Help. trying to learn Post Production from 3ds max/vray and Photoshop

[pettermathisen]

Please look at attachment.

Im pretty new to this.

This is just a project im working on and i want to try to learn post production from this image.

 

Is this image good enough to be a starting point for post production?

 

And suggestions what i might to to make this "complete".

 

Its exr with layers as shadows, alpha, spec, refl, refr, and depth.

 

I like the finish on the other image. Is this possible with the basics in image one?

 

Cheers Petter

 

[John Dollus]

Aerials are a rough way to start learning about painting up an image in post. I'd suggest you start off with an eye level perspective instead.

[Casey Hawley]

You can comp what you have, but you won't get the quality of image 2. Your image needs direct sunlight and nice environmental reflections. Put an HDR image in your area light source (or whatever is lighting your scene) to get enviro reflections. Add a sun or direct target spot to get nice realistic hard shadows. You may need to add reflection/specularity to some of your materials for them to look realistic. Try Reinhard color mapping for exterior scenes. Turn the burn amount down to .5 or so, might have to clamp it too, and tweak camera exposure settings until it looks good.

 

Some people do a ton of post work, while others (like myself) aim to get as close to final as possible with the render output, then comp people, sky, plants, light glows, and adjust levels/saturation, etc for final touch.