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title: "Image-based Lighting, Sunlight, and Cosmos HDRIs"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/LAV/125110483/Image-based%20Lighting%2C%20Sunlight%2C%20and%20Cosmos%20HDRIs"
format: markdown
---
This page offers a quick starting point on working with image-based lighting, sunlight, and Cosmos HDRIs in Chaos Vantage. Overview You can enhance your scene in Chaos Vantage by adding Cosmos HDRIs, as well as by using geo-located time of day settings, and advanced lighting setups. Here you can explore how to integrate high-quality HDRIs from the Chaos Cosmos library to create realistic environment lighting, adjust the time of day based on specific geographical locations for accurate sunlight simulation, and manage multiple light sources within your scene. Note that the final animation in the video has undergone some post-processing. Want to follow along but don’t have a license?   Steps Load a scene or project in Chaos Vantage. Step 1: Chaos Cosmos HDRIs Import Open the built-in Cosmos browser by clicking the Chaos Cosmos Browser ( ) button in the top toolbar. Alternatively, go to the Cosmos menu and select Chaos Cosmos Browser. From the HDRI section, choose a sky image. Note that previously downloaded assets can be filtered using the  Downloaded  category. Then import the HDRI by   either: drag-n-dropping it in the sky using the import ( ) button Swap different HDRIs to explore different lighting scenarios. Adjust exposure as needed. Step 2: Time of Day Variations In the Environment tab > Sky rollout, switch the  Environment mode  to  Physical sky . Switching the Environment mode to Physical sky ignores the previously imported HDRI. Instead a Sky texture is used. In the Environment tab > Sun rollout, select a Sun position mode: switch the  Sun position  dropdown to  Altitude/Azimuth  to easily control its position in the sky by adjusting the  Altitude  and  Azimuth  parameters. switch the  Sun position  dropdown to  Geolocation  to get accurate sun position based on  Latitude / Longitude  coordinates and  Time  values. Step 3: Work with many lights Lights can be selected either in the viewport with the  Select  ( ) tool or in the  Objects  tab. Shown parameters for lights can be folded or expanded by using the  Expand all lights  or  Collapse all lights  buttons above the light lister. Instanced lights are shown as groups marked with  [G]  in the light lister of the  Lights  tab and share settings. Making changes to one parameter changes it for all of the lights. Instanced lights can also become unique (ungrouped) by using the checkbox or the  Ungroup  ( ) button. Step 4: Individual control of lights To make a change to a light, select it either in the viewport or in the Objects tab and change its parameters. Available parameters can be displayed by switching between the  Compact ,  Basic , and  Advanced  buttons. You can disable the lights' gizmos via the  Open View filters  ( ) option in the top toolbar.