Quick tutorial: How to use photos as an environment map in 3dmax using vray light material?

There are many ways to use these photos as an environment map or sky backgrounds. One of them is presented below:

1. Create a plan with the same dimensions as the photo e.g. panorama is 6000 x 2000 px

create plane 6000 x 2000.You can add polygons to a plane and then manipulate it /bend, skew to have round panoramic shape/

2. Place light material on a plane and  photo as map.

3. In order to capture the perspective and the good placement of the photo you can manipulate plane using modifiers

5. Now you have environment map as a light source that behaves in similar way to hdri map, it is great sky background and environment map.