Viewport Background Reflections without displaying Background Image

[dswahn]

When using the High Quality viewport setting with a background, reflective materials get nice approximative reflections in the viewport. This helps bring out the shape of metallic surfaces that are dependent on some kind of environment.

The problem comes when changing the background display mode from Use Environment Background to for example Use Customize User Interface Solid Color, the background reflections in objects disappear and the surfaces becomes mostly black.

It would be useful to be able to hide the background image in the viewport but keep the reflections on object surfaces. The background can sometimes be distracting when working with scenes so it would be useful to be able to disable it yet keep the surface reflections.

With background visible

With no background visible

Desired result (mockup)  

[dswahn]

I recently learned how you can use OSL Environment/Background Switcher (also HDRI Environment) to achieve this. Not a super intuitive solution, but it definitely solves what I was requesting. The only issue I noticed is that this solution also affects the background when rendering with Scanline, but that is more of a renderer issue rather than viewport. I know modern renderers like Vray and Arnold both have support for background/environment overriding. 

[Kranos_Orphydian]

this should be more simple and intuitive to setup

[Carlos_Carpintero]

hello dswahn!

As you found, the solution is to use the OSL HDRI Environment or the OSL Environment/Background Switcher maps.

I am setting this Idea to Implemented, however, thank you for taking the time to post it, any and all feedback is always appreciated.

Regards,

Carlos

Product Owner