HDRI Link connects Cinema 4D and your render engine to your Greyscalegorilla HDRIs in Cargo. Swap HDRIs into your scene straight from Cargo, without browsing for files.
Using Cargo: The Plus Library has been retired. HDRIs now come from Cargo, and you swap them by selecting the HDRI Link tag in Cinema 4D and Alt-clicking (Windows) or Option-clicking (Mac) a downloaded HDRI thumbnail in Cargo. For the full walkthrough, see HDRI Link Setup in Cargo.
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.
With the HDRI Link tag selected, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac) any downloaded HDRI thumbnail in Cargo to load it 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.
Select the HDRI Link tag, then Alt/Option-click any downloaded HDRI thumbnail in Cargo 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.
Select the HDRI Link tag, then Alt/Option-click any downloaded HDRI thumbnail in Cargo 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.
Select the HDRI Link tag, then Alt/Option-click any downloaded HDRI thumbnail in Cargo to apply it.
Swapping HDRIs from Cargo
Once HDRI Link is connected to your light, you browse and apply HDRIs from Cargo:
In Cinema 4D, select the HDRI Link tag on your light. The tag needs to be selected so Cargo knows where to send the HDRI.
In Cargo, go to your HDRI library and find the HDRI you want. It needs to be downloaded first; Alt/Option-clicking an HDRI that hasn't been downloaded won't trigger the swap.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac) the thumbnail. The HDRI swaps into your scene.
For troubleshooting, see HDRI Link Setup in Cargo.
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 Alt/Option-clicking in Cargo. Each tag controls its own light independently.