How to make HDR look good

[XFunc_CaRteR]

In LDR, my map looks good - well lit; nothing washed out. I build it in HDR, run the cubemaps - twice (once for HDR, then reload and again for LDR) - load up the map and *yuck*. All the lights are burning out my textures. Hurts the eyes to look at walls near lights. The lighting it totally over the top. What's up with that?

Is there a way to compile in HDR that doesn't totally overdo the lighting? Do people use HDR much? Any suggestions?

 

[Icarus]

you need to look into tonemaps

For example, open up a valve map and take a look at the logic_auto. It sends inputs to a env_tonemap_controller, which controls bloom and HDR scales

 

[XFunc_CaRteR]

Yeah, I just figured that out here: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/HDR_Lighting_Settings