Hi Kyle, Some years ago I also ordered such a garden ornament from the US for this purpose. Found it to be too geometrically imperfect. Not spherical enough and, resulting in wobbly environment maps. I now use a 2 inch polished ball bearing ball I got from a hardware store.
But, the number one method for high quality environment maps is to use the fish eye lens and stich a full sphere from multiple viewing directions. I have always used HDRShop for this but now they don't offer version 1.0 for free anymore :-( www.hdrshop.com Best Claus Claus B. Madsen AD:MT/AAU On 14/10/2012, at 10.14, "kyle konis" <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks Greg, > > I ended up ordering a hollow 7.82 inch diameter polished steel garden > "gazing globe" made by blomus. [65067 Polished Garden Globe, 20cm]. > > In searching, i found these other sites, which may be of interest to the list: > > http://www.homeofpoi.com/shop/productDetails/Chrome-Steel-Ball-73mm > https://www.firemecca.com/p-1017-steel-contact-juggling-ball.aspx > http://www.complast.com/balls/metal/CHROME.HTM > http://www.precisionballs.com/ > > -Kyle > On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 9:32 PM, Gregory J. Ward <[email protected]> > wrote: >> I have a rather heavy steel ball-bearing I purchased some years ago. It >> worked great for a while, then got scratched and rusted. I've heard from >> Paul that there are some silver juggling balls that work quite well. I >> think there's information on where to get them on his website. >> >> Cheers, >> -Greg >> >>> From: kyle konis <[email protected]> >>> Date: October 13, 2012 2:35:37 AM GMT+02:00 >>> >>> Dear HDRI list, >>> >>> After viewing Paul Debevec's Rendering With Natural Light Sources: >>> http://www.pauldebevec.com/RNL/Source/ >>> >>> I have become interested in acquiring a light probe to enable >>> image-based lighting in my Radiance work. >>> >>> I would appreciate any suggestions for good sources (+ details) for >>> ordering suitable chrome (or other) spheres. >>> >>> I've heard everything from Christmas ornaments to solid steel >>> (polished) ball bearing work. Anyone particularly satisfied with >>> their sphere? >>> >>> Thanks! >>> >>> -Kyle >>> >>> >>> ----------------------------------------------- >>> Kyle Konis, AIA, Ph.D >>> Assistant Professor >>> School of Architecture, WAH 204 >>> University of Southern California >>> Los Angeles, CA 90089-0291 >>> ----------------------------------------------- >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> HDRI mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/hdri >> >> _______________________________________________ >> HDRI mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/hdri > > _______________________________________________ > HDRI mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/hdri _______________________________________________ HDRI mailing list [email protected] http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/hdri
