Realistic Vray Sunset lighting

[Sully114]

Hi, Ive recently been asked to produce architectual exterior where I have to match the lighting in a photograph, where I then use it as a backplate.This image was taken at sunset where the sky has a very orange/yellow tint and sun behinid clouds etc. Ive gone through my hdr library and found something similiar. But cannot seem to get the lighting to look natural. I would expect the shadows to have a very red orange tint to them as the light is being scattered through the atmosphere and clouds etc.

 

What approach would you use in this circumstance? Sun sky with high ozone value? or hdr with volumetric fog perhaps?

 

It almost seems like atmospheric renderer (Vue, terragen ) would give the best results here. Im very keen to hear what techniques others are using in this scenario..

719

[Chris MacDonald]

Are you able to post the image and your render so we can better see what you're trying to achieve?

 

At its most basic you can increase the turbidity of the VRay sun/sky to achieve a more hazy/warm sunset look. Failing that, finding a suitable HDRI would be my recommendation.

 

You say you'd expect the shadows to have an orange/yellow tint in your render, but do they in the image you have?

[Sully114]

Heres the backplate I will try to get a few renders up here when I get back from work..

 

[Scott Schroeder]

I would not use the vray sky or an existing hdr. While it can produce nice results trying to match a backplate can get annoying, especially sunset ones. I'd use just a good ole direct light and vray dome with a solid color. That way, you have pretty much the ultimate control.

 

I'd get the render close in the about 75-90% range, and just to the final color balancing in post where you have the fastest feedback and the easiest way to adjust specific colors.

[Chris MacDonald]

The shadows in that image are blue, erring towards purple.

 

[Edit] having seen the image now, I'd agree with Scott. I cant imagine you're going to see any direct sunlight on your model from that angle.

[Jason Matthews]

You could also do a match color in Photoshop. Do as indicated above. Then bring the rendering and the back plate in Photoshop, and open in two separate files. On the rendering, click image/adjustments/Match Color. Then choose the back plate as the source and adjust to match. This may have to be done with a series of overlays to get it right.