Exposure control

[paulsenviking]

Hi!

 

I am learning 3ds max and currently I am studying 3 point lightning system and exposure control. (MR photographics EC and Vray EC)

 

The details here seem particulary important for me. I want to understand the base foundations.

 

Do you use exposure control and is it beneficial to image quality?

 

I know I have a lot to learn but it seems to me that if you use camera in real world then ISO, shutter speed and aperture really matter.

 

On the other hand if you use computer generated images, then you can "cheat". ISO, shutter speed are not important so usage of exposure control can lower image quality? Higher the ISo, lower the image quality.

 

Why work on exposure control setting, if you can focus on renderer settings and tweaks? Ok saturation and highlights can be useful but you can do that in Photoshop.

 

I am experimenting with exposure setting for studio setup scene with low ISO,... but should I even bother with exposure settings?

 

So do you use exposure settings when rendering images?

 

Thanks

[James Vella]

Do you use exposure control and is it beneficial to image quality?

Yes - this allows you to control the exposure in the VFB, much easier then test rendering over and over to get balance

 

I know I have a lot to learn but it seems to me that if you use camera in real world then ISO, shutter speed and aperture really matter.

Not entirely, only if you are doing a photo match. Otherwise just tweak it until your happy. I went on site with architectural photographers and asked them what settings they use for this and that - they didnt even know. They said we shoot it raw they fix it in post - whatever aperture and iso makes the shot work for balance.

 

Why work on exposure control setting, if you can focus on renderer settings and tweaks? Ok saturation and highlights can be useful but you can do that in Photoshop.

For speed. Less mucking around with numbers and subdivisions - more playing with light balance and composition. Sure you can do it in photoshop but why when you have real world reflections and highlights you can play with in the render - get it as close as possible before doing any post work will save you time imo. This is a grey area though, if you find yourself finishing images quicker in post and they look great who cares just do what works for your bottom line - but building a good library of materials, lights and settings that look great in render will save you in the long run.

 

I am experimenting with exposure setting for studio setup scene with low ISO,... but should I even bother with exposure settings?

Go for it, experiment all you like. ISO has no grain effect in 3D world. Which is why if you are not doing DOF or Motion blur, you can use either of the 3 settings to get the affect you want.

Edited September 4, 2016 by redvella

[Francisco Penaloza]

Paulsen, when you work on any 3d engine you have several ways to produce images/animations using physical values, such light intensities and camera exposure. This are a good base to start so you don't have to guess values or over compensate for lack of lighting or color intensities.

For sure you can not use it at all and just eyeballing everything but, this usually make you waste time and produce you a lot of guessing, unless you have a lot of experience.

Using physical based exposure values and light intensities is pretty simple, and if you keep a consistency in the workflow everything is predicable.

for instance, if you shoot something outside, in a sunny day, using ISO 100 FStop 16 and Shutter 90 or 100 should give you a decent image. Nothing to guess.

When you know your basics, setup time becomes very quick and you can concentrate in more important thing such composition or Story.

 

 

I went on site with architectural photographers and asked them what settings they use for this and that - they didnt even know. They said we shoot it raw they fix it in post - whatever aperture and iso makes the shot work for balance.

 

Sorry to tell you this James, but if a "pro photographer" does not know when to use a high ISO rather and slower shutter speed, he should not call himself Professional, there is a solid foundation regarding the triangle of ISO, Shutter Speed and FStops.

RAW images can get you so far but if your shot is way over bright or way dark there is no way fix it. Most cameras will shoot 12bits or 14 bits compared to a CG image that can output 32Bits, that's a lot of difference.

 

I am a hobbyist photographer and work with Architectural photographer very often, and you really can tell when the top guy have the chops for it.

Composition is almost instant, post production is minimal or typical deleting power plugs or fire sprinkles or unnecessary stuff for that particular shot.

[James Vella]

Francisco, totally would have agreed with you before about being a 'pro photographer'... except for the last 2 years I have worked at a real estate photography company, where 90% of our staff either are photographers or photo retouchers (20 years +). You may be mistaking my nonchalant behaviour as ignorance, however I'm giving you the short of the long to save you some time. As a technical director i've been down the path of 'make sure its all correct, match this and that' but to be honest, I focus on what's important now (compositing, lighting, *design & *continuity) & not specific settings - like you said - if you have the basic understanding of how photography works, the standard settings, and how to adjust them for your needs - then the details are arbitrary.

 

 

*edit; added for clarification

Edited September 5, 2016 by redvella

[paulsenviking]

Thank you @James Vella and Francisco Penaloza for clarifying and sharing knowledge and experience.