KeyShot Rendering Tutorial: Compositing and Blending Render Passes in Photoshop
01. Render to PSD
Open the Render dialog box by clicking Render from the tab of buttons at the bottom of KeyShot. Choose PSD 32-bit as the format, as this will maximize the data available in post-production.
02. Choose render passes
In the Render dialog box, scroll down to ‘Layers and Passes’. Tick the specific passes that you want to export, or choose to render all options. Most of the time, select all the passes to have maximum flexibility in Photoshop.
03. Blend the layers
Open your rendered Photoshop file and set the Image>Mode option to 32-bit. Deselect all layers except Lighting, Global Illumination, Reflection, and Refraction. Multi-select the Global Illumination, Reflection, and Refraction layers, and set their blending mode to ‘Linear Dodge (Add)’. You should now start to see your image come back to life.
04. Get creative
Now you have your stack of render passes correctly blended with one another, it’s time to start having some fun! Adjust the opacity of some of your layers. For example, if you feel your reflections are just too strong, try dropping the Opacity for that layer to 80% or lower. If you’ve rendered a ZDepth render pass, you can use that to introduce depth of field with a blur effect.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have demonstrated how to export render passes from KeyShot and blend them together in Photoshop using the correct blending modes. This allows for a full range of creative possibilities, from subtle adjustments to dramatic changes. By following these steps, you can unlock the full potential of KeyShot and take your 3D rendering to the next level.
FAQs
Q: What is compositing?
A: Compositing is the process of combining a collection of render passes or elements into one final image.
Q: What are the main types of render passes?
A: The main types of render passes are Diffuse, Lighting, Global Illumination, Reflection, and Refraction.
Q: Why is 32-bit PSD the best format for KeyShot rendering?
A: 32-bit PSD allows for maximum data available in post-production, giving you more flexibility and control over your rendered images.
