How to set up Global Lighting with an HDRi EXR
Image Based Lighting (IBL)
Image-based lighting (IBL) is a technique used to simulate the lighting in a 3D scene by using an image of a real-world environment as the source of light. The image, known as an HDR environment map, is typically captured by taking a photograph of a real-world location or by synthesizing an image using computer graphics techniques.
To generally use IBL in a 3D application, the environment map is first mapped onto a sphere or a cube, which is then used to illuminate the scene. This can be done by applying the environment map as a texture to a special type of light source, such as an infinite light or a skydome light, which is a virtual light that surrounds the scene. (note: this is a general description, we will dive into the O3DE concepts, terminology, components and workflow later in this post.)
The main advantage of using IBL is that it can produce very realistic lighting and reflections in a 3D scene, since it is based on actual photographs of real-world environments. This can be especially useful for creating realistic visualizations of architectural designs, product prototypes, and other objects that will be seen in real-world settings. (aka Look Development)
IBL is also often used in computer graphics for film and video game development, where it can help to create more realistic and immersive virtual environments.
