HDRI Link connects Cinema 4D and your render engine to the Greyscalegorilla HDRI library. Browse, preview, and apply HDRIs without ever leaving your scene.
Training Videos
Getting Started with HDRI Link in Redshift
Getting Started with HDRI Link in Octane
Getting Started with HDRI Link in Arnold
Quick Start
The fastest way to get HDRI Link up and running is with Drop Zone. If you have Drop Zone installed, you can skip the manual setup below entirely.
With Drop Zone (Fastest)
Create a dome light for your renderer (Redshift, Octane, or Arnold).
Drag the light's texture parameter into the Drop Zone panel.
Drop Zone automatically creates the HDRI Link tag and connects it for you.
Open the Plus Library, click any HDRI thumbnail, and it loads instantly into your scene.
Redshift (Manual)
In the Redshift menu, go to Lights and create a Dome Light.
Add the HDRI Link tag to the dome light. You can do this from the Tags menu, by right-clicking the light, from the Greyscalegorilla menu, or via the Commander (Shift+C, type "HDRI Link").
With the dome light selected, find the Dome Map parameter in the Attributes panel and drag it onto the HDRI Link tag. The tag turns from gray to white when connected.
Double-click the tag to open the Plus Library and click any thumbnail to apply it.
Octane (Manual)
Open the Octane Live Viewer, go to Objects, and click HDRI Environment. This adds an Octane Sky object to your scene.
Select the Octane Sky tag and add the HDRI Link tag from the Tags menu, the Greyscalegorilla menu, or via the Commander (Shift+C, type "HDRI Link").
With the Octane Sky tag selected, twirl down to the File parameter (not Texture) and drag it onto the HDRI Link tag. The tag turns white when connected.
Double-click the tag to open the Plus Library and click any thumbnail to apply it.
Arnold (Manual)
In the Arnold menu, create a Skydome Light (or an Arnold Sky).
Add the HDRI Link tag from the Tags menu, the Greyscalegorilla menu, or via the Commander (Shift+C, type "HDRI Link").
With the skydome light selected, find the Color parameter and drag it onto the HDRI Link tag. The tag turns from gray to white when connected.
Double-click the tag to open the Plus Library and click any thumbnail to apply it.
The Plus Library
The Plus Library is where you browse and apply HDRIs. Open it by:
Double-clicking the HDRI Link tag
Going to Attributes > Base tab > Open Plus Library
The Greyscalegorilla menu
Commander (Shift+C), type "library"
Click any thumbnail to load it into your scene. The library includes collections like Pro Studios Metal, Ultimate Skies, Modern Industrial, and more. New HDRIs are added regularly.
Tips
Use Preview resolution while browsing. In the tag's Advanced tab, change Resolution from Full to Preview. This loads HDRIs much faster so you can try different looks quickly. Switch back to Full before your final render. You can set Preview as your default from the same tab.
Toggle the background. If you do not want to see the HDRI in your render background, set the Camera Contribution slider to 0 on your dome or skydome light. The HDRI will still light your scene. Note: older versions of Redshift had an Enable Background checkbox instead.
Deleting the tag is safe. If you remove the HDRI Link tag, the last selected HDRI stays loaded in your light. Nothing breaks.
Multiple HDRI Link tags in one scene. If you have more than one HDRI Link tag (for example, one on a dome light and one on an area light), make sure you select the correct tag before clicking in the Plus Library. Each tag controls its own light independently.
Add your own HDRIs. Go to Edit > Preferences, find the Greyscalegorilla section, and add a folder path under Plus Library preferences. Your custom HDRIs will appear under the User HDRIs section after restarting C4D.