POLYDOME – The Ultimate HDRI Dome Plugin for Blender

Light your Blender scenes in seconds. Drag & Drop HDRIs from the Poly Haven Asset Browser or any other place, add seamless floor matching, reflections, and procedural puddles for next-level realism.

Watch the introduction — the most common questions are covered there.

Drag, Drop, Done.

POLYDOME makes HDRI lighting effortless. Load, match, and render — in seconds

Feature Overview

Tools that remove friction: automatic floor matching, customization options, real-time feedback, and tight Asset Browser integration.

Feature Overview — watch the video to get a quick overview of all features.

Feature List

Why POLYDOME

POLYDOME turns any HDRI into a usable set. With automatic floor matching and real-time feedback you will achieve stunning results — without the usual hacks.

Compatibility & Requirements

• Blender 4.2+ (fully compatible with Blender 5)
• Optimized for the Poly Haven Asset Browser but works with any HDRI in the Asset Browser or on your Hard Disk

What's Included

• POLYDOME Add-on (.zip)
• Introduction Video that explains all features (30 min)
• Free updates & basic support

FAQ

• Does It Work With Any HDRI?
  Yes. POLYDOME works with any HDRI, though Poly Haven HDRIs offer built-in resolution toggles.
• Do I Need the Poly Haven Add-On?
  No. You can use HDRIs from the Asset Browser or directly from your system.
• Does It Support Both EEVEE and Cycles?
  Absolutely. Both engines are fully supported, with nearly identical results in EEVEE.
• Can I Set Up in EEVEE and Render in Cycles?
  Yes, that’s the recommended workflow for speed and quality.
• What Floor Effects Are Included?
  POLYDOME supports reflections, roughness, bump mapping, and dynamic water puddles.
• What Is Automatic Floor Matching?
  Most HDRI plugins struggle with mismatched floor planes. POLYDOME automatically matches the floor to the dome, creating seamless transitions without color shifts.
• Can I Adjust the Puddles?
  Yes, you can fully control size, depth, and roughness.
• Can I Change the Background in Invisible Mode?
  Yes, you can set a custom background color and even add a vignette effect.
• Are There Built-In Color Adjustments?
  Yes, you can tweak exposure, gamma, saturation, warmth, or even fully desaturate the HDRI for studio-style lighting.
• Do I Get Free Updates?
  Yes, bug fixes and updates are free.
• Can I Use POLYDOME Commercially?
  Yes, you can use POLYDOME in both personal and commercial Blender projects.

POLYDOME – Installation & User Guide

Learn how to install, set up, and get the most out of POLYDOME in Blender 4 & 5.

System Requirements

• Blender: 4.2+ (fully compatible with Blender 5)
• HDRIs: Optimized for Poly Haven Asset Browser but works with any HDRI in the Asset Library or on your Hard Disk

Download & Installation

Step 1 – Download: After purchase, download the polydome.zip file.
Step 2 – Install:

1. Open Blender.
2. Drag the polydome.zip file into the Blender window.
3. Go to Edit → Preferences → Add-ons.
4. Make sure that "PolyDome - The Ultimate HDRI Dome" is activated.

⚠️ Important: Do NOT unzip the file before installation. Blender installs the .zip directly.

After Installation

Watch the tutorial video to learn all core features, controls, and recommended workflow for POLYDOME.

This tutorial covers setup, controls, floor matching, puddles, projections & best practices.

First Steps

1. Press "N" in the 3D Viewport to open the Sidebar.
2. Navigate to the "PolyDome" tab.
3. Click on "Enable PolyDome" to load the PolyDome environment to your scene.
4. Drag & drop an HDRI from the Asset Browser or your file explorer into 3D viewport to update the Dome.

Tips & Best Practices

• Use EEVEE for fast previews, then switch to Cycles for final rendering.
• Poly Haven HDRIs offer built in resolution switches but any HDRI will work just fine.
• Adjust puddle settings to instantly add realism to outdoor scenes.
• In Invisible Mode, adjust background color or add vignette effects to improve composition.

Troubleshooting

• Add-On Not Visible After Install?
  Open Preferences → Add-ons, search for "PolyDome - The Ultimate HDRI Dome" and ensure the checkbox is enabled. Restart Blender if the sidebar tab still doesn’t appear.
• Drag & Drop Doesn’t Update the Dome?
  Toggle the "Enable PolyDome" checkbox off/on in the SideBar. This refreshes link paths and fixes stale previews.