you render, the HDR data is sent straight into Visual Enterprise Author and not saved as a HDR file.

When you are happy with your final lighting design press Render and select the HDR file format and save your final HDRI design as a file. This new HDR file will automatically be set as the HDR environment in Visual Enterprise Author.

If you now change your lighting design in HDR Light Studio Live, the canvas data will replace the saved HDR file, so you will be in a Live lighting session again.

To save your HDR Light Studio lighting design, in HDR Light Studio Live go toProject > Save Project. Here you can create a .HDi file which will store your lighting design and can be loaded again in the future.

HDR Light Studio Live for Visual Enterprise Author - Workflow

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HDR Light Studio 4 Live - V-Ray for Rhino

Installation

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Install and license the HDR Light Studio 4 main app (requires HDR Light Studio 4.3 and above). V-Ray 2.0 for Rhino will automatically detect an installation of HDR Light Studio 4, so there are no additional plug-ins to install.

Workflow

V-Ray 2.0 for Rhino has added a live connection with HDR Light Studio. This enables the real-time creation and editing of a HDRI map for lighting your scene.

This provides a much easier and faster approach to lighting your V-Ray shots, that will render fast too.

1. Create a V-Ray Dome Light in your scene

2. The HDR Light Studio Live controls are found on the Dome Light's 'Properties' tab, under the 'Light' section.

Scroll to the bottom of the properties panel to see the HDR Light Studio Live section (that is displayed if HDR Light Studio is installed on your computer).


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3. Let's turn on V-Ray RT in the view port for our scene - so we can see the dome lighting interacting with our scene and materials with real-time feedback.

Now we can see the scene lit with the dome light.


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4. Now let's light this shot using HDR Light Studio. Find the HDR Light Studio Live controls and press the Show button to start HDR Light Studio in a live connection with this Dome Light.

The HDR Light Studio app is opened and the content of the HDR canvas in HDR Light Studio is now being used to light your V-Ray RT render.

Every time a change to the lighting is made in HDR Light Studio - the V-Ray RT view will update using the new HDR lighting.

HDR Light Studio is providing V-Ray RT with small temporary HDR files that are used during the lighting design process. These are updated automatically though the live connection.


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5. Lets add a new light source to the HDR canvas in HDR Light Studio, press the Elliptical light button on the top bar. A light is created in the center of the canvas.

You can see V-Ray RT update using the new lighting (the light in the background may look pixelated because this is using the lo-res temp le at the moment, at the end of the process we will render a hi-res, high quality HDR le on disc).

6. So we now have a light on the HDRI map... but how do we position it in the right place to get the desired lighting effect on our model?

The answer is the LightPaint feature. Let's activate the Light Paint check box so we can click directly onto the V-Ray RT view to position the active light in HDR Light Studio.

(You can also click on the Rhino views without using the V-Ray RT renderer, but it is far more effective to click on the render and see the lighting update before your eyes)


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Now with the light active in HDR Light Studio, left click on your 3D model in the V-Ray RT view.

Because LightPaint is in Reflection mode, the active light has moved on the HDRI map so that it 'reects' in the region of your 3D model that was 'Clicked' on. This point and click lighting technique is a very fast and precise way to light your shots.

Use the drop down to select Rim mode, this places the light directly on the visible HDRI map in the background of your image and is useful for creating a background effect or rim lights to reect in the glancing edges of your models.

Use the drop down to select Illumination mode, to position a light to illuminate the region clicked, this works best for matt surfaces without reections.

Lights can even be selected in HDR Light Studio using the LightPaint modes in Rhino using the Shift key when clicking on the model. For example, Shift Click on a highlight using Reection mode to select the light reecting in that location. This is a great way to pick lights when editing your design without the need to remember the light names or locations on the HDRI map.

When another tool is selected in Rhino, then the Light Paint mode is deactivated until you turn it back on.


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7. Create more lights and adjust their properties until you are happy with the lighting design (To nd our more about the full features of HDR Light Studio for lighting creation, consult the User Guide).

When you are happy with the lighting design, Press the Render / Close button to render a hi-res HDR le on disc and to close your HDR Light Studio session. This is what you do at the end of your lighting session.

The HDR Light Studio Production Render dialog will open where you can Browse to a location on disc and name your hdr or exr le.

You can choose the resolution of your HDRI map by clicking on the preview area, or using the drop down presets.

Once you press the Render button on this panel, the le on disc will be generated and V-Ray for Rhino will use that le for the dome light texture. HDR Light Studio will also close after the le has been completed.


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So now you have a scene lit with a custom HDRI le on disc and you are ready to produce your nal V-Ray production rendering. This Rhino scene can be opened by other users without HDR Light Studio, as it is lit by a standard HDRI le on disc and is therefore totally compatible.

The HDR Light Studio lighting project is actually embedded with your V-Ray Dome Light in Rhino. So save your Rhino scene to store the lighting design, then next time you open the scene launch HDR Light Studio from the dome light and the lighting will automatically be loaded in the state it was left when the Rhino le was saved.

Top Tips

1. Multiple V-Ray Dome Lights can be created in your Rhino scene and assigned to different layers. This way you can store many different lighting designs in the same Rhino scene. This is useful for creating different lighting for alternative camera views.

2. Use the Project menu in HDR Light Studio to save and load HDR Light Studio lighting projects independently of your Rhino scenes. You can move your favorite lighting setups between projects this way, or to create an archive of useful lighting rigs for future. projects. Once lighting is loading into HDR Light Studio this way, the current lighting shown in HDR Light Studio is what gets saved and embedded within your Rhino scene.

hdrls 4.3 installation guide

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