Light incorrect after reopening the file

[jovanakov]

I'm having an issue with my 3ds Max + Corona file, and I can't seem to find a solution.

I have a scene with lights set up the way I want it (specifically, I've turned off "Simple Exposure" in Tone Mapping, and set the environment map to 5 to brighten the scene). However, after saving the file and closing it, when I reopen it, the light setup appears unchanged, but the scene is much darker. To get a similar lighting effect as before, I have to increase the environment map from 5 to 10 or turn on the exposure to 2.5.

This has also happened with another file I worked on earlier. I have a screenshot of what the scene looked like before closing, as well as a screenshot of the render after reopening it with the same setup.
I find it a bit annoying since I need to replicate the results I had before every time I reopen the file. I hope I'm just overlooking something obvious.

I have 3ds max 2023 + Corona 11

[TomG]

Are you passing the environment lighting (e.g. HDRI or Corona Sky) through the Tone Mapping Control? This is what makes the env. lighting unaffected by tone mapping. One thing to note is that you have to restart the render to get the "unaffected" look (so, render, adjust lighting, env lighting appears to be altered, but restart the render and env lighting goes back to the unaffected). https://docs.chaos.com/display/CRMAX/Corona+Tonemap+Control+Map