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Space & World

The Space tab configures the cosmic backdrop: starfields, nebula-rich environments, or a neutral black void. It lets you select a world mode, pick an environment, adjust its visual intensity, and align it with your planets and lighting.

Where to Find It

  • Open the 3D Viewport N‑panel.
  • Go to True-VFX → TrueSKY 3.
  • Click the Space tab.

If no TrueSKY world is present you’ll see a button to add one. After adding, the panel switches to world controls.

World Modes

You choose a mode from a dropdown labelled TrueSKY World:

  • HDRI: High-fidelity environment with selectable space panoramas (star maps, nebula scenes, cosmic phenomena).
  • Procedural: A customizable starfield generated on the fly (density, brightness and other star parameters).
  • None: A pure black void—ideal for dramatic silhouettes, compositing, or when you intend to grade a background later.

Switching modes instantly updates the active world. Use None first if you want to light and grade the scene without distraction.

In HDRI mode you get a thumbnail gallery (icon view). Selecting an environment updates the sky immediately. Available environments include:

  • Earth Night Sky: Realistic full Milky Way band; excellent for grounded shots.
  • Event Horizon Maelstrom: Dramatic swirling accretion disk around a dark center.
  • Dark Space: Subtle stars and a faint galactic band for minimalist scenes.
  • Blue Nebula Gate: Circular opening framed by luminous blue-purple clouds.
  • Inferno Nebula: Fiery, red‑orange turbulent core inside dark smoke.
  • Inside Stellar Nursery: Bright nebula framing a clear Milky Way arc.
  • Crimson Core Nebula: Shadowy fumes with a dim red heart—low key mood.
  • Horizon Flare: Orange glow rising at the horizon under a crisp star arc.
  • Violet Veil Nebula: Soft purple and red clouds layered over deep space.

Each thumbnail shows a name label beneath for quick identification.

Earth Night Sky Resolution

When the Earth Night Sky is selected you can choose a resolution (4K / 8K / 16K). Higher resolutions yield sharper faint stars and cleaner Milky Way detail but increase memory use. Use 4K for layout previews, 8K for most shots, 16K for hero close‑ups or wide HDRIs.

Core Controls (HDRI Mode)

Below the gallery you’ll see a small set of sliders and rotation controls (names may be concise):

  • Deep Stars Factor: Boosts the visibility or richness of distant stars. Increase carefully—too high can flatten contrast.
  • Emission: Controls the overall luminous bloom of the environment. Lower for realism, raise for stylised sci‑fi.
  • Rotation: Yaw/Pan the backdrop for composition or continuity. Animate for slow drifting sky motion.

Use rotation before locking camera moves to avoid reframing later.

Procedural Stars Mode

In Procedural mode a list of starfield controls appears:

  • Rotation: Yaw/Pan the backdrop for composition or continuity. Animate for slow drifting sky motion.

Info

More detailed starfield controls to come in future updates.

None (Black Universe)

This mode yields a flat black background. Useful for:

  • High contrast silhouettes.
  • Compositing separate space passes later.
  • Look‑dev on planetary shading without star influence.

1. Establish Lighting First

Set luminous bodies and primary planet lighting → switch world to None → balance exposure → return to HDRI or Procedural for final backdrop.

2. Realistic Earth Shot

Select HDRI → choose Earth Night Sky (8K) → adjust Emission modestly → rotate for best Milky Way framing → fine‑tune star intensity against your atmospheric haze.

3. Stylised Nebula Scene

Pick a nebula environment (Inferno or Blue Gate) → raise Emission for drama → reduce star depth to prevent overbusy background → color grade with planet rim lights.

5. High‑Res HDRI Export

Finalize backdrop selection & rotation first → switch Earth Night Sky to 16K only for final render → export environment map (see HDRI workflow docs) → revert to 8K for interactive work.

Performance & Quality Tips

  • Prefer 8K over 16K until final rendering to save memory.
  • Excessive star intensity can wash out faint nebula contrast—balance with luminous body strength.
  • Use None for quick look‑dev or when isolating cloud / atmosphere contributions.
  • Nebula‑heavy environments pair well with slightly elevated planet rim light to keep silhouettes crisp.

Troubleshooting

  • Background too bright: Lower Emission or reduce star depth before dimming luminous bodies.
  • Stars vanish after switching modes: Re‑select an HDRI environment or raise star intensity in Procedural mode.
  • Memory spikes: Drop Earth Night Sky resolution; ensure you are not also loading large unused textures.
  • Banding in dark areas: Slightly raise Emission or add minimal atmospheric haze to introduce gradient variation.

Quick Checklist Before Final Render

  • Correct world mode selected (HDRI vs Procedural vs None).
  • Desired environment chosen & resolution appropriate.
  • Rotation aligned with camera composition.
  • Luminous bodies still readable against backdrop.
  • No excessive Emission flattening contrast.

Your space backdrop is now production‑ready—move on to HDRI exports or final grading.