Wouter Weynants - HDRI Browser

Distribution Product Discussion
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Accelerate your Unreal Engine lighting workflow with a native Poly Haven browser built into UE5. Search, preview, download, import, and apply CC0 HDRIs without leaving the editor. Filter by text, tags, and categories; quickly try out environments at low resolution, then download the best one at full res into your content browser. Assets are free for commercial use under the CC0 license—see the Poly Haven License for details.

[Showcase Video] | [Documentation] | [Join the Discord] | [Poly Haven License]

Features

✅ Fast in-editor search — with tags and categories, powered by the Poly Haven API
✅ One-click Download → Import → Apply flow — with live preview and scene restore
✅ Configurable resolution (1K–8K) — local cache control, and background downloads
✅ Editor‑native UI — feels at home in UE5 (Content Browser “HDRIs” button, Nomad tab)
✅ Works with HDRI Backdrop — can spawn or reuse a backdrop and restore original cubemaps after preview

Use Cases

Look-dev & lighting — audition multiple environments quickly, then commit the best one at full resolution.

Archviz & product shots — accurate reflections and GI with real-world HDRIs.

Realtime prototyping — iterate fast without leaving the editor.

Virtual production — manage HDRI libraries per project with consistent resolution control.

Quickstart

  1. Install and enable the HDRI Browser plugin

  2. Press the HDRIs button in the Content Browser

  3. Set your preferred HDRI Resolution in Window -> Editor Preferences... -> General -> HDRI Browser Settings (default is 4k, current maximum is 8k)

  4. Search or browse categories and select an HDRI to preview

  5. Click the button to download, then import, then apply as needed

Credits and Collaboration

Developed in close collaboration with Poly Haven with permission to distribute this plugin.

Half of all earnings are directed to Poly Haven to support their mission of providing CC0 assets.

If you would like the best value while directly supporting their work, Poly Haven patrons can access this plugin through them, which is often more affordable than purchasing on Fab.

For current license terms and project information, refer to Poly Haven.

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Wouter Bro any ideas why this fails? I just purchased it and I cant install it.

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Managed to install it somehow, but currently plugin is without exception crashing UE5.7. its not possible to import anything, plugin crashes when I click on HDRI to get it previewed in sidebar, it shows up in sidebar but after few seconds UE crashes

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Hi, thanks for the screenshots and the crash details.

The first issue, the “Install Failed / IS-0009” error in the Epic Games Launcher, looks like a Launcher/install-state issue rather than a plugin crash. But it looks like you managed to get past it manually?

For the actual UE 5.7 crash, based on the crash message, I think this may be caused by the plugin’s Default Content Path setting.

The crash mentions: Assertion failed: PathView[0] == '/'

That usually means Unreal received a content path that does not start with `/`.

Could you please try the following?

1. Open your project in Unreal Engine.
2. Go to Edit → Project Settings → Plugins → HDRI Browser.
3. Find Default Content Path.
4. Make sure it starts with `/Game/`.

It should not be: Game/HDRIs

After changing it, save the setting and try previewing/importing an HDRI again.

I’m not 100% certain without checking your exact project settings. If it still crashes after setting the path, please let me know and I’ll dig further.