# Environment
## 
Environment
The Environments command opens the Environments panel to edit background color, image, projection.
**Environments panel toolbar**
The Environments panel has additional browsing tools.
**Add Environment**
Click to select an action to create a new texture.
**Import Environment from File**
Imports environments from a saved Rhino .renv file.
**Choose existing**
Creates a new environment by using an existing environment as the template.
**Basic Environment**
Creates a new [basic](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/environments.htm?Highlight=Environments#Basic_settings) environment.
**More Types**
Opens the [content type browser](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/information/contenttypebrowser_environments.htm) to see more options for creating a new environment.
**Search**
Click the search box (magnifying glass) to display a menu for searching names, notes, or tags.
**Search Names**
Limits the search to names.
**Search Notes**
Limits the search to notes.
**Search Tags**
Limits the search to tags.
* When tags: is selected, a list of available tags appears. These tags are gathered from the materials, environments, and textures in the document.
* In the tags list, arrow keys move up and down and the selected tag is appended to the search.
* Type a semicolon to keep the selected tag and append a semicolon to the search.
* Backspace removes the last tag from the search.
* Once the focus is on the tags list, you can navigate the list using the keyboard with the semicolon and backspace keys appending and removing tags from the search without having to use the mouse.
**Thumbnail indicators**
The icons at the lower-right corner of an environment thumbnail indicate usages of the environment.
The environment is used for reflection and refraction raytracing.
The environment is used as the skylight for lighting the scene.
The environment is used as a 360° background.
The external background image used by the environment is missing.
* Pointing the mouse cursor to the icon shows information about the missing image.
* If any missing image is detected when Rhino opens a model, the [Missing image files](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/renderreportimagefiles.htm) dialog appears.
* The [Save textures](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/save.htm#SaveTextures) option in the [Save](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/save.htm) dialog stores images in the 3dm file to prevent images from missing.
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