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Photorealism in ArchViz- post work vs untouched


branskyj
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Hi all,

I hugely enjoy the ArchViz field (3DS Max and VRay user) but so far in terms of photorealism have been satisfied by only one of my projects. Since I am starting to look for a job in the field soon I wanted to ask the following:

How many of you guys rely on achieving photo realistic results in post work and how many get these results in their untouched renders? I do realize that SOME post work (colour correction, gama /brightness correction and other) is always present in the stunning renders we see every day.

Could I be asked (by a future employer) to achieve photo realistic results with NO post work whatsoever?

 

Thank you.

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its unlikely that you will ever be asked by an employer to use no post.

 

IMO post work is an essential part of the process. you will really struggle (and struggle for a long time) to achieve 'photorealism' straight out of the box. given the usual time constraints of a commercial production job IMO getting a render 80-85% of the way there is about right. i would also say that i spend on average about 60% of the time on an image in photoshop, rather than a 3d package.

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no post in an office situation is unlikely... especially if you are in house and budget is a concern. I agree with Matt, but I am in a situation where turn around in a few hours (ranging from 4 - 8 hours) is often expected... so I would say that 50% + is my time in photoshop...

 

I usually resort to very simple modeling generic basic materials, quick render settings and then all photoshop... not the prettiest images, but done quickly and within budget.

 

this image was 6 hours roughly including revisions...

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40894[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40893[/ATTACH]

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Wow, thanks for the link Fran. See, that's the kind of work that keeps me going on. Every now and then I'd get tired of ArchViz. All I do then is check somebody's art, recharge my batteries and go on. That man Bertrand Benoit is incredible. Wish I could get to his level some day.

 

Cheers for the link and for the recharge :)

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In my experience every image is different. For me a photoreal exterior will always need a lot of post work to bed in the render into the photograph correctly. Trying to create a perfect render is waste of time as better results can be layered up in photoshop.

 

Interiors however often start with really good renderings and are then improved through post work.

 

My tip is to become expert at photoshop as it will always save you.

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I agree that post is an extremely important part of creating a high quality image. It's just so much easier to tweak this, that and the other thing, in real time, in post in a way that's much more user friendly and responsive than doing it in a rendering program. It just doesn't make sense to do things like apply DOF and vignetting in MAX or similar programs where you'll have to wait several minutes or hours to see if you've gotten the desired result when you can do it in real time in Photoshop.

 

That said, the foundation of a good image will always be what you create in the rendering program. There are some things that are better suited to post there are some things that are better suited to doing in program. Striving to get your raw render "almost there" and taking it to the next level in post is usually the ideal way of going about things IMO.

 

E

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I use to spend more time in post that in 3D, but now im finding it more the other way around. If you want stunning results, you need to perfect your modelling, materials and lighting in 3D, and then use post for effects and other things that arent too easy to do in post.

Also if you have a good 3D model, textures and lighting, additional views and cameos are even quicker.

 

Deano

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I'm always a bit confused when these threads pop up from time to time. Why would you not use post? it is an essential part of the process as much as modelling is IMO. I often find the purists who say that post is somehow cheating generally aren't very good with photoshop.

The way I see it is any jackass can used pirated software and produce some average raw renders, but it takes a pro, like many of the guys on here to give their renders an individual style, that can really sell a scheme. Essentially the focus needs to remain on the 'art' and not to be viewed as a purely technical exercise (though this is important too!) ...my two cents.

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