smart IBL Loader version 1.1
Smart IBL Loader is a free plugin for Cinema 4D, which allows you to load smart IBL 'sets' and apply them to a scene. Version 1.1 has now been released. Changes from the original version include:
- compatibility with Vray for C4D
- ability to filter sIBL sets to find the set you want
- the loader can now use multiple collection folders rather than using one large folder to hold your sIBL sets
- an option to apply an sIBL set with linear workflow has been added
In addition there are a number of bug fixes and interface tweaks, and more of the parameters in the .ibl file are now implemented.
Important: because of the added functionality in this version, it is being released initially as beta software. At the moment, versions for R11 and R11.5 of Cinema 4D are provided; when it has been tested by users, it will be recompiled for users of C4D R10.
If you are looking for version 1.0, so that you can use the plugin with R10 of C4D, please click here.
introduction
Image-based lighting (IBL) is a highly realistic way of lighting a computer graphic scene. However, it can be tedious and time-consuming to set up a scene with good IBL. The Smart IBL system (sIBL), developed by the folks at HDRlabs.com, is a method for making it very easy to apply IBL lighting rigs to a scene.
For full details of sIBL, please refer to the HDRlabs website (http://www.hdrlabs.com/sibl/index.html). In brief, the system provides for:
- image files for background, lighting, and reflection
- creation of the necessary skydomes to hold these images
- creation of sun objects for outside scenes, including alignment, colour, and brightness
- creation of multiple lights for interior scenes, again including alignment, colour, and brightness
- inclusion of GPS data so the user can see exactly where an image set was shot
- easy (often one-click) insertion of all images, lights, and objects into a scene
These parameters are controlled by a simple text file with the extension ‘IBL’. This file, plus the associated image files, makes up an sIBL ‘set’. A user may have multiple sets and from the loader choose which one to apply to the scene.
Loader scripts or plugins exist as freeware for several high-end 3D graphics applications (Max, Maya, XSI and Lightwave), but until now, not for Cinema 4D. The purpose of this plugin is to add C4D to that list.
screen shots from version 1.1
| The sIBL set browser: | The details tab: |
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| The filter tab: | The preferences tab: |
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smart IBL sets
A number of very good HDRI images arranged in sIBL sets can be downloaded from the archive at HDRLabs.com. In addition, I recommend you look at Bob Groothuis's web site, where he has some very high-quality images, arranged as sIBl sets, available.
system requirements:
- Cinema 4D R11 or later
- Windows XP/Vista/7 32- or 64-bit, or Mac OSX 10.4 or later
download
The loader can be downloaded from the links below. The .zip files contain a manual in .PDF format, and both PC and Mac plugins are contained in the zip files.
The original version of sIBL Loader, for use until version 1.1 is compiled for C4D R10, can be found on this page.
Please make sure you download the correct version for your release of C4D! At the moment, separate versions for R11 and R11.5 of Cinema 4D are provided; when it has been tested by users, it will also be compiled for users of C4D R10.
Important: please be aware that the sIBL Loader now includes a new channel shader called ‘Bitmap Transform’ which you will see in your material editor. It has been added specifically for use with Vray, and can be ignored if you aren’t using the loader with Vray, although it will still work in ordinary materials (but the Cinema 4D layer shader would be preferred and this new shader offer no additional functionality over the layer shader). The manual contains full details in the Vray implementation section.
Download sIBL Loader 1.1 for R11 (2.90Mb, .zip file)
Download sIBL Loader 1.1 for R11.5 (3.01Mb, .zip file)