Is it possible to have an HDR loaded into the environment map by default?

[John.McWaters]

I would like to have an HDR loaded into my environment map when 3dsMax opens so I don't have to do it repeatedly each time I need to test render. Does anyone know if 3dsMax offers the options to do this?

[romullus]

Not sure if that would work, but you could try to load HDRI into enviroment and save maxstart file.

[FrostKiwi]

3dsMax offers the options to do this?

Yes.
You can setup a scene and save it as maxstart.max and put it into the maxstart folder, or make any folder your maxstart folder.
Explained in the doc here.

edit:

save maxstart file.

God damn the timing
Could have been a gentlemen and waited 44 seconds ;]

edit2:
btw, I recall it was you who setup and shared that awesome scene for Product shots, where it combined Shadowcatcher with Radial Gradient as background... That is my maxstart default ^^

[John.McWaters]

Not sure if that would work, but you could try to load HDRI into enviroment and save maxstart file.

Thank you! This works perfectly!

[romullus]

btw, I recall it was you who setup and shared that awesome scene for Product shots, where it combined Shadowcatcher with Radial Gradient as background... That is my maxstart default ^^

Good to know that someone has put it to good use :] I for one don't use maxstart - can't stand small annoying things, that max brings with its usage.

@John.McWaters, glad to hear that it worked! :]