Let's take a Quick Look at the process behind making this environment, styling the scene, lighting the product, and setting up the camera for rendering!
Where to begin?
With a history of 11 years in photography, I simply start 3d scenes where I would if I was on set taking photos. The background.
This is always the best starting point I've found because it allows me to think from the background to foreground. If I need to have a certain effect for the final image, it's easiest to start here so I know what back plates to capture for post editing.
In this case, because we're working with 3d, I simply set up a backdrop using Greyscale Gorilla's plugin. I quickly applied a material and I was ready to start making my fine adjustments. Which brings me to the next step.
Step 2 - Setting up the camera
When you're on set taking photos, you dont set up the camera at the end. No, the camera is the first thing you place and set up. This is the foundational step for any shoot. This way you know where you are placing your composition moving forward.
The same is for this 3d scene. I set up the camera and got it into position, I put a protection tag on it this way I couldn't move the camera on accident and mess up my composition. It's the equivalent to taping your tripod to the ground, or weighing it down with sandbags so you dont accidentally move it.
I got my aperture where I wanted it, and added a grid overlay so that I could follow rule of 3rds, better and work for a better composition.
Step 3 - Props & Styling
Now with the camera in place, I start utilizing the scene with props and start styling.
This Is where you need to start doubling down on your composition. Your camera is on part of the equation, the styling is another. For example, it is common for viewers to look at an image from left to right, like reading a book. For this reason, I decided to use the blocks in the background to direct the viewers eye in that same way.
The idea was to position the stones in an upward angle, going from center left, to upper right. I planned on putting the product in the middle of the frame, and I felt this would be a good look.
Lastly, I scatter more stones around the scene to break up any repetition in the scene and make it look more natural.
Step 4- Lighting & Tying it all together
This is my favorite part, But before I dive too deep into how I lighted this product I want to talk about WHY I lit it this way. The goal for every product shoot is to show off the the products best features, and make it look as great as you can. This is obvious, but what's not is that this process is different for every product and every photo.
Photographers utilize lighting in this way by using highlights that complement the contours of the product they're photographing. To achieve this look in both a photo shoot and 3d, different lights and modifiers are needed.
For instance, for this product I used strip lights to complement the longer almost cylindrical shape of the product. If I used a spot light for the side of the g-pen, the highlights would look completely unflattering and the image would not have the same effect that it does.
See Example here.
You can see that the spot light does look okay, but it doesn't have the same effect as the area light. This lighting is then compounded to a better look as I used the same technique with the other side of the product as well. You can see that at the final images below.
I feel this has the perfect amount of edge light to separate itself from the background, highlight its curves, and make it stand out that much more from the scene.
This is where a strong knowledge of lighting is crucial in this type of work, and also where knowledge in photography can come strongly to your advantage as you're entering 3d.
For the ambient lighting in the background I decided to start with an HDRI in the dome light. This was to show the texture of the rocks. Coincidentally, it already gave a really nice highlight on the top of the cap as well.
Lastly, this scene needed a spot light to further highlight the products place in this composition. I had one spot light in the foreground to, and a separate one on the background to further direct the viewers eye through the composition and complement the leading lines I made with the stone props. It's subtle, but it works.
I think it's important to establish here also that for this scene I had the product lit separately from the scene. What does that mean?
A normal part of my product shoots is taking multiple images, and the compositing them together in post. By doing this I can get certain effects that are either impossible to do in camera, or would be much more cumbersome. For instances, If I want to get a certain highlight on a label, I'll use a white foam board to reflect the light I want to to get the effect I desire. You wouldn't want a foam board in your final image, so I photoshop it out in post.
The same method was done here, just in 3d.
that is how I was able to perfect light the product, without those lights bleeding into the environment. Here's an example if I had not done this technique. Again, the effect is subtle, but it works and it allowed me for greater separation from the spot light overhead
a couple more step.
Step 5 - Volumetric's
This is step is very important, and often overlooked by beginners. Volumetric's give your scene depth, and atmosphere. I see it as an essential part of my work flow, and just another tool to utilize for composition. Think of God rays in Red Dead Redemption, or in cinema. This is 3d version of that, and it's equally as important here as it is anywhere else in a creative project.
Step 6 - Final adjustments
I'm happy with the scene, the composition, the lighting and the materials.
The only last adjustments I made were I went back to the camera and made the aperture a little more shallow. Lastly, I added a Filter on the bokeh to have a little color separation in the shallow depth of field. This subtle effect was to add more photo realism in the image. Every lens, no matter how expensive and beautiful has these imperfections. Its important for 3d artist to add these imperfections BACK into a scene like this to produce a photo realistic look.
This is because photos are perfect, where as 3d is unless you deliberately add them in. If you dont add these in, you run the risk of having a FAKE look to your renders and it can be unappealing to a client If they are not going for a stylized look.
Conclusion
All in all, this was a very fun render to make. I think the lighting came together perfectly. I could not had done this without my knowledge in photography and lighting, I'm thankful for the years of experience I have that made this possible.
I hope this brought you some value on your 3d journey, and if you have any questions please reach out. We are always here!
-Nick