# HDRI doesn't light up environment **URL:** \ **Category:** Feedback & Requests\ **Tags:** hdri, unreal-engine, UE5-1, question\ **Created:** [November 16, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075 "2022-11-16T15:15:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/1 "2022-11-16T15:15:01Z")
Hi There, does anyone know why my hdri lit up the environment in my old UE5.0.3 project, but when i opened the project in 5.1 it doesn’t light up the scene anymore? did i forget to check something? Could appreciate some help! Cheers, Philip ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/e/6/7/e671ac545ec434b70c4943a90f29793910ed298f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/2 "2022-11-16T16:20:54Z")
@ZenLeviathan could u maybe help me with this? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/3 "2022-11-16T16:31:19Z")
@3dRaven hey could u maybe help me with this? :)) ---
**Author:** ![3dRaven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/3draven/32/906552_2.png) [@3dRaven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/3dRaven)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/4 "2022-11-16T16:48:01Z")
Are you using the HDI Backdrop plugin? It’s off by default in 5.1 it seems to work with this tutorial [![](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/1/6/f/16fc1fb7b700b1b6531583a2d5caad24f86a5ca0.jpeg "Unreal engine 5 : 1 minute HDRI tutorial for realistic lighting with lumen") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABKvmq9Kr7Y) ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/5 "2022-11-16T16:58:19Z")
@3dRaven yess, the plugin was enabled… also tried disabling it, restarting the engine, enabling it, restarting it again but it also didnt work. ■■■■ hahaha ---
**Author:** ![3dRaven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/3draven/32/906552_2.png) [@3dRaven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/3dRaven)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/6 "2022-11-16T17:00:33Z")
@Ritterbecks Be sure to set the min and max exposure for the post process volume otherwise all is black ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/7 "2022-11-16T17:03:05Z")
@3dRaven putting in a sky light and a sky atmosphere also doesn’t light up the scene… so it is probably a different problem. you know what could be the case? i also have atmosphere sun light enabled on the directional light settings ![Untitled5](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/2/2/a22299c2542e0d94b456bdb3a4a5baf802c3bf8a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![3dRaven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/3draven/32/906552_2.png) [@3dRaven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/3dRaven)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/8 "2022-11-16T17:04:09Z")
In the tutorial they delete all lights, skylights & env. lighting. The plugin has a built in skylight. ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/9 "2022-11-16T17:05:50Z")
@3draven thanks for your help, really appreciate it. The first photo i sent has the plugin enabled and all possible lights disabled. still no light from the HDRI… ---
**Author:** ![AustrianMunzter](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/austrianmunzter/32/630075_2.png) [@AustrianMunzter](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/AustrianMunzter)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/10 "2022-11-16T17:14:59Z")
@Ritterbecks hi, did you take a look in your default settings ? project settings - engine - rendering ![render_settings](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/0/e/5/0e59445437d1110b472f86f96e09ed9ad273c391.png) cheers ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/11 "2022-11-16T17:18:17Z")
@AustrianMunzter Hi! thanks for taking the time to respond. I have the same default settings as you got there in the screenshot. it has something to do with the fact that i upgraded from 5.0.3 to 5.1. it’s an old project where everything was fine in 5.0.3, but in 5.1 the lighting is not good. ---
**Author:** ![3dRaven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/3draven/32/906552_2.png) [@3dRaven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/3dRaven)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/12 "2022-11-16T17:21:24Z")
> **[HDRProject.zip](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I6jGX_OaG2wE1kj49jkkgv59Z9kGfzWL/view?usp=sharing)** > > Google Drive file. A quick example project I cooked up in 5.1 check if the lighting works ok there. Try swapping the hdr images in the HDR plugin asset that is in the scene. (I’m testing it on engine default HDR files) ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/13 "2022-11-16T17:28:23Z")
@3dRaven did it, works like normal when i add in the default hdri backdrop. idk what to make of this ---
**Author:** ![3dRaven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/3draven/32/906552_2.png) [@3dRaven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/3dRaven)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/14 "2022-11-16T17:30:48Z")
Could be the imported HDR file you tried had bad settings? (It could have been treated like a normal texture and not HDRI) ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/15 "2022-11-16T17:33:06Z")
@3dRaven nope, tried changing to the default hdri and also doesnt work. the problem is not in the hdri settings itself, but its a more general problem because adding a skylight + skyatmosphere also doesn’t light up the scene. yet again thank u very much for taking the time, really appreciate it!! ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/16 "2022-11-16T17:38:13Z")
@3dRaven just got a message saying “sky light waiting on shaders for final capture” does that have something to do with my problem? ---
**Author:** ![AustrianMunzter](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/austrianmunzter/32/630075_2.png) [@AustrianMunzter](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/AustrianMunzter)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/17 "2022-11-16T17:46:35Z")
hi, maybe this post can help you, i hope 🙂 > [@Skylight not working](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/skylight-not-working/470927/2): > > It’s happened again, I’ve made another map and after working for a while and building lighting a number of times, skylight just stopped working. Any help? Come on, Hivemind > [@Skylight not working](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/skylight-not-working/470927/8): > > Try changing lower hemisphere color from black to something else cheers ---
**Author:** ![3dRaven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/3draven/32/906552_2.png) [@3dRaven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/3dRaven)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/18 "2022-11-16T17:47:39Z")
HDR Settings ![hdr_set](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/d/f/5/df51f50800e382dbf308717f99edad01aced699f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![CoolSmek](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/coolsmek/32/595647_2.png) [@CoolSmek](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/CoolSmek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:29am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/19 "2022-12-01T04:29:38Z")
In UE5.1 I’m having the same problem with my project. Even in the material or mesh editor preview window, assets appear with no diffuse lighting at all, only reflections. I suspect it may have something to do with raytracing features being enabled. Do you have these project settings enabled? ![ProjectSettings](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/4/7/a47b633f5f3ef966945f79f3d6c899444f5c18b6.jpeg) If so, try disabling “Visible in Ray Tracing” on the HDRI Backdrop Geometry component in the details panel under the ‘Rendering \> Advanced’ tab. Worked for me. ![HDRI_Geo_Raytrace_Enabled](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/7/f/f/7ffe565e62d7bd8cb8a95ebd4a7e218ed2119ab4.jpeg) ![HDRI_Geo_Raytrace_Disabled](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/3/8/a3842c5648ff8df85cec79a7465c885a81bcd662.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Ritterbecks](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ritterbecks/32/593546_2.png) [@Ritterbecks](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Ritterbecks)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075/20 "2022-12-06T19:42:49Z")
@CoolSmek @3dRaven @AustrianMunzter i finally found the problem. you should increase the HDRI Backdrop size to something above 500. why the hdri doesn’t light up the environment when it has a size below 500, is still a mystery. thanks yet again for all of y’alls help! [Next page](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/hdri-doesnt-light-up-environment/692075.md?page=2)