[3DSMAX] [REDSHIFT] Best options for showing outside environment behind a window from inside a room.

OccultMonk

What is the best technique for rendering a room with a window showing an outside environment? I can imagine using an HDRI or something. (But I only want it to show the environment, not light the scene). Or maybe by using an image plane? Or is it best done in post-composition, and if so, how do you incorporate DOF masks, etc when doing this in post? I would prefer an image plane and not doing it in post.

oglu

We use the vray light shader on a plane. Increase the intensity until it looks fine.

OccultMonk

Thanks! I don't know what the equivalent for Redshift would be. A self-emitting material with the texture in the emittance slot? A normal bitmap or a HDRI?

oglu

Try the self emitting material with a normal bitmap.

Eric Chadwick

We use V-Ray here as well.

One tip is to set the image plane to not write into the alpha channel, so it's an easy way to get a mask for post.