HDR lighting way to fricken bright ???

I have no idea what the deal is but something isn't right. I remember playing this map that which made me just about want to put on Sunglasses, for real. I thought to myself something was royally messed up with the lighting on that map. So I went to compile an update on one of my maps and I found out I was not using HDR at all. So, I checked the HDR box for vrad and compiled, then built the cubemaps the correct way and HDR was on my map. Only problem is that it was just like that other map. It was so bright that it was overbaring. Normal wall lights were reflecting so hard off the wall the entire wall was like one huge light. WTF???

Anybody else come across this and what am I doing wrong?

nossie said:

umm theres a ent called tonemap controller? or something like that.. ive heard it mentioned not sure what it does tho might wanna look into that otherwise i got no clue as i havnt done HDR

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Yeah, I looked into env_tonemap controller already as well as looking at some other maps I've decompiled to look at their light settings. Guess you need to have the HDR setting to half of the normal brightness but most maps I've looked at have the HDR set to -1 -1 -1 -1. I have a tonemap controller in my map but something is whack. have no clue. Seems like a lot more work then it's worth. I read up on the basics of HDR and I know it's supposed to create the "overbright" feeling as that is what valve was going for, to make it seem like your pupils would be like that when you went outside and the tonmap controller is supposed to change that when you went inside.