U g I n f o r d e s I g n e r s

V-Ray for SketchUp
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4
. If you want the object reflect the HDR 
image Environment as well, you can assign 
the same HDR image to the Environment 
Background, and make sure the UVW is set 
to Environment. After the Background HDR 
is added, the result is as image on the 
right.
3
. Because the textures is being applied to the environment and not an object make sure you check 
the Environment under UVW after the file is imported. 
Render it and will get the image on the right. You 
will see a big difference between this image and 
the image that used only color for Environment 
light source. This is because the HDR is providing 
the illumination for the scene based on the colors 
and intensities of the image.
HDR Images courtesy of Wouter Wynen
http://www.aversis.be
2
.Choose Bitmap from Type, click on 
“
m
” 
beside
File
and
import
an .
hdr
file
.
HDR Environment light
Instead of using a color for an Environment light source, V-Ray also supports HDR images to use as 
Environment light source. Open file 
.
. O p e n V - R a y f o r S k e t c h U p
’
s Re n d e r 
Options, open Environment menu and click on 
the 
“
m
” 
at
the
right
of
GI
to
enter
the
Texture
Chairs-HDR_01.skp
1
V-Ray for SketchUp
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Due to the fact that HDR images are usually provided byothers, the lighting environment may not 
product the desired effect. It may take sometime to adjust the intensity. 
Although HDR image has produces better results than a normal image, HDRs stll lack the true 
brightness of a natural environment. So normally it
'
s used only for Environment light source, and 
usually some additional light is added.
To compare, below are three images rendered with different HDR images as the Environment light 
sources. You can see the light and color
change
dramatically
according
to
each
HDR
image
.