---
title: preferredIblVersion
framework: usd
role: article
role_heading: Article
path: usd/preferrediblversion
---

# preferredIblVersion

Metadata that determines the lighting environment of virtual content.

## Overview

Overview This metadata selects one of two predefined options for the scene’s image-based lighting (IBL). AR Quick Look in iOS 16 and later observes this property to enhance the brightness, contrast, and visual definition of a scene’s virtual content. A value of 1 indicates the classic lighting environment, and a value of 2 indicates the new lighting environment.

If you omit the preferredIblVersion metadata or give it a value of 0, the system checks the asset’s creation timestamp. A timestamp of July 1, 2022, or later results in the new lighting environment; otherwise, the scene features classic lighting for backward compatibility. The system checks the timestamp of the .usd asset within the .usdz archive, not the archive’s file creation date. Declaration int preferredIblVersion = 0 Select the scene’s image-based lighting The following .usda definition chooses the new lighting environment: // asset.usda #usda 1.0 (     customLayerData = {         dictionary Apple = {             int preferredIblVersion = 2         }     } )

tip: RealityKit doesn’t observe the preferredIblVersion metadata, but you configure the same lighting environment manually. See Specifying a lighting environment in AR Quick Look for more information about matching AR Quick Look’s lighting environment in RealityKit apps.

## See Also

### Scenes and lighting

- [Specifying a lighting environment in AR Quick Look](arkit/specifying-a-lighting-environment-in-ar-quick-look.md)
- [sceneLibrary](usd/scenelibrary.md)