2020 - how to use hdri reflection without background displayed?

[Anonymous]

hello, I've been getting used to the hdri integration in max 2020. But it seems like plugging a map into the environment slot so that I can get hdri reflection in viewport also forces me to view that as my background image, this can be very distracting. How can I preserve the reflections from the hdri environment input, but view the background as standard gradient or color? - when I toggle the viewport settings to use gradient, I lose my reflections from the hdri. 

Thanks! 

[Francisco_Penaloza]

Depending on the rendering software that you use, there will be different options. Most of them may be called, Background overwrites or background replacement. Also, you could surround your scene with a giant ball or cylinder with a different background than you desire and make that geometry to not cast shadows.

That way the environment still will produce lighting but it won't be visible to your camera.

The background overwrite is a better option anyways.

[Anonymous]

Hi Francisco, Thanks for the reply. 

However I am just talking about the base viewport render inside of 3dsMax, I want to keep the reflections on the PBR materials in viewport while I model, but I don't want to look at those hdri inputs as my viewport background, as it is just far too noisy. 

And putting an inverted sphere around my scene has been my workaround so far, but it causes the IBL to go pretty crazy - and just generally it feels like a horrible bodge workaround really. 

[madsd]

https://www.facebook.com/Autodesk3dsMax/posts/10157540828722851:0

Sign up for the 25th and get a tour on whats coming, you never know if what you seek will be in there.

[Richard.Vivanco]

Which render engine you use?

In corona for example you can override the background, preserving the light and reflections for original hdri.

[madsd · Accepted solution]

You can download 2021 now and get hold of the OSL environment switch shader which does this.

The thing I hinted at last week.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mads, I will take a look in 2021. 🙂