HDRi File and HDRi Environment

Import an image light#

Choose + Light → HDRi File and select an image. HDR and EXR retain high-dynamic-range lighting values; ordinary images can also be used but do not acquire extra highlight detail simply by importing them.

HDRi File accepts any aspect ratio. Set Mapping, width, height and placement for the intended use. A cropped softbox texture usually needs a different mapping from a full equirectangular panorama.

Add an HDRi Environment#

Choose + Light → HDRi Environment, described as Full Canvas HDRi Environment, or Studio menu → Import HDRi Environment. This is the renamed HDRi Reference Layer workflow, with new layers included in Render Preview by default. It places a flat canvas-mapped image at the bottom of the current stack, centered at 360° × 180° with Normal blend. Use a 2:1 panorama for an undistorted environment. You can reorder and edit it like an HDRi File layer.

To trace or match a panorama while lighting the model only with other lights, enable Exclude in Render Preview manually. It stays visible on HDR Canvas. In Export HDRi, leave Ignore Excluded Lights on to omit that reference, or turn it off to include it. Previously saved layers keep their existing exclusion setting.

Blur and color controls#

Gaussian Blur, below Edge Softness, blurs the image content. Edge Softness instead affects its boundary. Image controls include gamma, saturation, flips and alpha handling. Unpremultiply is useful only when the source color was stored premultiplied by alpha; applying it unnecessarily can change edge brightness.

Asset handling#

Original imported assets are embedded in a saved .lumen project and used for export. Preview images can be reduced for responsiveness. Save the project before clearing browser data or switching devices.

For extracting editable sources from a panorama, use HDRi to Light Stack.

Source color space#

In Light Properties, choose Source color space. Use Linear sRGB / decoded sRGB for ordinary images and conventional HDR maps. Use ACEScg (linear EXR) only for an ACEScg source. This explicit interpretation is saved in the project. It does not infer a source profile or load a custom OCIO configuration.

The HDR preview stays visible while scrolling its properties. While pinned, its top corners are square and its top border disappears; the bottom corners remain rounded. This also applies to the Gem Environment preview.