3DS Max post rendering work in Photoshop

[hintyp]

Our company is in the process of implementing in house rendering. We use Revit for our Residential CD's (construction documents). So we have decided on using 3ds Max for rendering. I have a basic knowledge with 3ds Max.
In my research of putting together our implementation process. I could not find allot of information on what should be rendered and then what should be post rendering work in Photoshop.
My main focus is on Grass,Trees,Sky, and Landscape.
For grass I have tried using mray displacement, vray displacement, Grass-O-Matic and I have also looked at using Vue Xstream which I like allot however to keep cost down we just want to use 3ds Max and Photoshop.
I know allot of people have their own trade secrets. Any info you have on this implementation process would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[stusic]

I simply do everything in max, then just use photoshop for creating textures and tweaking levels/contrast/brightness/etc of the final image. I'm lazy like that.

[dellis]

I typically do everything in MAX as well. Though you can also render out masks and build up the image in PS pretty effectively by using photos of grass in similar perspectives. The post production tricks in Photoshop might be the way to go if you don't have a farm and your render times might be a concern. If that's the case...get a tablet...and maybe some on-site training...would save you money in the long run.

[hintyp]

Thanks for the insight.

[loydg]

I can relate to keeping costs down. Not so long ago we kept it to just Max and Photoshop. Honestly the only reason that I keep it to mostly Max now is that I can get the lighting in the image to be consistent. The rest of you have heard my rants about various Photoshopped elements, but here's my quick tips for makeing it look better than average:

1) Render out an image from each camera in your scene and print out.
2) Take the prints out with a decend camera and shoot your elements (grass, trees, bushes, people, cars, etc.) from a very similar viewpoint in as the virtual cameras. Try to take as much reference in as short amount of time as possible (the light is changing!)
3) Cut out and insert the elements in Photoshop (I usually use a feather of .5).
4) Save out that image and the set it up as a background for each view.
5) Adjust the scene light to closely match that of the elemenst and render.
6) Take that rendering back to Photoshop and replace the background of the earlier one.
7) I also add a little noise and blur to my renderings to help match the natural film grain and blur and to help soften the whole image.

Seems like a bit, but it's thorough. Like with any advice, take what works for you!

G