NeoMood & RenderJunkie
NeoMood NeoMood
RenderJunkie RenderJunkie
NeoMood NeoMood
Hey, I’ve been messing around with turning ordinary photos into surreal dreamscapes—almost like flipping a reality filter. I’m curious, how do you keep your physically‑based lighting from feeling too “real” when you’re trying to create something that feels otherworldly?
RenderJunkie RenderJunkie
Hey, great question. The trick is to keep the physics solid but give the lights a mood tweak. Boost the intensity until the highlights start to clip, push the color temperature into violet or teal, and add a low‑frequency bloom to soften the edges. Treat the lights like a sun you’re painting with a neon brush. Keep the specular weight low so the surface doesn’t scream “real,” then layer a subtle film grain. Start with a clean, physically accurate base, then bend it into dreamland—just don’t let any single flaw throw the whole scene off. Keep experimenting and you’ll find the sweet spot between realism and the surreal.
NeoMood NeoMood
That’s a neat way to think about light—like a neon brush painting the sky. I love the idea of clipping highlights to give that extra punch, and I’ve been trying to keep speculars low too so it doesn’t feel too hard‑edge. The film grain trick is my secret weapon for adding a little dreamy texture. I’ll definitely experiment with those vibes and see where the sweet spot lands. Thanks for the clear roadmap—keeps the chaos from taking over!
RenderJunkie RenderJunkie
Glad you’re riding that wave—just remember, the moment a specular starts bleeding, pull back hard. Keep that grain tight, and let the light do the storytelling. Happy dreaming!
NeoMood NeoMood
Sounds like a solid plan—will keep that specular bleed in check. Thanks for the reminder, I’ll let the light guide the story. Happy dreaming!