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Hello, I am looking for some advice on the production of verifiable photomontages for use in landscape impact assessment. We use 3Ds max to produce photomontages of proposed plant developments for the energy industry. We model the development and then try to match it the best we can to a background image. This can be either a single photograph or a stitched panorama photograph. The field of view we have to cover is anything up to 180dgrees. These images are not for interactive QTVR/ Panotour type output. Our end product is for flat printing for the purposes of public exhibition and environmental impact assessment reports. These photomontages are required to be verifiable and to match the geometry and perspective of the camera used to take the stitched images. When matching to a wide-angle panoramic stitch we are finding it more difficult as we cannot find a way of getting 3d Max to have a projection output that matches the background image accurately. Does anyone know of any techniques, scripts or plug-ins that would allow 3D max to project/match a model correctly against a panoramic image? Or are there any other programmes that anyone knows can achieve this? We know it is technically, computing wise, possible as we use a programme called ‘Windfarm’ for wind turbine site assessments. This programme allows you to match model and DTM to up to 180 degree stitched panoramic images. It also takes into account earth curvature and atmospheric refraction. Unfortunately this programme cannot import other custom non wind turbine models. In some methodologies there is a mention of VRAY using the physical camera set to cylindrical projection. We have down loaded the demo and are finding that the ‘Warped Spherical (Old style)’ projection seems to create a nearly convincing effect. We are finding however that the overall width of the projection does not quite fit the position of existing objects in the panoramic image. This may be because the GPS data measurements are not accurate enough for the purpose. However we are trying to demo the ‘.lens’ file facility to see if that will help. Does anyone know if using VRAY is the correct answer to this image matching problem? If so can you offer any advice that should theoretically make VRAY match exactly the geometry and perspective of a wide angle stitched panoramic photo? Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi, I typically use Syntheyes to cam match shots, but for this project I am being provided images/video shot on a Canon 5D mark II with a tilt-shift lens instead of a standard lens. I have confirmed with Russ Anderson (Developer of Syntheyes) that the software will not work with this lens. So basically the issue is the verticals are corrected to remain vertical even though the camera is pitching up a good 20 or 30 degrees which would normal cause them all to lean inward toward the center. Like what you can do with the Max physical camera or Vray Physical camera. Anyone have some best practices to share when cam matching footage shot this way in Max? Thanks in advance!

Hello, Im trying to make Still Image of BAROS maldives Resort. I have attached the file but i need to make the same exact CAMERA match in 3ds max. I tried my level best to match the perspective but i was not able to do it. And according to google maps i applied the measurement to match but i was not "Caustics" is my other problem. Being a large area i was not able to get the caustic effect too in vray. I will be very glad to know the solution. Searched the internet for the plan and architects and much more. But i was not able to. Thank you.

Recently I used the VRay lens analysis tool on a photo I took using a Canon 5D MkII with a Sigma 50mm Prime lens. Weirdly, after analysing fine, it put the focal length as 47.233. Any ideas why that might be? All the tech specs online say that that the lens is 50mm bang on. Then in Max, when I set the VRay camera to 50mm using a film gate of 36mm I'm not getting a perfect result. If I drop the focal length to around 48mm it's a lot better. I really need to get this spot on for the work that I do so any help greatly appreciated.