Native Viewport Visualization of V-Ray Dome Light (HDRI) Background in Cinema 4D

V-Ray V-Ray for Cinema 4D Requests
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Goal: Enhance the user experience and speed up the composition/framing process when using V-Ray in Cinema 4D.

The Issue: When using a V-Ray Dome Light with an HDRI for scene illumination, the environment map is not visible in the native Cinema 4D viewport. Users are currently forced to use workarounds (like adding the HDRI manually to a native C4D Sky Object or Environment settings) to see the background for composition and framing purposes.

The Suggested Solution: We request the implementation of an automatic synchronization feature. When a user adds an HDRI map to the V-Ray Dome Light, V-Ray should automatically inject or copy this HDRI map into the Cinema 4D native viewport background settings (for visualization only, not for rendering).

Key Benefits:

  1. Faster Workflow: Allows users to frame their shots, position their cameras, and accurately compose the scene against the chosen HDRI background without needing to start the V-Ray IPR (Interactive Production Render) or use manual workarounds.
  2. Better Composition: Improves the ability to align models with elements in the HDRI (e.g., placing a building on the horizon line).
  3. Consistency: Aligns the UX of V-Ray for C4D with the expected modern workflow of real-time viewport composition.

Submitted on AHA Ideas by Lucía Domínguez (VC4D-I-45).

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AHA Ideas status: New.
Set during AHA Ideas to Discourse migration.