So there is no way to include an object like that Sphere as a separate pass in EXR? I would have to render completely separate, turning everything off, except for that Sphere layer?
Right now, I have all lights in their own AOV passes and export into single EXR.
I'm a compositor myself, C4D is the new learning curve...

I also have a question. I know I'm dealing with highly reflective materials, but if I have multiple gold object in the scene, they create very "unpleasant" reflections. They seem to look too much 3D. The reflections/refractions bounce off each-other and it looks too messy. Its just too much detail.
I don't know if I need to adjust Redshift settings (image attached), or materials (but then I'll loose my gold look)

@Dr-Sassi
wow that's pretty cool! It works great, as the ring sits inside of the sphere.
I think its works even better than HDRI. And it feels that it gives more control than a Dome.
Now, I think of AOVs as compositing layers (which I will be doing alot of compositing later) . Given that the SPHERE is not a light, I can't assign it a AOV.
Is there such thing as rendering an object as an AOV?

Thank you for all your help!
I'm so new at this.

Thank you! Looking at it now!

Thank you Dr!
I did the best for now about HDRI - further development of the image needed. The size definitely made a difference.
Now I have to work on crazy reflections/refractions I get, when combining two metals in one scene. Haha

Hi!
I made the hdri image very large. so huge, it's unreasonably 1 GB!
I switched backdrop off. its properties always excluded the mesh.

I start to think that it's purely my original HDRI and its grey colors. it just washes out in some area.

Thank you for all your help.

Hi Dr. Sassi,

Thank you for all your help. I did the 1st steps of replacing with b&w HDRI just to see how the surfaces react.
I also rotated camera and played with lens focal length. I also added bot if Emission weight in material just to see the problem areas.

The results as you see in screenshots. Is it normal to still see grayish color in some areas? Is it my materials? I guess I'm expecting the gold to appear "golden" everywhere. The loss of color information is what's I don't understand and not sure how to solve...

I will move on to add additional DOME lights as you mentioned.

Thank you!

@Dr-Sassi Oh, I have that book!

@Dr-Sassi
So, does my scale work for the scene? I thought of working in real life scale would be better. So I made the lens to be so long...
And can you please explain what is R.H?

Thank you :)))

@Dr-Sassi Thank you so much for your prompt help! I will configure to your comments. Let's see what happens!

Thank you for quick response. Im still learning the software. SO many questions!:

Hi!
It might be a fresnel issue, and I don't know how to solve.
With HDRI, the areas before dull and desaturated. Without HDRI, its just black areas.
My gold, highly reflective material seems to look good from other angles, but in this shot, some areas look grey and dull, no color at all. It seem that the light doesn't reach at some angles? Is that fresnel issue?