[Gary]

Hello:

I am asked by a client to do a exterior storefront rendering. My work typically is interior & product. Was hoping for some general guidelines, opinions & suggestions around the following.

1. HDRI for simplicity? And would you use the same HDRI as a background and for reflections?

2. maxwell sky & sun. I would like some clouds in the sky— I don't think Maxwell can do this?

3. sky background in photoshop post process w/ alpha channel?

4. I would like to have a pretty good sense of sunlight direction and shadows. Which above approach is best.

Thanks in advance,

Gary

[Mihai]

Hello:
4. I would like to have a pretty good sense of sunlight direction and shadows. Which above approach is best.

Then it would be best to use the Physical Sky. You can turn on HDR lighting to have some more interesting reflections and use the Physical Sky for the disabled HDR channels (illumination).

Use a sky background in Photoshop, in my experience clients are very picky about exactly how the clouds should look, it's coloration...