Sanity check on composite workflow

[andrewk1]

Hi all, I'm hoping to get some feedback on my workflow as I want to make sure that I'm doing it right!

 

I'm doing arch-viz renders in 3D Studio Max and V-Ray. I render out to an EXR file with all of the separate layers, which I then open up in Photoshop with the ProEXR plugin installed so I get access to all of the layers. I render out with Colour Mapping Only and save the EXR's as full 32bit.

 

In Photoshop, I get the layers that I need and create a smart object out of them, and I leave that smart object in 32bit. I then convert the main document down to 16bit so I can use all of my tools. Between the main document and the smart object, I do all of my post processing work which works well.

 

Two questions:

 

Is this the proper workflow?

 

How do I fix blown out areas? I know that in a 32bit file, the data is still there, but how do I get it back? Should I just be manipulating the relevant layers in the 32bit smart object? Should I be converting the file down to 16bit? Anything else?