Short tutorial explaining how to load hdri map into Blender 4.1 in few steps. No basic knowledge of Blender is required.
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Download an HDRI Map: First, you need to have an HDRI map. There are various websites where you can download free or paid HDRI maps. Make sure you choose one that suits your scene and lighting needs.
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Open Blender 4.1: Launch Blender and make sure you're in the default layout or whichever layout you prefer.
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Switch to the Shading Workspace: At the top of the Blender interface, there are different workspaces. Click on the "Shading" workspace. This workspace allows you to work with materials and textures.
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Open the Shader Editor: In the Shading workspace, you'll see a split window with various panels. Click on the "Shader Editor" panel. This is where you'll create and edit materials.
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Create or Select the Environment Texture Node: In the Shader Editor, you'll see a node graph. If you're starting with a new scene, press Shift+A to open the Add menu, then go to Texture > Environment Texture. If you already have an environment texture node, select it.
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Open the HDRI Image: With the Environment Texture node selected, in the Properties panel on the right side of the Shader Editor, you'll see options for that node. Click on the button next to "Open" to browse for the HDRI image file on your computer. Select the HDRI map you downloaded.
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Connect the Environment Texture Node to the Background Node (Optional): If you want the HDRI to affect the background of your scene, you can connect the Color output of the Environment Texture node to the Background node. Click and drag from the Color output socket of the Environment Texture node to the Color input socket of the Background node.
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Adjust Settings (Optional): You can adjust various settings of the Environment Texture node, such as the strength of the image, rotation, and mapping, to better fit your scene.
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Render the Scene: Once you've loaded and configured the HDRI map, switch to the Render workspace by clicking on the "Render" workspace at the top. Then, you can preview your scene by clicking on the "Render" button or pressing F12.
That's it! You've successfully loaded an HDRI map into Blender 4.1.