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Blender 2.8 and newer contains a number of HDRi's in it by default for LookDev. I'd like to know how to use them in final renders (EEVEE or Cycles), because quite frankly they appear fantastic.

Duarte Farrajota Ramos
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Legoman
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    Note that these images are only 1024×512. I think all of them are available in higher resolution on HDRI Haven (e.g., forest.exr is Ninomaru Teien). – Stephen Jan 10 '20 at 14:07
  • Related https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/179960/render-looks-way-different-from-viewport-render-mode-how-can-i-fix-this/ https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/170533/which-mode-should-i-trust-for-lighting – Duarte Farrajota Ramos Jul 24 '23 at 09:58

2 Answers2

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The default HDR images can be found in your installation folder:

  • [Windows] - C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender <version>\<version>\Datafiles\Studiolights\World\
  • [MacOS] - /Applications/Blender/Contents/Resources/<version>/Datafiles/Studiolights/World/
  • [Linux] - /opt/Blender <version>/<version>/Datafiles/Studiolights/World/ or /usr/share/blender/<version>/datafiles/studiolights/world/

In the World section, set the surface type to Background and the Color to use Environment Texture. Then select the HDR image you would like to use:

enter image description here

enter image description here

Chris D
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Emir
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  • Would have been useful if we can read anything about the node setup on your image :/ – IcanDivideBy0 Apr 30 '19 at 17:47
  • Take a look at this link (minute 9:29) https://vimeo.com/308999212 it's basically CTRL + T – Emir May 01 '19 at 01:56
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    wondering, is there a way to achieve blur effect of background like lookdev – RUben Jun 06 '19 at 15:43
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    Blender 2.8: The previews just got better than your renders ;) – TobTobXX Aug 23 '19 at 15:52
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    In 2.90.0 I required Environment texture node, not Image Texture node... with the image node it did not render at all. – DAG Nov 04 '20 at 18:10
  • This answer is now obsolete :( – 10 Rep Nov 27 '20 at 01:30
  • @10Rep what did not work for you? works for me Blender 2.91 – Emir Nov 27 '20 at 01:57
  • @Emir I needed to add an exr file, not a hdr file. You should include that in your answer. And it still doesn't render properly. – 10 Rep Nov 27 '20 at 02:09
  • @10Rep It's the same, if you look closely to the image you should notice that they are EXR files (The one in the image says "Sunset.exr") – Emir Nov 27 '20 at 02:22
  • @Emir That's all fine, but when I click "Render", it shows up without the enviroment. Same for you? – 10 Rep Nov 27 '20 at 02:24
  • @10Rep That could be a different issue with the render settings; i highly recommend you to make acompletly new question with screenshots of your settings to get a different methods to solve that – Emir Nov 27 '20 at 02:31
  • Hello @10Rep :). If I may - HDRIs need to use the specific Environment texture node to be displayed correctly. The standard Image texture node only distorts them. – jachym michal Nov 27 '20 at 16:28
  • @Jaychm Michal yes I have understood that. But how do I use an environment texture node? I really dont understand that. – 10 Rep Nov 27 '20 at 18:10
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Here is a list of corresponding HDRIs from HDRI Haven in full resolution.

enter image description here

  1. City > Portland Landing Pad
  2. Courtyard > Courtyard
  3. Forest > Ninomaru Teien
  4. Interior > Hotel Room
  5. Night > Moonless Golf
  6. Studio > Studio Small
  7. Sunrise > Spruit Sunrise
  8. Sunset > Venice Sunset
jachym michal
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