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FAQ: Scene, Lighting & Environment ​

Frequently asked questions about scene setup, lighting, HDRI environments, shadows, and backgrounds in iJewel Playground.

Lighting setup: where do I start?

The light on your model comes from three parts. Set them in this order:

Step 1 of 3
  1. Environment map (HDRI): it gives most of the light and the reflections. See HDR lighting and Background / Environment.
  2. Lights: add scene lights for extra highlights. See Lights.
  3. Ground and shadows: see Ground and Progressive Shadow.
How do I set up an HDRI environment?

Go to Scene → Background / Environment and load an HDRI map. You can use the built-in presets or upload your own .hdr or .exr file. The environment map controls both the background appearance and the lighting/reflections on your model. Adjust Intensity and Rotation to fine-tune the look.

You can also create your own custom HDRI maps using the HDRI Editor.

How do I make the background transparent?
Step 1 of 4
  1. Go to Post Processing → Tonemapping and set Clip Background to true
  2. Disable Scene → Ground → Visible
  3. Disable Scene → Progressive Shadow
  4. Export as PNG (not JPG — JPG doesn't support transparency)

See the full guide in Export Images — Transparent Background.

Video Tutorial

Watch How to Make Pure White and Transparent Background for a step-by-step walkthrough.

I get a message "Background must be same as environment." What does this mean?

This message comes from the HDRi Ground plugin. It appears when the background texture is not the same as the environment texture. To fix it, make sure both are set to the same HDRI map, or simply confirm the dialog to sync them. If you see this message even when they seem equal, try updating to the latest Playground version.

How do I remove the ground plane?

Go to Scene → Ground and uncheck the Visible checkbox. This removes the ground so your model appears to float — useful for pendants, earrings, or any suspended jewelry.

How do I fix the ground position? It moves when I import new models.

The ground adjusts automatically to match the model's position. To lock it at a specific height, go to Scene → Ground → Height and set the value manually. This keeps the ground at a fixed level regardless of what you import.

Why do shadows rotate with my model during turntable recording?

By default, progressive shadows are baked and move with the scene. To get shadows that stay fixed while the model rotates:

Step 1 of 3
  1. Create directional lights in Blender with animated rotation (keeping the target on the jewelry)
  2. Export as GLB with animations
  3. In Playground, these will appear as GLTF Animations — play them during recording

Alternatively, you can disable baked shadows on the ground and use real-time shadows from scene lights, though this requires more setup.

Video Tutorial

Watch How to Create Custom Shadows for a complete guide on shadow customization.

Can I disable baked shadows and use real-time shadows instead?

Yes. Disable baked shadows on the ground from Scene → Ground settings (uncheck shadow-related options). Then add lights in Scene → Lights with shadow casting enabled. When moving a light, the scene will re-render automatically with updated shadows.

How do I use a custom background image?

Go to Scene → Background / Environment and upload an image file. Note that background images may scale differently on different screen sizes. For consistent results across devices, use a square or wide-aspect image and test at your target resolution.

My custom background image turns grayscale or black after saving. Why?

Turn off Tonemap Background in Post Processing → Tonemapping. With this option on, the tonemapping changes the colors of the background image too.

If the background is still wrong, upload the background image again after you load your model.

What's the difference between Tonemapping and Clip Background?

Tonemapping adjusts the color grading and exposure of the entire render (similar to a photo filter). Clip Background is a boolean setting within Tonemapping that controls whether the background is rendered or made transparent. When Clip Background is enabled, the background becomes transparent for export — the model itself is still tonemapped normally.

How do I create a custom gradient background?

Use the Gradient SVG section in the Scene tab. Enable it, choose between Linear or Radial gradient type, pick two colors, and adjust the angle and positions. You can also apply the gradient to the scene background with the Apply to Background checkbox.

Video Tutorial

Watch How to Change Background & Ground Color for a visual guide on changing background and ground colors.

Why do I see blotchy, patchy or black shadows?

Find what you see:

  • Blotchy or patchy shadow on the ground: go to Scene → Ground and set Shadow type to map or aoMap. With map, adjust Focus and Spread in Randomized Light
  • A black or dark area on metal, most visible from the top: this is a reflection of the environment map, not a shadow. Rotate the environment or select a different environment map in Background / Environment
  • White spots on a colored stone: select the stone and enable ClampHDR in the Inclusions settings of the diamond material
  • Dark patches that move on a large surface: lower the intensity of Screen Space Reflections
The ground shadow did not update after I changed the model

Go to Scene → Ground, turn the ground off, and turn it on again. The shadow is computed again.

If the shadow is wrong after you rotate the model, the shadow area is too small for the new position. Increase Size under Ground, or Frustum Size under Randomized Light.

Useful Video Tutorials ​