In Canvas Studio, the Ultra HDR Loader lets you use next-generation JPEGs that carry both a standard-dynamic-range preview and a high-dynamic-range gain map in a single file. When the loader detects this “Ultra HDR” pair, it blends the SDR reference with the gain map on the GPU to reconstruct full 32-bit radiance. The result is a one-file pipeline: easy to share like a normal .jpg, yet bright enough for physically based reflections and true-to-life sky lighting.
HDR Image (JPG + Gain Map) – upload an Ultra HDR-encoded .jpg; the loader extracts the embedded gain map, rebuilds the HDR panorama, and runs it through PMREM for reflection-ready mipmaps.
Show Environment – toggles whether the rebuilt HDR appears as the visible background; disable to keep the lighting while substituting a custom backdrop.
Reflect Objects – feeds the HDR into PBR materials so metals, glass, and water pick up accurate highlights and color bounce.
Exposure – multiplies the final radiance before tonemapping; raise it to brighten scene lighting, lower it to keep reflections subtle under studio lamps.
With a single Ultra HDR file you get fast low sizes and full HDR lighting (courtesy of the gain map) without juggling separate formats. Dial in Exposure, choose whether to Show Environment, and your scene instantly inherits the vibrant reflections and ambient glow of a true high-dynamic-range environment.