Both. Exposure definitely exists. But I don't feel like that means objects/light sources are forced to turn glowy like in my game examples (this is where bloom comes in and I feel makes it worse). Even the worst over exposed photos that turn up on on google image search doesn't show people glowing like the sun. But just…
Everytime I tell myself "maybe I shouldn't make this thread", I find some new example somewhere on the internet that tells me "no, there's something really bad about bloom". Bloom isn't new of course, it's been used as early as the PS2 days. But I can't shake this feeling that after reading Marmoset's article on PBR and…
This is not connected to PBR at all, nor to materials. Only to pixel brightness. Its a post process effect, so its an artistic thing. Bloom is exaggerated in a lot of games, sometimes its way too exaggerated but it can add to the final image depending on what look you are aiming. It can be a part of the style. To me the…
Here's another comparison, using the Unity demo scene. Only change is the bloom. I like how it subtly softens the edges of bright surfaces, but doesn't hit you over the head with it. Especially where the roofs and terrain touch the sky, but also on the green ground and the sunlit buildings.
I'll hold the apparently controversial opinion that I loved/love the bloom in Oblivion, and I feel like it added to the mystical feel of the world it took place in. It's one of the games I think it worked for. Also, Oblivion is old enough that I feel the bloom actually made it feel more advanced, graphically, than it…
Don't forget the ol' 'Vasaline on the lens trick' to give the scene a dreamy effect. https://zarahdelhi.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/vintage-camera-effect/ It's a stylistic choice that can really set the mood. I typically only like using Bloom on VFX or emmissive lights. Using bloom on regular cotton clothing makes no sense to…
To be fair, this effect can be overdone with real life photography as well. Therefore I would say that yes, it is often overdone in games - but the effect itself is not to blame, just the use of it. "Blaming bloom" would be like stating that a given Photoshop blending mode is "wrong". You can look up MGSV as an example of…