This page offers a quick starting point on working with image-based lighting, sunlight, and Cosmos HDRIs in Chaos Vantage.
Want to follow along but don’t have a license?
Steps
Load a scene or project in Chaos Vantage.
Chaos Cosmos HDRIs Import
Open the built-in Cosmos browser by clicking the Chaos Cosmos Browser (
) button in the top toolbar. Alternatively, go to the Cosmos menu and select Chaos Cosmos Browser.
From the HDRI section, choose a sky image. Note that previously downloaded assets can be filtered using the Downloaded category.
Then import the HDRI by either:
- drag-n-dropping it in the sky
- using the import (
) button
Swap different HDRIs to explore different lighting scenarios.
Adjust exposure as needed.
Time of Day Variations
In the Environment tab > Sky rollout, switch the Environment mode to Physical sky.
Switching the Environment mode to Physical sky ignores the previously imported HDRI. Instead a Sky texture is used.
In the Environment tab > Sun rollout, select a Sun position mode:
- switch the Sun position dropdown to Altitude/Azimuth to easily control its position in the sky by adjusting the Altitude and Azimuth parameters.
- switch the Sun position dropdown to Geolocation to get accurate sun position based on Latitude/Longitude coordinates and Time values.
Work with many lights
Lights can be selected either in the viewport with the Select (
) tool or in the Objects tab. Shown parameters for lights can be folded or expanded by using the Expand all lights or Collapse all lights buttons above the light lister.
Instanced lights are shown as groups marked with [G] in the light lister of the Lights tab and share settings. Making changes to one parameter changes it for all of the lights. Instanced lights can also become unique (ungrouped) by using the checkbox or the Ungroup (
) button.
Individual control of lights
To make a change to a light, select it either in the viewport or in the Objects tab and change its parameters. Available parameters can be displayed by switching between the Compact, Basic, and Advanced buttons.
) option in the top toolbar.Note that the final animation in the video has undergone some post-processing.