Your first lighting setup

Create a scene#

Open HDRi Studio and enter the studio password supplied by your administrator. The Help Center is available without unlocking the editor. For a clean start, choose Studio menu → New Blank Lighting Setup. Save any work you want to keep before replacing a scene.

A blank setup starts with one editable Canvas gradient light, white at the top and black at the bottom. This gives the model light while you begin. Disable or delete it if you need an unlit canvas. The default workspace puts Light Stack on the left, Render Preview above HDR Canvas in the center, and Light Properties on the right. Other panels start collapsed.

Add and place a light#

1. In Light Stack, choose + Light → Softbox.
2. Select its row. In Light Properties, adjust color, brightness, width, height and Edge Softness.
3. Drag the light's numbered handle on HDR Canvas to position it around the environment.
4. In Render Preview, choose Place reflection on model and click the model where you want the reflection. Return to Orbit to inspect your result.
5. Try another light or open Light Magic → Lighting Rigs for a starting arrangement. Review the rig's import choices before applying it.

Save an editable project#

Choose Studio menu → Save Project to download a .lumen file. This keeps the editable lighting and embedded assets. The “Saved on this device” message refers to browser storage; it is not a cloud backup.

Export the environment#

Choose Export HDRi, select Radiance HDR or OpenEXR, choose one or more resolutions and select Export Selected. Download the finished file or the ZIP for multiple resolutions. Load that environment into your renderer.

Continue learning#

Read Light Stack, HDR Canvas, export settings and saving projects. If a control is missing, check your Usage Mode.

Find the menu and choose an appearance#

The yellow three-bar button after Export HDRi is the Studio menu, containing Preferences and the file commands. The sun/moon button immediately after Help switches the interface appearance. Dark is the default; light and dark modes use the same lighting values and editing tools.