Using HDRI and EXR files, otherwise known as HDR images, is a great way to effortlessly light your scene. First it is important to know that not all HDR images are created equal. Some of them have much higher contrast or brightness ratios. For instance, even though the clouds look extremely bright, the sun is exponentially brighter. And if the photographer making the HDR does not apply these ratios correctly when making the image, then the settings WILL be a little screwy in 3ds Max. It doesn't mean you can't use the image. Just don't expect to be setting your exposure value up around 14 or 15. It could be as low as EV=0. Now, that said, inserting the HDR is very easy. If you are already using the 3ds max daylight system, then the mrSky is probably already inserted into your environment map slot. Good. Now, all you have to do is replace that with your HDR image. Make sure to set it to "ENVIRON' and "SPHERICAL". See the above image for help. I find it necessary to
make a new slot in the material editor and then make it an instance. Below are three images, where all I did was swap out the bitmaps and click render for two minutes and let the HDR light the scene in that unique way. You'll notice in my example image at left, that the OFFSET under the U parameter is set to 0.9 | This is how you 'move the sun' in your HDR lighting system. Moving the mrSun will no longer do anything. Also remember that rotating your HDR is a value from 0-1. Not 1-360. A value of .5 would equate to 180 degrees. You can see loads more IRAY renderings at my website
here.
Using HDRI and EXR files, otherwise known as HDR images, is a great way to effortlessly light your scene. First it is important to know that not all HDR images are created equal. Some of them have much higher contrast or brightness ratios. For instance, even though the clouds look extremely bright, the sun is exponentially brighter. And if the photographer making the HDR does not apply these ratios correctly when making the image, then the settings WILL be a little screwy in 3ds Max. It doesn't mean you can't use the image. Just don't expect to be setting your exposure value up around 14 or 15. It could be as low as EV=0. Now, that said, inserting the HDR is very easy. If you are already using the 3ds max daylight system, then the mrSky is probably already inserted into your environment map slot. Good. Now, all you have to do is replace that with your HDR image. Make sure to set it to "ENVIRON' and "SPHERICAL". See the above image for help. I find it necessary to make a new slot in the material editor and then make it an instance. Below are three images, where all I did was swap out the bitmaps and click render for two minutes and let the HDR light the scene in that unique way. You'll notice in my example image at left, that the OFFSET under the U parameter is set to 0.9 | This is how you 'move the sun' in your HDR lighting system. Moving the mrSun will no longer do anything. Also remember that rotating your HDR is a value from 0-1. Not 1-360. A value of .5 would equate to 180 degrees. You can see loads more IRAY renderings at my website here. 
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