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I need chrome balls
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:25 pm
by Mihai
(no jokes please, too easy)
Does anyone know where to buy those big accurate chrome or steel balls to be used for making hdr images, somewhere in Europe/France?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:03 am
by KurtS
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:03 am
by Voidmonster
My understanding is that unless you need really super high quality, regular old silver Christmas decoration globes work dandy.
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:25 am
by Mihai
I'm thinking those ones are a bit too small. That amazon one looks good but they don't ship it here.
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:11 am
by Voidmonster
You could also try:
http://www.mcmaster.com/
Their website doesn't seem to work properly in Firefox, but it does work in Internet explorer.
In the search window put in "chrome-coated steel balls" and choose the 2" variety. It *looks* like they'll do international orders.
That's what Debevic used for Fiat Lux.
http://gl.ict.usc.edu/HDRShop/main-pages/faq.html
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:42 am
by polynurb
just speak to Anish Kapoor:

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:02 am
by Mihai
I need balls not donuts
Voidmonster, thanks those look good, a bit expensive for the 3 and 4 inch. Gives me an idea of what to search for here

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:03 am
by Bubbaloo
After you make them, you're going to put them on the goodies section, right? Hint, hint...

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:29 am
by big K
you are sure that amazon has nothing you could use ?
i am in germany and found this right away
http://www.amazon.de/Takasho-11780-Magi ... 32&sr=1-20
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:59 am
by Mihai
Great thanks! I didn't know what these are called in German. Ah but:
Dieser Artikel kann nur in folgende Länder verschickt werden: Deutschland, Österreich
only sent to Germany and Austria right? what is it with these balls....it's forbidden to export them???
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:14 am
by Fernando Tella
This no-joke state will last till Leonardo drops by; that's my bet.

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:49 am
by JCAddy
If you want Mihai, I can order it here and ship it to you from here. ??? If you can't find one anywhere else.
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:51 pm
by big K
JCAddy wrote:If you want Mihai, I can order it here and ship it to you from here. ??? If you can't find one anywhere else.
that is a good idea - maybe we should do this from within europe. it might be cheaper that way. ic ould also order it here.
where is Uzbjeckiazutjenikitzistan exactly ? and in your countries amazon (if there is any) they don´t have this nice balls ?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:08 pm
by w i l l
http://www.andrew-whitehurst.net/hdri_tut.html
http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/ind ... 30546.html
Sorry to change the subject but can I just ask... do you need a certain type of camera for taking photos of the ball to make HDRI's? I want to buy a new camera but it would be good if I could use it for this.
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:24 pm
by Mihai
big K, thanks, I think someone can order it for me from Germany. I checked amazon.fr but they don't have these balls in their shop.
will, what's most important is a camera which you can use in manual mode so you can just change the fstop to take the photos at different exposures. Also one that can go to about ISO 100 so you get reasonably noiseless photos.