Technology is described herein that uses an object-encoding system to convert an object image into a combined encoding. The object image depicts a reference object, while the combined encoding represents an environment image. The environment image, in turn, depicts an estimate of an environment that has produced the illumination effects exhibited by the reference object. The combined encoding includes: a first part that represents image content in the environment image within a high range of intensities values; and a second part that represents image content within a low range of intensity values. Also described herein is a training system that trains the object-encoding system based on combined encodings produced by a separately-trained environment-encoding system. Also described herein are various applications of the object-encoding system and environment-encoding system.