Help with Intergrating image to background

[gadzooks]

OK Im trying to place this chapel into this image. The background image was taken this weekend using our digital camera. Then imported into photoshop where i stitched them together. I then tried to camera match the chapel to the image the best i could ( using only 3D Max). Placed the sun based upon the photo and rendered. So here is my question. How do you go about matching the color of the rendered image to that of the background image. What i did was to adjust the RGB channels separately until it looked like it fit into the scene. Is this right??? Is their a better way of doing it. How do all of you do it?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

 

[John Dollus]

I advise you to buy the property on the right - spectacular site!

 

For compositing the image, i always match up the 3d with a single photo before stitching as that stitching process introduces errors no matter how much care you take.

After that, some voodoo with the color balance just as you described to match the shadow tones

lastly, i'd do something different with the direct light to really punch up the facade facing the river and add some drama. Your light seems to be coming from the right direction to do that (or at least within reason). You just need to then enhance the trees a bit on the sunny side to follow suit.

oh, and maybe move this to the WIP forum?

[Tommy L]

Lovely site, shame you got an overcast day for the shoot.

The lighting looks totally flat. You can light this with just an HDRI and it should look great. No other lights needed.

I think you should trust the render engine a bit more. Looks like you've boosted the greens too much in post. You want the render to 'sit' well. But it looks kind of translucent against the trees.

The perspective looks a little bit strong also, you need a slightly narrower lens.