diff --git a/frontend/misc/settings.ts b/frontend/misc/settings.ts
index 0a37825..e657ab2 100644
--- a/frontend/misc/settings.ts
+++ b/frontend/misc/settings.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ export async function settings() {
         panSensitivity: 1,
         exposure: 1,
         shadowIntensity: 0,
-        background: '',
+	// Nice low-res outdoor/high-contrast HDRI image (CC0 licensed) for lighting
+        background: "https://dl.polyhaven.org/file/ph-assets/HDRIs/hdr/1k/qwantani_afternoon_1k.hdr",
+        // Uniform (1x1 pixel) medium gray background for visibility
+        skybox: "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mNsaFjwHwAFyQKh26fFAAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==",
+
     };
 
     // Auto-override any settings from the URL
diff --git a/frontend/viewer/ModelViewerWrapper.vue b/frontend/viewer/ModelViewerWrapper.vue
index e35bd4f..b94ac42 100644
--- a/frontend/viewer/ModelViewerWrapper.vue
+++ b/frontend/viewer/ModelViewerWrapper.vue
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ watch(disableTap, (newDisableTap) => {
   <model-viewer ref="elem" v-if="sett != null" :ar="sett.arModes.length > 0" :ar-modes="sett.arModes"
                 :environment-image="sett.background" :exposure="sett.exposure" :autoplay="sett.autoplay"
                 :orbit-sensitivity="sett.orbitSensitivity" :pan-sensitivity="sett.panSensitivity"
-                :poster="poster" :shadow-intensity="sett.shadowIntensity" :skybox-image="sett.background"
+                :poster="poster" :shadow-intensity="sett.shadowIntensity" :skybox-image="sett.skybox"
                 :src="props.src" :zoom-sensitivity="sett.zoomSensitivity" alt="The 3D model(s)" camera-controls
                 camera-orbit="30deg 75deg auto" interaction-prompt="none" max-camera-orbit="Infinity 180deg auto"
                 min-camera-orbit="-Infinity 0deg 5%" style="width: 100%; height: 100%">
@@ -302,4 +302,4 @@ watch(disableTap, (newDisableTap) => {
   float: left;
   transition: width 0.3s;
 }
-</style>
\ No newline at end of file
+</style>
diff --git a/yacv_server/gltf.py b/yacv_server/gltf.py
index 6c4a2df..df61a2d 100644
--- a/yacv_server/gltf.py
+++ b/yacv_server/gltf.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ import numpy as np
 from build123d import Location, Plane, Vector
 from pygltflib import *
 
-_checkerboard_image_bytes = base64.decodebytes(
-    b'iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAIAAAACCAIAAAD91JpzAAAAF0lEQVQI12N49OjR////Gf'
-    b'/////48WMATwULS8tcyj8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=')
+# PNG file containing 1x1 while pixel
+_default_tex = (b'iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/x8AAwMCAO+ip1sAAAAASUVORK5CYII=')
+
+_default_color = (1.0, 0.75, 0.0, 1.0)
 
 def get_version() -> str:
     try:
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ class GLTFMgr:
     vertex_positions: List[float]  # x, y, z
     vertex_colors: List[float]  # r, g, b, a
 
-    def __init__(self, image: Optional[Tuple[bytes, str]] = (_checkerboard_image_bytes, 'image/png')):
+    def __init__(self, image: Optional[Tuple[bytes, str]] = (_default_tex, 'image/png')):
         self.gltf = GLTF2(
             asset=Asset(generator=f"yacv_server@{get_version()}"),
             scene=0,
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ class GLTFMgr:
     def add_face(self, vertices_raw: List[Vector], indices_raw: List[Tuple[int, int, int]],
                  tex_coord_raw: List[Tuple[float, float]], color: Optional[Tuple[float, float, float, float]] = None):
         """Add a face to the GLTF mesh"""
-        if color is None: color = (1.0, 0.75, 0.0, 1.0)
+        if color is None: color = _default_color
         # assert len(vertices_raw) == len(tex_coord_raw), f"Vertices and texture coordinates have different lengths"
         # assert min([i for t in indices_raw for i in t]) == 0, f"Face indices start at {min(indices_raw)}"
         # assert max([e for t in indices_raw for e in t]) < len(vertices_raw), f"Indices have non-existing vertices"