Best methos for increasing contrast on LWF images?

[add101]

I'm interested to find out what methods people are using if they want to increase contrast on an image created with LWF.
I got the idea that if you're using linear workflow it's best not to adjust the bright and dark multiplier in the colour mapping, so i've been trying other methods (adjusting camera settings, sun/sky brightness, ...) but think i'll try with some small changes to colour mapping now.

I guess an easy answer is to do it in post, but I'm looking for a way to do it in the render.

[3DMK]

From what I understand ..[which may not be right!] the reason you work in linear is so that all colours/values are physically correct at gamma 1.0 which does look flat unless you have an very expensive lcd monitor which can display gamma 1.0. [Most monitors are set to 2.2...a legacy from CRT monitors]

So to get your nice contrast you simply burn in a gamma curve in post........and the reason you do this in post is because you have the ultimate control & flexibility over a 32bit 1.0 gamma render.

If you burn a gamma curve into it at render stage, then you have less room to move in post.

Hope i didn't get too much wrong [ damn you LWF ......you are so simple yet so confusing ]

Cheers

[percydaman]

The great thing about the linear workflow for me is that yes the contrast is a little lacking. For post that can be a pretty good things. Combine that with good lighting techniques, and you have maximum flexibility in post.

[glorybound]

yep, an s-curve and levels in PS.

[cheerioboy]

My 2 cents.

I think I've been doing LWF all wrong as I don't correct my textures for the change in gamma, hence the washed out look. Try ticking the 'Linear Workflow' in the color mapping. This automatically adjusts the materials. Comparing my renderings now to linear, I can see that the light is only slightly boosted which I think is the point instead of the huge amount of wash out.

[simmsimaging]

You can try and light for it, but my feeling is that LWF pretty much *needs* post treatment to get pleasing contrast. That said, working with gamma in the range of 1.6-1.8 is better than 2.2 for contrast, so that could be an option for you.

b

[add101]

Hi. thanks for the replies.
I'm currently burning in the gamma at render time (2.2 gamma in vray panel, and 2.2 gamma and bitmap input gamma 2.2 in max), and saving to .jpg. keeping it in 32-bit floating point sounds better, but then i'd need to adjust every image afterwards, and if i'm working on a sequence of images, and there are iterations along the way, so looking for a way to do adjustmenst 'pre-post'.
I'll look at trying this for some projects in the future. I guess i'd need to save to OpenEXR or some other 32 bit format.

something i've been wanting to add to wishlist - 'one click gamma change' on or off... but i guess that's asking for a bit much at this stage. would possibly overlook certain peoples workflow (people working with monitor set to gamma 1, or other variables. (!!!) but i guess there could be overrides.. complicated isssue with all the different methods

i'll look at at adjusting gamma range. i have tried this before, but think i was looking at a few different methods at the same time.

for most projects i use a little photoshop. for image sequences i'll just do this at final renders. just like to do as much as possible in-render.

[peterguthrie]

why not just use the vray frame buffer and curves? You can even save curve presets by right clicking>save for different types of scene

[stef.thomas]

why not just use the vray frame buffer and curves? You can even save curve presets by right clicking>save for different types of scene

+1 for me too, this way you can tweak things during the render and when it finishes it will save the image using whatever settings you have applied.

[pipjor]

here's my LWF exr/Vray/AE

[add101]

is there a way to save vray frame buffer curves into images when rendering image sequences?

[PGD]

If theirs a way to always save the frame buffer colour curve then lets hear it

This way test renders could be sent out without the need to photoshop them every time

[peterguthrie]

for image sequences/animation, then no, i dont think so. PGD, do you mean animation, or do you mean just saving the specific curve for use on other projects? If so you can right click the curve and save/load to/from file.

[PGD]

PGD, do you mean animation, or do you mean just saving the specific curve for use on other projects? If so you can right click the curve and save/load to/from file.

Idealy I'd save all images with the curve applied to them. It would save me doing the same thing in PS moments later

Just tried saving the curve as you said, thanks for the info.. Now how do I open it? PS CS2 I have wont let me open or load it

[peterguthrie]

Idealy I'd save all images with the curve applied to them. It would save me doing the same thing in PS moments later

Just tried saving the curve as you said, thanks for the info.. Now how do I open it? PS CS2 I have wont let me open or load it

you'll have to ask Vlado about that, I tried as well and photoshop didnt like it