Hi MatCreator, For just a basic HDRI render, if it comes out too dark, simply try boosting the intensity of the HDRI with the sliders first - either in the Render Room or in the Assembly room and re-render. Just don't do it it both :-D Lighting...it takes almost as long to light a scene well as it does to create it in the first place. And that's not unusual - even in the pro world. In fact, at the 3D production houses, lighting scenes is actually a separate job - just like modeling, rigging or animating is. So, when you're doing everything, it simply takes awhile. Mark