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Environment

This article explains how to select an environment preset and fine‑tune intensity, rotation, and ground inside the 3D Editor.

Location: 3D Editor → Layout → Scene → Environment

Overview

An environment preset is an environment map (a surrounding image used as a light and reflection source).

  • It affects the entire scene, not a single mesh.
  • It is most visible on reflective materials (metal, glossy plastics, clearcoat, glass).
  • Changing environment settings late in production can break visual consistency across products.

Adjust environment lighting

Step 1: Open the Environment panel

  1. Open your product.
  2. Go to 3D Editor.
  3. Switch to Layout.
  4. Open Scene.
  5. Scroll to Environment.

Step 2: Select an Environment preset

  1. In Environment, choose a preset from the Environment field.
  2. If you need to remove it, click X next to the preset name.

What it affects:

  • Global light direction
  • Material reflections
  • Overall contrast and brightness

Screenshot needed: Environment preset selected (dropdown + selected value).

Step 3: Set Environment Intensity

Intensity controls both scene brightness and reflection strength.

  1. Increase Intensity if the scene looks dull or flat.
  2. Decrease Intensity if highlights feel too strong or unnatural.
  3. Adjust in small steps and always check a metal/glossy surface.

Step 4: Rotate the environment

Rotation changes:

  • Light direction
  • Highlight placement
  • Reflection position
  1. Rotate the environment until key highlights land on the most important parts.
  2. Use subtle rotations for precise control.

Tip: This is one of the fastest ways to improve the look without touching materials or geometry.

Step 5: Toggle Env Ground

Env Ground adds a virtual ground plane.

Enable when:

  • You need a showroom look
  • The product should feel “placed” on a surface

Disable when:

  • You need a transparent background
  • The product should look floating/isolated

Step 6: Validate the result

  • Preview is a full configurator mode.
  • For quick checks of lighting and materials, use 3D Editor or Product Editor.

Checklist:

  • Metals are not overexposed
  • Highlights look intentional
  • No unexpected dark/gray look

How environment maps affect materials

  • Metal reflects the environment strongly and clearly.
  • Glossy paint / plastic shows softer, blurred reflections.
  • Matte surfaces show minimal reflection.

Rotation note:

  • Rotating the environment does not rotate the model.
  • It only repositions light and reflections.

Common issues

  • Metal looks flat → increase Intensity slightly or choose a different environment.
  • Highlights look wrong → rotate the environment.
  • Scene looks gray → the environment may be too neutral; try a higher‑contrast preset.
  1. Select an Environment preset.
  2. Rotate to place highlights.
  3. Adjust Intensity for balance.
  4. Toggle Env Ground if needed.
  5. Check in 3D Editor / Product Editor, then confirm in Preview.

Next steps

  • Light Sources
  • Cameras
  • Post Processing
  • Materials & Textures
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