Bloom filter for HDRI images

Hi, For those familiar with real-time HDRI work, a common processing step is to blur/filter the HDR values and then add them back to the scene - giving bloom/star (etc..) filters.. Whilst the actual effects might not be physically accurate, they do seem to at least be close to the physical effects. My understanding, which might be the problem here, is that in real photography those effects are a product of the lens (and its optical properties) used to take the image(s).. Which, surely, should mean that all incoming light is subject to the same scattering/filtering effect. Either it's all just a general blur/bloom or it's all going to be a star-filter. ?? However, I saw a link for some PGR3 screenshots (XB360), one of which is the following: (click to enlarge) From the looks of that image, the general sky/sun light in the background (behind the distant buildings) is just a general blur; whereas the close-up metal work (on the car wheel for example) is a star-filter. That is, for one image, they're generating two different types of lens-related optics...?? I've been doing my reading on HDRI - and had a quick look at my reference material, and I can't seem to find anything that indicated whether that image is correct/wrong or if what I'm saying is true [smile] From past experience, you guys in this forum are the ones that know about this sort of thing [grin] Any ideas? Cheers, Jack