Download free 8K HDRIs from VFX artist Simon Lachapelle
Photographer and VFX artist Simon Lachapelle has released the Simon-HDRI collection: a set of high-resolution HDRIs for visualization, motion graphics and VFX work.
There are currently 21 HDRIs in the collection, available at 8K, 16K and 32K resolution.
The higher-resolution versions are commercial assets, but the 8K versions are free for use in personal projects and portfolio renders.
High-res HDRIs of natural exteriors and architectural interiors for VFX and visualization
The Simon-HDRI collection consists of 21 HDR images of a range of environments: both natural exteriors like forests, rocky coasts and lakes, and large man-made interiors.
They draw on Lachapelle’s experience both as an architectural photographer and as an artist: he is currently CG Supervisor at VFX facility Real by Fake.
They were captured using a 15-stop ND filter, and are provided as true linear 32-bit unclipped HDRIs in EXR format, making it possible to use them in any DCC application or renderer that supports the format, including 3ds Max, Blender, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya, and Unreal Engine.
You can download 8,000 x 4,000px versions for free, for use in non-commercial work.
The 16K and 32K versions are commercial assets, and can be bought from Lachappelle’s Gumroad store, either individually or as a pack.
In a post on BlenderNation, Lachapelle describes creating the HDRIs as a “real passion project”, and says that he plans to add more over time.
Licensing and system requirements
The HDRIs in Simon Lachapelle’s Simon-HDRI collection are provided in EXR format, so they should be compatible with most DCC apps. The 8K versions are free for non-commercial use.
Commercial licenses for the full pack, which include the 16K and 32K versions, cost $50 for individual users, $125 for two to five users, and $200 for larger studios.
Browse the HDRIs in the Simon-HDRI collection on Simon Lachappelle’s website
Download the Simon-HDRI collection from Gumroad
(Enter a figure of $0 to download the 8K HDRIs for free)
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