A 3D Photo-Montage is a photograph merged together with a 3D CGI components that combine together seamlessly. 3D Photo-Montages are usually created to show the finished result of a building or development under construction or even before building has started. To be able to create such a montage you will need a 3D software package for your computer (3DS Max or Cinema 4D) and you will need a photo editing packages such as Photoshop. The plans for the submitted building, survey of the area for ground levels and of course a photograph of the scene as it is.
First of all you need to examine to detail the original photograph. You need to decide which elements of the picture need modeled and to how much detail. Some sections of the photo can be left out if very little to none needs modeled. Thinking about reflection and light in the photo is another element of the picture you need to examine.
Beginning the modeling stage keep working to a scale of 1:1, this is so the light reacts to the scene as real looking as possible. When you import all the views of the building into the 3D package set them to scale. The procedure I tend to use is to make a parametric box and give it a length consistent with a large distance in the scene. Take for example the length of the entire building and then measure the relative height to match.
When your modeling remember that the surrounding elements like the lampposts and eves of houses have to be modeled to the correct scale and level. This saves any complications at the camera matching stage.
When you have modeled the scene, upload the original photograph into a selected 3D Visualisation package as it is to be used as a background and the create a camera. The camera needs to be positioned as close as possible to get a match to the scene. A good tip when your doing this is to draw a spline around the site, making sure it's at the correct level, in the 3D package and hide any elements except the surrounding elements and the spline. To adjust the settings on the virtual camera 35mm is a good lens to start with but if you know the size of the lens that was used to take the photograph then use them settings. You need adjust the virtual camera until everything matches up. the focal length may also need to be adjusted but this is usually if the the camera isn't lining up. When everything looks good and you happy enough unhide the geometry used for the montage and then hide everything else. Lighting the scene comes next, do this as closely as possible to the picture. By studying the direction and height of the sun you can match the virtual lights accordingly.
When you've finished these stages and your happy, it's time to render the scene. Do this with 'Alpha Channel' but remember not to include the photograph as a background. By opening the render and photo in Photoshop you can layer them and blend the exposure and cut any elements that are in the foreground. This is to ensure the CGI element glues everything to the photograph.
First of all you need to examine to detail the original photograph. You need to decide which elements of the picture need modeled and to how much detail. Some sections of the photo can be left out if very little to none needs modeled. Thinking about reflection and light in the photo is another element of the picture you need to examine.
Beginning the modeling stage keep working to a scale of 1:1, this is so the light reacts to the scene as real looking as possible. When you import all the views of the building into the 3D package set them to scale. The procedure I tend to use is to make a parametric box and give it a length consistent with a large distance in the scene. Take for example the length of the entire building and then measure the relative height to match.
When your modeling remember that the surrounding elements like the lampposts and eves of houses have to be modeled to the correct scale and level. This saves any complications at the camera matching stage.
When you have modeled the scene, upload the original photograph into a selected 3D Visualisation package as it is to be used as a background and the create a camera. The camera needs to be positioned as close as possible to get a match to the scene. A good tip when your doing this is to draw a spline around the site, making sure it's at the correct level, in the 3D package and hide any elements except the surrounding elements and the spline. To adjust the settings on the virtual camera 35mm is a good lens to start with but if you know the size of the lens that was used to take the photograph then use them settings. You need adjust the virtual camera until everything matches up. the focal length may also need to be adjusted but this is usually if the the camera isn't lining up. When everything looks good and you happy enough unhide the geometry used for the montage and then hide everything else. Lighting the scene comes next, do this as closely as possible to the picture. By studying the direction and height of the sun you can match the virtual lights accordingly.
When you've finished these stages and your happy, it's time to render the scene. Do this with 'Alpha Channel' but remember not to include the photograph as a background. By opening the render and photo in Photoshop you can layer them and blend the exposure and cut any elements that are in the foreground. This is to ensure the CGI element glues everything to the photograph.
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