Dome Light

In this chapter we'll cover slightly more complex light source in V-Ray - the dome light. It represents a light emitting dome encompassing the scene at infinity. It's usually used for HDR image based lighting (IBL) with a spherical texture file.

Last updated 31 March 2026

Parameters

Along with the common ones for the lights, the LightDome plugin has some specific parameters:

dome_spherical - Set to true to extend the dome to a full sphere. By default it is only a half-dome centered at the scene zenith. SettingsUnitsInfo::scene_upDir needs to be properly set.
dome_tex - A texture plugin to use. Note that this usually requires spherical mapping.
use_dome_tex - You also have to set this to true to use the dome_tex.
tex_resolution - The texture is actually resampled at this resolution. The default is 512, so even if you have a high resolution image, it may look pixelated if you don't increase this. This will consume more memory.
dome_targetRadius - Defines a sphere around the light icon where photons are being shot when photon-mapped caustics or the global photon map are used.
dome_emitRadius - Defines a sphere around the light icon from which photons are being shot towards the target radius area.
tex_adaptive - The adaptivity of the sampling to the texture brightness (0.0 - no adaptivity; 1.0 - full adaptivity).
dome_rayDistance - Allows you to specify the maximum distance to which shadow rays are going to be traced.
dome_rayDistanceMode - Specifies the method of determining the maximum distance to which shadow rays are going to be traced. Could be 0: None, 1: From GI Settings (the Ray Dist value is determined by the ray distance parameter in the GI settings) and 2: Explicit (the ray distance value is determined by the dome_rayDistance parameter).
affect_alpha - When this option is enabled, the virtual sphere on which the dome texture is mapped is going to be visible as a solid object in the alpha.

Example

Here we'll show how to add a LightDome to a scene.

Python

<code data-v-c2b1f83f=""># Compatibility with Python 2.7.from __future__ import print_function# The directory containing the vray shared object should be present in the PYTHONPATH environment variable.# Try to import the vray module from VRAY_SDK/python, if it is not in PYTHONPATHimport sys, osVRAY_SDK = os.environ.get('VRAY_SDK')if VRAY_SDK: sys.path.append(os.path.join(VRAY_SDK, 'python'))import vraySCENE_PATH = os.path.join(os.environ.get('VRAY_SDK'), 'scenes')# Change process working directory to SCENE_PATH in order to be able to load relative scene resources.os.chdir(SCENE_PATH)# The renderer is automatically closed after the `with` block.with vray.VRayRenderer() as renderer: # Register a simple log callback. Always useful for debugging. def dumpMsg(renderer, message, level, instant): if level == vray.LOGLEVEL_ERROR: print("[ERROR]", message) elif level == vray.LOGLEVEL_WARNING: print("[Warning]", message) elif level == vray.LOGLEVEL_INFO: print("[info]", message) # Uncomment for testing, but you might want to ignore these in real code #else: print("[debug]", message) renderer.setOnLogMessage(dumpMsg) # Load scene from a file. renderer.load(os.path.join(SCENE_PATH, 'lighting.vrscene')) # Remove original light source from the scene. del renderer.plugins["VRayLightDomeShape1"] # The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be # mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights. uvwgen = renderer.classes.UVWGenEnvironment() # Specify the type and shape of the texture. # Possible values are: # angular # cubic # mirror_ball # spherical - default # screen # max_spherical # spherical_vray # max_cylindrical # max_shrink_wrap uvwgen.mapping_type = 'spherical' # Specify transformation of the input directions. uvwgen.uvw_matrix = vray.Matrix( vray.Vector(1, 0, 0), vray.Vector(0, 0, 1), vray.Vector(0, -1, 0)) uvwgen.ground_on = 1 bitmap = renderer.classes.BitmapBuffer() # unlike JPG files, HDR files are linear bitmap.transfer_function = 0 bitmap.file = os.path.join(SCENE_PATH, 'assets', 'Sea_D.hdr') texture = renderer.classes.TexBitmap() # Specify UVW generator for the texture. texture.uvwgen = uvwgen # Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using. texture.bitmap = bitmap # LightDome is a light source plugin that can be used to create lights that # shine inward at the scene as if from a spherical or hemispherical light source outside the scene extents. # This light is frequently used for image-based lighting using panoramic HDR images used as environments. light = renderer.classes.LightDome() # Specify the light position, rotation and scale. light.transform = vray.Transform( vray.Matrix( vray.Vector(0, 0, 1), vray.Vector(1, 0, 0), vray.Vector(0, 1, 0)), vray.Vector(0, 0, 0)) # Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light. # Possible values are: # True (Sphere) # False (Hemisphere) light.dome_spherical = True # Specify the light intensity based on the 'units' parameter. light.intensity = 4 # Specify the light texture. light.dome_tex = texture # Enable the use of a light texture. # If "use_dome_tex = False" the 'color' of the light will be used instead. light.use_dome_tex = True # Specify shadow offset from the surface. Helps to prevent polygonal shadow artifacts on low-poly surfaces. light.shadowBias = 0.02 # Specify that the bumped normal should be used to check if the light direction is below the surface. light.bumped_below_surface_check = True # Start rendering. renderer.startSync() # Wait for rendering to end. renderer.waitForRenderEnd()</code>

C++

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">#define VRAY_RUNTIME_LOAD_PRIMARY#include "vraysdk.hpp"#include "vrayplugins.hpp"#include "utils.h"using namespace VRay;using namespace VRay::Plugins;using namespace std;const char *BASE_PATH = getenv("VRAY_SDK");string SCENE_PATH = (BASE_PATH ? string(BASE_PATH) : string(".")) + PATH_DELIMITER + "scenes";int main() { // Change process working directory to SCENE_PATH in order to be able to load relative scene resources. changeCurrentDir(SCENE_PATH.c_str()); // Load V-Ray SDK library. VRayInit init(NULL, true); // Create an instance of VRayRenderer with default options. The renderer is automatically closed at the end of the current scope. VRayRenderer renderer; // It's recommended to always have a console log renderer.setOnLogMessage(logMessage); // Load scene from a file. renderer.load("lighting.vrscene"); // Remove original light source from the scene. renderer.deletePlugin("VRayLightDomeShape1"); // The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc.textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights. UVWGenEnvironment uvwgen = renderer.newPlugin<UVWGenEnvironment>(); // Specify the type and shape of the texture. // Possible values are: // angular // cubic // mirror_ball // spherical - default // screen // max_spherical // spherical_vray // max_cylindrical // max_shrink_wrap uvwgen.set_mapping_type("spherical"); // Specify transformation of the input directions. uvwgen.set_uvw_matrix( Matrix( Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0))); uvwgen.set_ground_on(1); BitmapBuffer bitmap = renderer.newPlugin<BitmapBuffer>(); // unlike JPG files, HDR files are linear bitmap.set_transfer_function(0); bitmap.set_file("assets/Sea_D.hdr"); TexBitmap texture = renderer.newPlugin<TexBitmap>(); // Specify UVW generator for the texture. texture.set_uvwgen(uvwgen); // Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using. texture.set_bitmap(bitmap); // LightDome is a light source plugin that can be used to create lights that // shine inward at the scene as if from a spherical or hemispherical light source outside the scene extents. // This light is frequently used for image-based lighting using panoramic HDR images used as environments. LightDome light = renderer.newPlugin<LightDome>(); // Specify the light position, rotation and scale. light.set_transform(Transform( Matrix( Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0)), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 0.0))); // Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light. // Possible values are: // true (Sphere) // false (Hemisphere) - default light.set_dome_spherical(true); // Specify the light intensity based on the 'units' parameter. light.set_intensity(4); // Specify the light texture. light.set_dome_tex(texture); // Enable the use of a light texture. // If "use_dome_tex = false" the 'color' of the light will be used instead. light.set_use_dome_tex(true); // Specify shadow offset from the surface. Helps to prevent polygonal shadow artifacts on low-poly surfaces. light.set_shadowBias(0.02f); // Specify that the bumped normal should be used to check if the light direction is below the surface. light.set_bumped_below_surface_check(true); // Start rendering. renderer.startSync(); // Wait for rendering to end. renderer.waitForRenderEnd(); return 0;}</code>

C#.NET

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">using System;using System.IO;using VRay;using VRay.Plugins;namespace _04_dome{ class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { string SCENE_PATH = Path.Combine(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("VRAY_SDK"), "scenes"); // Change process working directory to SCENE_PATH in order to be able to load relative scene resources. Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(SCENE_PATH); // Create an instance of VRayRenderer with default options. The renderer is automatically closed after the `using` block. using (VRayRenderer renderer = new VRayRenderer()) { // Add a listener for any type of log message. renderer.LogMessage += new EventHandler<MessageEventArgs>((source, e) => { // You can remove the if for testing, but you might want to ignore Debug in real code if (e.LogLevel != LogLevelType.Debug) { Console.WriteLine(String.Format("[{0}] {1}", e.LogLevel.ToString(), e.Message)); } }); // Load scene from a file. renderer.Load("lighting.vrscene"); // Remove original light source from the scene. renderer.DeletePlugin("VRayLightDomeShape1"); // The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights. UVWGenEnvironment uvwgen = renderer.NewPlugin<UVWGenEnvironment>(); // Specify the type and shape of the texture. // Possible values are: // angular // cubic // mirror_ball // spherical - default // screen // max_spherical // spherical_vray // max_cylindrical // max_shrink_wrap uvwgen.MappingType = "spherical"; // Specify transformation of the input directions. uvwgen.UvwMatrix = new Matrix( new Vector(1, 0, 0), new Vector(0, 0, 1), new Vector(0, -1, 0)); uvwgen.GroundOn = 1; BitmapBuffer bitmap = renderer.NewPlugin<BitmapBuffer>(); // unlike JPG files, HDR files are linear bitmap.TransferFunction = 0; bitmap.File = Path.Combine("assets", "Sea_D.hdr"); TexBitmap texture = renderer.NewPlugin<TexBitmap>(); // Specify UVW generator for the texture. texture.Uvwgen = uvwgen; // Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using. texture.Bitmap = bitmap; // LightDome is a light source plugin that can be used to create lights that // shine inward at the scene as if from a spherical or hemispherical light source outside the scene extents. // This light is frequently used for image-based lighting using panoramic HDR images used as environments. LightDome light = renderer.NewPlugin<LightDome>(); // Specify the light position, rotation and scale. light.Transform = new Transform( new Matrix( new Vector(0, 0, 1), new Vector(1, 0, 0), new Vector(0, 1, 0)), new Vector(0, 0, 0)); // Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light. // Possible values are: // true (Sphere) // false (Hemisphere) light.DomeSpherical = true; // Specify the light intensity based on the 'units' parameter. light.Intensity = 4; // Specify the light texture. light.DomeTex = texture; // Enable the use of a light texture. // If "use_dome_tex = False" the 'color' of the light will be used instead. light.UseDomeTex = true; // Specify shadow offset from the surface. Helps to prevent polygonal shadow artifacts on low-poly surfaces. light.ShadowBias = 0.02F; // Specify that the bumped normal should be used to check if the light direction is below the surface. light.BumpedBelowSurfaceCheck = true; // Specify the number of parameter samples for motion blur. light.Nsamples = 1; // Start rendering. renderer.StartSync(); // Wait for rendering to end. renderer.WaitForRenderEnd(); } } }}</code>

Node.js

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">var path = require('path');var vray = require(path.join(process.env.VRAY_SDK, 'node', 'vray'));var SCENE_PATH = path.join(process.env.VRAY_SDK, 'scenes');// Change process working directory to SCENE_PATH in order to be able to load relative scene resources.process.chdir(SCENE_PATH);// Create an instance of VRayRenderer with default options.var renderer = vray.VRayRenderer();// It's recommended to always have a console log callbackrenderer.on("logMessage", function(message, level, instant) { if (level == vray.LOGLEVEL_ERROR) console.log("[ERROR] ", message); else if (level == vray.LOGLEVEL_WARNING) console.log("[Warning] ", message); else if (level == vray.LOGLEVEL_INFO) console.log("[info] ", message); // Uncomment for testing, but you might want to ignore these in real code //else console.log("[debug] ", message);});// Load scene from a file asynchronously.renderer.load("lighting.vrscene", function(err) { if (err) throw err; // Remove original light source from the scene. delete renderer.plugins["VRayLightDomeShape1"]; // The UVWGenEnvironment allows spherical, cube, etc. textures to be mapped on the environment color slot or dome lights. var uvwgen = renderer.classes.UVWGenEnvironment(); // Specify transformation of the input directions. uvwgen.uvw_matrix = vray.Matrix( vray.Vector(1, 0, 0), vray.Vector(0, 0, 1), vray.Vector(0, -1, 0)); uvwgen.ground_on = 1; // Specify the type and shape of the texture. // Possible values are: // angular // cubic // mirror_ball // spherical - default // screen // max_spherical // spherical_vray // max_cylindrical // max_shrink_wrap uvwgen.mapping_type = "spherical"; var bitmap = renderer.classes.BitmapBuffer(); // unlike JPG files, HDR files are linear bitmap.transfer_function = 0; bitmap.file = path.join(SCENE_PATH, "assets", "Sea_D.hdr"); var texture = renderer.classes.TexBitmap(); // Specify UVW generator for the texture. texture.uvwgen = uvwgen; // Specify the bitmap that the texture will be using. texture.bitmap = bitmap; // LightDome is a light source plugin that can be used to create lights that // shine inward at the scene as if from a spherical or hemispherical light source outside the scene extents. // This light is frequently used for image-based lighting using panoramic HDR images used as environments. var light = renderer.classes.LightDome(); // Specify the light position, rotation and scale. light.transform = vray.Transform( vray.Matrix( vray.Vector(0, 0, 1), vray.Vector(1, 0, 0), vray.Vector(0, 1, 0)), vray.Vector(0, 0, 0)); // Switches between a hemispherical or (full) spherical shape of the light. // Possible values are: // true (Sphere) // false (Hemisphere) light.dome_spherical = true; // Specify the light intensity based on the 'units' parameter. light.intensity = 4; // Specify the light texture. light.dome_tex = texture; // Enable the use of a light texture. // If "use_dome_tex = false" the 'color' of the light will be used instead. light.use_dome_tex = true; // Specify shadow offset from the surface. Helps to prevent polygonal shadow artifacts on low-poly surfaces. light.shadowBias = 0.02; // Specify that the bumped normal should be used to check if the light direction is below the surface. light.bumped_below_surface_check = true; // Start rendering. renderer.start(function(err) { if (err) throw err; // Wait for rendering to end. renderer.waitForRenderEnd(function() { renderer.close(); }); });});</code>

Result

The scene used for this render is called "Lighting_Dome.vrscene" and can be found in the scene bundle (comments on the different parameters available inside).

Parameters

Example

Python

C++

C#.NET

Node.js

Result

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