Mystery illumination in DS Render SOLVED

contedesfees

I have been trying to light a scene with a single distant light. After positioning it, I started experimenting with various colors, intensities, and lumenous flux values. I noticed that the lighting in each successive test render remained unchanged even when light changes were apparent in the scene displayed in the camera viewport. Render setting for the headlamp are set to "never" and Preview Lights are off. So, to troubleshoot, I set the distant light Illumination parameter to "Off" as well. I have attached the resulting render. There are ceiling lights in environment, Baroque Grandeur by Jack Tomalin, but I have shut each and every one in the Scene pane.

Can anyone tell me what is illuminating this render? By all I know, it should be pitch black. Thanks to one and all.

barbult

Do you have an HDRI in the Render Settings environment, or is you Render Settings set to Sun-Sky Only? I think either of those could cause some light in your scene. I don't own Baroque Grandeur, so I can't check that.

Fishtales

Looking at the image there seems to be a light source in the top left corner shining from top left to bottom right..

contedesfees

Thanks so much, barbult. The Environment Map parameter called DRHDR-RuinsB-500.HDR. DS documentation gives no indication that environment maps are applied by default. I take it they override light settings and are meant as a alternative to DS lights. My Environment Mode is set to Dome and Scene incidentally. That setting also provides illumination, albeit quite modest. It is only when I set Environment Mode to Scene Only that I got the pitch black render I expected. DAZ lighting is going to be a challenge! Thanks again.