Version: 9.4.0
Build Date: 2026.0331
Released: 14 April 2026
Requirements:
Windows: 10, 11
Mac OS: 11.4 (Big Sur) or later
Linux: Centos 7.9 and compatible distributions
Plug-in Connection Requirements:
3ds Max - 2023, 2024 - Plug-in build 2024.1105 Release Notes
3ds Max - 2025, 2026 - Plug-in build 2025.0915 Release Notes
Blender - 3.6.12 LTS and higher (inc Apple Silicon support) - Plug-in build 2025.1120 Release Notes
Cinema 4D - 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 (inc Apple Silicon support) - Plug-in build 2025.0518 Release Notes
DeltaGen - 2019x and higher, Stage 2019x and higher - Plug-in build for 2025x 2024.1218 Release Notes
Houdini - 19.5, 20, 20.5, 21 (with Python 2.7, 3.7, 3.9, 3.11) (inc Apple Silicon support 19.5+) - Plug-in build 2025.0908 Release Notes
LightWave 3D - 2018, 2019, 2020 - Plug-in build 2022.0513
Maya - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 - Plug-in build 2024.0327 Release Notes
MODO - 15, 16, 17 (Windows and OSX) - Plug-in build 2024.0318 Release Notes
Octane Standalone: 2024.1, 2025.2 (Windows only) , Plug-in build 2025.0609 Release Notes
Omniverse - Create 2023.2.2 and higher (now called Omniverse Kit) (Windows only) - Plug-in build 2025.0225 Release Notes
Rhino 6, 7, 8 (Windows only) - Plug-in build 2024.0307 Release Notes
Unreal Engine - 5.5, 5.6.1, 5.7.1 - Plug-in build 2025.1225 Release Notes
Maxwell Studio - 5 (Windows only) - No additional plug-in installation required
Patchwork 3D 2023 - Windows - No additional plug-in installation required
SOLIDWORKS Visualize - 2017 and higher (Windows) - No additional plug-in installation required
VRED - 2025.2, 2026 - Additional Plug-in Installation Required Plug-in build 2025.1014 Release Notes
What's New in HDR Light Studio 9 Drop 4
New View Controls in the Streaming Render View
Being able to navigate this streamed image makes a real difference - whether you're zooming into fine details, repositioning to place lights with precision, or examining reflections up close. With this release, the Streaming Render View now includes full navigation controls: zoom, pan, region zoom, 1:1 pixel view, and fit-to-view. For quick navigation while other tools are active, middle mouse scroll zooms the view and middle mouse button pans - so you never need to switch tools just to re-frame. Read more.
Optimized Speed of Streaming Render View
The streaming Render View is now noticeably faster thanks to significant performance optimizations.
Render View (HDR Light Studio) - Updated Default Settings
The built-in Render View now ships with updated defaults that take advantage of modern hardware: resolution has been bumped to 600 × 450, samples increased to 160, and Fast Mode is now enabled by default for area lights. The result is a noticeably higher quality preview that still feels fast and interactive. The previous defaults dated back to 2015 - it was time for a refresh.
Isolate Selected Lights
HDR Light Studio has always let you solo individual lights from the Light List, but now that control is available as a keyboard shortcut too. Press 'S' at any time to solo the currently selected lights, temporarily hiding all others - and press 'S' again to restore them. This is especially useful when you're in the middle of moving or adjusting a light and want to quickly isolate it to see its true effect on the scene. No need to move the mouse back to the Light List and click - just tap the 'S' key to isolate that light and keep working.
Cancel Button for Production Rendering
Previously, once you started a high-resolution production render, you had to wait for it to finish before you could do anything else. You can now cancel a production render in progress at any time, stopping it at the earliest opportunity so you can get back to work.
Drag and Drop to Open Projects
HDR Light Studio project files (HDi) can now be opened by dragging and dropping them straight onto the interface - a quick, convenient alternative to using the file menu.
Collapse to New Light Look
Right-click on a child Light Look to collapse the full hierarchy of parents and children into a new additional single flat Light Look.
Rename Light Looks from Right-Click Menu
Light Looks can now be renamed directly from the right-click menu, making this option much easier to find. Previously, renaming required a double-click - something many users never discovered.
Light Properties UI Refresh
The Settings and Appearance tabs have been given more visual prominence, reflecting how frequently they're used. Property layouts have also been tidied up for a cleaner, more intuitive interface.
Dark Light Tools Bar Light - Improved Settings
The Dark Light now has smarter default settings that prevent unwanted side effects. It no longer affects alpha channels or color, so it works purely as intended - darkening areas without introducing artifacts.
Motion Blur Advanced - Drag and Drop Image Support
The Mask Image slot now supports drag and drop, bringing it in line with other image slots across the interface.
Bug Fixes:
Properly handles LightPaint clicks and releases outside of streaming image space.
Omniverse - Now handles streaming image re-size without errors.
Now all application settings are properly reset when Resetting in Preferences panel.
