Environments

In this article, we will focus on environments, which are high dynamic range (HDR) images that can be used to light up the 3D scene in your product configurator.

What are HDR images and why would you use them?

HDR images are a type of image file that captures a wider range of luminance values than a standard image. This means that they can represent a greater range of light and dark areas in a scene, and can more accurately reproduce the full range of colors and details that the human eye can see. As a result, HDR images can provide a more realistic and immersive experience for the user of a product configurator.

There are many situations where using an HDR image as an environment in Konfig can be beneficial. For example, if you want to create a realistic representation of a product in a specific location, such as a kitchen or a living room, using an HDR image of that location can help to create a more accurate and believable scene. Additionally, if you want to simulate different lighting conditions, such as daylight, sunset, or night, using an HDR image can allow you to create those conditions more realistically.

How to use environments in Konfig

Using an HDR image as an environment in Konfig is a simple process. First, you will need to upload the HDR image to Konfig by going to the "Environments" tab in the menu and clicking the "Upload" button. This will open a file browser, where you can select the HDR image you want to use. Konfig supports .hdr file formats.

Once you have uploaded the HDR image, you can use it as an environment in your product configurator by going to the "Settings" tab a Konfig and enabling the environment. You can also adjust the camera's exposure to create the desired lighting effect.

It's important to note that using an environment in Konfig will increase the size of the configurator, as the HDR image will need to be downloaded by the user. This can affect the performance of the configurator, especially on slower internet connections. As a result, you should use environments sparingly and only when they are necessary to create the desired effect.

Concluding

HDR images can be a valuable tool for creating realistic and immersive product configurators with Konfig. By uploading an HDR image as an environment, you can add a level of realism and detail to your 3D scene that would be difficult to achieve with other methods. While using environments can increase the size of the configurator, they can provide significant benefits in terms of visual quality and user experience.