Improve Dome Light and HDRI Maps in V-Ray for SketchUp

Lighting is a key factor in creating stunning architectural visualizations. In V-Ray for SketchUp, the Dome Lights with HDRI maps are a great tool for realistic lighting and captivating backgrounds.

This guide will walk you through setting up Dome Lights, choosing HDRI maps, and achieving complete control over lighting and backgrounds.

Setting Up Dome Light

Dome Lights create natural lighting using HDRI maps, which are panoramic images with realistic light details. The right HDRI map lets you control shadows, brightness, and the background of your render. You can find high-quality, free HDRI maps on websites like PolyHaven.

Choose an HDRI Map

The HDRI map you select affects the shadows and background of your scene. For example:

1. Shadows: Depending on the HDRI map you choose, you can create either strong shadows or soft shadows.

   • The Small Harbour Sunset map produces soft shadows.

   • The Limpopo Golf Course map creates strong shadows in your scene.

2. Background: The background will also vary in your scene depending on the HDRI map you use.

   • The Limpopo Golf Course map has small, distant trees, creating a background with trees that appear far away.

   • The J&E Gray 02 map has tall, close trees, resulting in a background with large trees.

To light the scene, I will choose an HDRI map called Waterbuck Trail. I usually pick HDRI maps in 4K or 8K resolution because they offer good quality and are easy for SketchUp to handle.

Setting Up a Dome Light in V-Ray

Add a Dome Light:

• Click on the Dome Light icon in V-Ray.

• Position it in your scene and open the Asset Editor.

1. Upload the HDRI Map:

   • Download your chosen HDRI map (e.g., Waterbuck Trail).

   • In the Dome Light properties, upload the HDRI file under the texture slot.

2. Adjust Light Intensity:

   • Set the intensity to 100 for optimal lighting.

   • Ensure the Dome Light shape is set to Sphere (in newer V-Ray versions, this is the default).

3. Turn Off Sunlight:

   • Disable the sunlight in the Dome Light properties to prevent conflicting light sources.

Customizing Lighting with HDRI Rotation

To create the best lighting and shadows, you can rotate the HDRI map in the Dome Light settings. This allows you to fine-tune how light interacts with your scene.

1. Open the Dome Light properties and click on the texture slot.

2. Expand the Texture Placement tab and adjust the Rotate H value.

3. Enable interactive rendering to preview the changes in real time

Rotating the HDRI map not only changes the lighting but also adjusts the background visible through windows. This gives you greater control over the overall look and feel of your render.

Separating Lighting and Background

econd Dome Light.

1. Enable the Invisible Option in the Primary Dome Light:
   In the properties of your primary Dome Light, check the Invisible option. This ensures the light illuminates the scene without affecting the background.

2. Add a Second Dome Light for the Background:

   • Create a new Dome Light and rename it Background.

   • Upload an HDRI map for the background (e.g., Clarens Midday).

   • Set the intensity to 100 for optimal visibility.

3. Limit the Background Dome Light’s Influence:

   • In the Options tab, uncheck the following settings to ensure this Dome Light affects only the background and not the scene lighting:

     • Invisible

     • Shadows

     • Affect Alpha

     • Affect Diffuse

     • Affect Specular

     • Affect Reflections

     • Affect Atmospherics

Fine-Tuning with Light Mix

V-Ray’s Light Mix Render Element allows for post-render adjustments to lighting:

1. Create Lightmix Render Element

2. Open Light Mix in the V-Ray Frame Buffer after rendering.

3. Adjust the intensity and color of the Dome Light and Background separately

Final Adjustments with Finite Dome and Color Manipulation

Using Finite Dome for Background Control

The Finite Dome option is a powerful feature in V-Ray that lets you adjust the size and projection of the Dome Light. This is especially useful when you want to control how much of the sky or surrounding environment appears outside the windows in your render.

1. Enable the Finite Dome:
   Open the Dome Light properties and check the Finite Dome option. This will allow you to modify its size and placement.

2. Adjust the Radius:
   Use the Radius slider to control the size of the Dome. A smaller radius brings background elements, like trees and greenery, closer to the scene, while a larger radius creates the illusion of a distant environment.

3. Set the Projection Height:
   Modify the Projection Height to balance the sky and greenery. Increasing the height adds more sky to the background, while decreasing it emphasizes the greenery and ground elements.

These adjustments ensure that your background aligns perfectly with the mood and composition of your scene.

Manipulating Background Colors for Subtle Effects

Sometimes, the background may appear too vibrant or contrast too sharply with your scene. To create a softer, more harmonious look, you can manipulate the colors of the HDRI map directly:

1. Access the Color Manipulation Tab:
   In the Dome Light properties, click on the texture slot and open the Color Manipulation tab.

2. Use Color Offset:
   Adjust the Color Offset value to desaturate the HDRI map. This reduces the intensity of colors, making the background less distracting. For example, changing the offset to a neutral gray tone can create a subtle and realistic effect.

Conclusion

By using Finite Dome and Color Manipulation, you can precisely control the visual impact of your lighting and background. These advanced settings allow you to craft scenes with enhanced realism, ensuring your renders stand out with professional quality.

Visualization Course V-Ray for Sketchup

Create Photorealistic Render From Start to Finish

Learn More