Light Manager — World Properties

Overview UI List Collection Properties Light Properties World Properties

The World Properties section details settings and features available when the World environment background is selected in the Scene Light Manager. It details the active Quick HDRI Loader, procedural Sky simulations, and parameters inside the custom SLM-World shader node group.

1. The World Properties Panel Structure

When the World data-block or an HDRI Sphere is active, the properties editor exposes three specialized sub-panels:

World Properties Panel
World Properties Panel Structure in SLM

WORLD A. Quick World / HDRI Quick Loader

Allows you to dynamically import and control environment maps (HDRIs) or procedural skies:

Loader Mode Selection

Switch input modes between HDRI (Path) to import from folders, Asset to browse native libraries, or Sky for solar models.

Convert to SLM World & Update

Instantly hooks the active World setup into the custom SLM-World shader nodes, or synchronizes/updates group node trees from external asset libraries.

Resolution Limit & Filtering

Scan and load visual previews from selected folders. Apply memory boundaries (e.g., 2K, 4K, or Original) to optimize viewport speed.

Select / Add Aligned Sun

Scans the brightest spot (sun coordinate) on the active HDRI, automatically spawning and aligning a Sun light to match the environment angle.

LIGHT_SUN B. Sky Texture Settings (Sky Mode Only)

Configures physics-driven sky modeling when rendering procedurally:

Sky Texture Settings Mode
Sky Texture Settings in Sky Mode
Geographic Sun Alignment

Drive solar angles using physical coordinates: Latitude, Longitude, Sun North compass offset, calendar Day/Month/Year, and local UTC timezone offsets.

Geographic Sun Alignment Settings
Sky Models & Multipliers

Select between Nishita, Preetham, or Hosek-Wilkie algorithms. Tweak Sun Intensity, Sun Size, Air/Aerosol/Ozone densities, Ground Albedo, and Turbidity.

PROPERTIES C. World Settings

Displays the core Surface shading configuration. When SLM-World is active, it directly exposes the custom node group parameters. When not using nodes, it falls back to standard Surface and Volume socket blocks.

World Settings
World settings showing active surface node group slots

2. HDRI Favorites & Navigation

Scene Light Manager provides advanced workflow tools to quickly browse, favorite, and randomize your environment HDRIs:

WORLD A. Virtual Favorites Folder

When you mark an HDRI as a favorite, its file path is saved to a persistent hdri_favorites.json file inside Blender's user configuration folder. In the Subdir Selection dropdown, you will see a virtual folder called Favorites (indicated by a star icon). Selecting it filters the list to show only your favorited HDRIs.

icon_fav_off icon_fav_on
B. Favoriting HDRIs

Next to the Select HDRI dropdown, you will find a Star Button:

  • Favorite On ( icon_fav_on ): Identifies that the currently loaded HDRI is already in your favorites list. Clicking it removes it.
  • Favorite Off ( icon_fav_off ): Indicates that the loaded HDRI is not favorited yet. Clicking it adds it to your favorites.
icon_shuffle C. Random HDRI Selection

Next to the navigation controls, there is a Randomize Button (indicated by the shuffle icon 🔀). Clicking it picks and loads a random HDRI from the active folder or virtual category, allowing for rapid look development.

◀ ▶ D. Next & Previous Navigation

Next to the select dropdown, there are Previous (◀) and Next (▶) arrows. Click these arrows to instantly cycle to the next or previous HDRI file in the active folder, making viewport-based lighting audits extremely fast.

3. The Custom SLM-World Node Group

The SLM-World node group processes environment textures, offering advanced color correction, projection flattening, and integrated volumetric fog controls:

SLM World Node Group Layout
SLM-World Shader Node Group Layout
WORLD Main Root-Level Sockets
  • Surface: Shader Output connection socket to the World Surface.
  • Volume: Shader Output connection socket to the World Volume (Atmosphere).
  • Strength: Overall environment intensity multiplier (Default: 1.0).
  • Exposure: Photographic stop exposure offset (Default: 0.0).
  • Blur: Blurs the environment texture (ideal for creating abstract, soft background colors).
  • Z Rotation: Rotates the HDRI sphere horizontally (0° to 360°).
COLOR Edit Panel (Color Correction)
  • Black & White: Desaturates the environment texture (0.0 to 1.0).
  • Gamma, Bright, Contrast: Adjust core contrast and luminance.
  • Hue, Saturation, Color Value: Grading adjustments for artistic overrides.
  • Use Temperature & Kelvin: Enable color temperature adjustments.
  • COLOR Color Overlay: Toggles custom color overlays with RGB color slots.

OUTLINER Secondary World Control Panels

IMAGE Background

Display a custom gradient vignette behind the model while keeping HDRI lighting:

  • Background Toggle: Switch between HDRI and Custom Color.
  • Vignette: Inner/Outer Color, Scale, and bias offsets.
  • Sync: Follow HDRI strength and independent visible strength.
GRID Flatten Ground

Projects the bottom half of the HDRI onto a flat ground plane to prevent floating models:

  • Flatten Ground: Toggles ground flattening projection.
  • Size: Adjust projected floor size.
  • Offset: Vector offsets for floor alignment.
MOD_NOISE Volume (Fog)

Sets up a global volumetric fog environment for depth atmospheric scattering:

  • Volume Toggle: Enable global volumetric fog.
  • Fog Color & Density: Fog thickness.
  • Anisotropy: Forward vs. backward scattering values.