If you render an HDRI-lit scene without turning on Global Illumination (GI), you won't see the lighting at all. GI is the rendering engine that calculates how light bounces off surfaces. To enable it: Go to Render > Edit Render Settings . Click "Effects" and choose "Global Illumination".
Shiny surfaces like glass, chrome, and water require a detailed environment to look believable. Sky maps provide those complex reflections.
If you render an HDRI-lit scene without turning on Global Illumination (GI), you won't see the lighting at all. GI is the rendering engine that calculates how light bounces off surfaces. To enable it: Go to Render > Edit Render Settings . Click "Effects" and choose "Global Illumination".
Shiny surfaces like glass, chrome, and water require a detailed environment to look believable. Sky maps provide those complex reflections.
